Today

3 years. Went to the doctor's office and left the annual "Anniversary Card" for my oncologist.

Spoke to all 3 of the people who encouraged me to go to the emergency room that afternoon and told two of them, "One of my life goals is no matter if you upset me on October 26, I will make it my mission to always shake your hand on October 27."

Go raibh maith Dia do grásta


Ich danke Gott für die Gnade

תודה לאל על החסד


نشكر الله على نعمة

Comfort And Joy

In the past, I have been known to go camping in the fall. Usually around my birthday. As I haven't done it for at least 15 years, and since my birthday was on a Friday and was sharing the date with the rapture prediction by Harold ("Wait for it") Camping. I thought the irony was too great to pass up without an observance.

The scenes above are from Bear Creek Lake State Park near Cumberland, Virginia.

While there, some friends came and met me for some hiking and lunch. During our time together, I told them, "You know, there are times when I am doing some menial task at this time of year, like mowing the lawn or cleaning fallen pine needles out of my driveway, that I am reminded I was restricted from doing those kind of things for awhile and I turn them into a celebration as I am doing them. Even though I was absolutely spoiled during that time, the current status suits me fine."

Camping alone in the woods in the crisp fall air, with the scent of fallen and decomposing leaves, mixed in with the smell of a campfire, drinking fresh apple cider and eating camp food, are some of the bits of heaven I see on earth.

Know This Guy?

Seth Godin? 


I subscribe to his daily blog. On Friday, October 7, he posted this:

Eliminating the impulse to stall

My friend and colleague Amit Gupta is fighting off leukemia and the twittersphere is lighting up with expressions of support.


But the support he really needs is for you to get a Q-tip, stick it in your cheek and mail it back. The process is free and you can sign up right here.


The extraordinary thing about marketing is that a million people might see something or hear something or be sold something and only a thousand will actually take action. Even if it's free.


When you look at the long odds on marrow donation, it feels like a bit of a sweepstakes, but backwards. It's easy to fix if we just get everyone (regardless of ethnicity) to register.
How about if we gamify it? Here's the deal: if you are a match for Amit and the marrow donation happens, I'll profile you or the project of your choice on the blog and send you a check for $10,000 for you or the charity of your choice. Winner take all, no purchase necessary... (Even if you don't win, if you swab we all win).


I couldn't resist the opportunity to send him a note about an additional way to help Amit. That is, through the donation of blood platelets. As I have explained here, I explained to him how blood platelet donations would help Amit. To Seth's credit, he responded to me promptly with "Thanks Greg. I'm so glad you're here and caring."


Glad to help sir. Just showing up.

Godspeed to Amit.


"Look out for me, oh muddy water
Your mysteries are deep and wide
And I got a need for going some place
And I got a need to climb upon your back and ride." - Roger Miller