Ultimate Gratitude

 

These are the people who have given me so much happiness with their generosity, love, insight, humor.

Housekeeping

 

Today I am announcing my retirement as editor of Portland Cancer Story . The blog to date has shared the information about my diagnosis and rests on the thought that I have a serious disease which advances at an unknown pace.

My wife, soulmate, best friend, and primary caregiver is managing my treatment and life in our house. She may take over  Portland Cancer Story and/or find another platform to share information. She is the point person from now on about visits, medical treatments, philosophies, and food.

Robin’s care, humor, wit, and general lovely awesomeness knows no bounds. I can’t express enough my gratitude to have her in my life and to have shared our journey together for so long.

I will continue to post on Portdaddia random comments when the spirit strikes. Stoke proclamation will continue for all the blessings.

 

“If I Were a Tishman”

 

These past few nights I’ve been enjoying Michael Croland’s book, “Oy Oy Oy Gevalt! Jews and Punk. The exercise is that I read a chapter then look up the music on Spotify. One thing leads to another, and all Jewish music leads to Alan Sherman.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asvVrm6xvG4

The first song of Sherman’s I played was “If I Were a Tishman,” a parody of “If I Were a Rich Man” from the Fiddler on the Roof musical. Julius Tishman was a developer of big buildings in New York City in the 50s and 60s.

Interesting to note, the song mentions Tishman’s building 666 Fifth Avenue, a property currently owned by Jarred Kushner. I wonder if he feels the Sherman reference is a blessing or a curse. (Jarred: "Alan who?")

When I was ten years old, I found my father’s LP of Sherman’s My Son, the Folksinger. I didn’t know the songs it skewered, save for Glory Glory Harry Lewis. The playful irreverence caught me, and I intently focused on the songs the way only a 10-year-old can. In some ways, Alan Sherman is source code for my sense of humor.

I love the thought that Sherman’s musical comedy continues to crack me up.

Things I Am Grateful For

 I fell asleep and awoke with a cat on my lap.

This is a simple yet profound pleasure. I do not take it for granted.

MBA Leadership Project

I did this project over 12 years ago and feel that it has stood the test of time. I converted it from a powerpoint to a video so bear with some level of tech issues.

Apple Cat-Measuring App Works Well

 

The Apple cat-measuring app is an elegant solution to know breadth of reach when the cat goes full sploot.

 

Freshman idiocy

When I think about my life, I often become maudlin, like I didn’t leave the mark I intended, or didn’t live up to the standards I set for myself.

This is just part of the experience, sometimes you think you hit it out of the park, sometimes not.

I was surfing around my photos and came upon the above one from my freshman year at college. Oddly it soothed my roiling mind as it showcased such unrestrained idiocy. The photo didn’t happen by accident, so we must of all felt pretty good about it at the time.

The embarrassment I felt looking at it made me realize how that person in the picture was and wasn’t me. If I was still making photos like this one there would be a problem.

I wasn’t born with the mindset of a 56-year-old curmudgeon, thankfully. I’ve always given myself permission to change my thinking, attitudes, and not get locked into a philosophy. Maybe I delude myself that change is possible.

I still take silly pictures, but they look nothing like this. So, I keep evolving.