TheBanyanTree: My, how time flies!

[Cecil]

At 8:43 PM -0800 2/16/04, Jim Miller wrote:
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "paul" <paul at remsset.com>
>To: "TheBanyanTree" <TheBanyanTree at remsset.com>
>Sent: Monday, February 16, 2004 4:40 PM
>Subject: TheBanyanTree: My, how time flies!
>
>
>>    That's my story.  What's yours?
>
>Holy S*** . . . . . . . Where did it go? It was about this time in February
>1996, eight years ago that Linda said, "I hear there is a place on the
>Internet called The Spoon. You should check it out. I'm told it's a place
>where writers meet." There has been a lot of rain in the leaves since then.
>At the time, I had just been diagnosed with life threatening heart problems.
>A few weeks earlier, I was practically dead. I should have been. My life
>expectancy was only 2 more years. What a fantastic and supportive group of
>people I found. They listened to all of my medical experiments . . errrr
>experiences. They heard me wheeze in the night when I couldn't sleep. They
>helped me learn to howl at the moon and let it all go.
>
>Over the years, I've been 'In your face' or so far back on the limb that you
>couldn't even hear the leaves rustle. Mostly, I've just listened for the
>past 3 years. Life has really taken some wild turns in the last 5 years, and
>Linda will confirm that while I'm the same man I was, I'm not that man at
>all. Life has been good. I'm still alive for Pete's sake.
>
>We're comfortable financially and most important, I learned to release the
>hatred I carried for Mother for most of my life.  She moved to been near me
>just over 5 years ago. She was the same self centered, selfish person I knew
>when she wasn't that close. Today, her mind is gone, and her body is feeble,
>but I can truly touch her and say "Mom, I love you." And she knows that I
>do. It was her fault, yet it wasn't her fault, because she didn't know any
>better. She learned from her Mother, and had no understanding of the
>devastation she brought into the lives of her 4 children.
>
>But enough about that. Linda and I are making plans for the next 20 years.
>Plans we didn't even imagine 5 years ago. Our children are experiencing
>their own challenges and developing into terrific human beings. Our grand
>daughters top the list of our exciting existence. 50 years ago, as a
>carefree adolescent, I couldn't possibly know that life could be so good.
>
>I've made many wonderful friends in this group. A few have moved beyond this
>life already. A few, Linda and I cherish more deeply than they know. Some
>are a lifetime of distance removed, but I have vowed to meet you in person
>before I die. Count on it. I'm in for the long haul.
>
>After 60 years of breathing on my own, my life is at long last bearing the
>fruits of a previously "Never Present" organization. I'm actually delegating
>and planning my time. On the schedule is 2 hours daily to write. I haven't
>reached the time line for that goal, but it's only 2 months away. Anyone
>taking bets?
>
>Many of you will recall that I was listed for a heart transplant in 1997 and
>then improved to the point that my function exceeded the eligibility
>threshold. I haven't worked for the last 2 years and my heart health has
>declined substantially. Today, I am again waiting for a new heart. My
>surgeons are noted amongst the best in the world. Only God know when, but
>YOU know, I'm not going to die. I have much too much to accomplish in this
>life.
>
>And that's my story.
>
>Jim Miller

Hey, Jim! Nice to hear from you again, fella. Sorry about the ol' 
ticker giving you problems again, but glad you're still around. I've 
had a few more skin cancers since I last heard from you, but so far 
I'm still in the minor leagues cancerwise. Don't know about this sore 
lump in my left breast yet. I know breast cancer in men is rare, but 
it does happen. I have an appointment with my doc set for March 9.

If you have to have a heart transplant, I hope it goes well. Keep us 
up to date on it and everything going on with you.

Cheerio, Cecil