Cancer Checkup A-O-K

From Tranquilla II on the Back of Eddy Creek - Lake Barkley --- The annual cancer checkup went just fine for another year. Two more to go unless the clock gets reset and I should be declared cancer free. I do have to have an ultrasound and some additional preventative tests on April 15th. How fitting eh? THANKS for all the prayers and positive thoughts. Off to bed now. This day just exhausts me.

Love, peace and grace, Dr. D

Annual Cancer Checkup

From Tranquilla II on the Back of Eddy Creek - Lake Barkley --- I always dread this day even with Valium to take the edge off of things. However, I am now understanding and empathetic for what women undergo when they visit their OBGYN.

Much like "Peter" on Family Guy I feel "violated" by my urologist.

For those of you who may not have seen this - check it out here:

or copy and paste this link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHKTE75dgE4&feature=PlayList&p=BB4A6A521C2BECC5&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=34

Your prayers and positive thoughts are appreciated and for the men reading this if you ever even remotely suspect that you have seen blood in your urine get to a doctor and insist they thoroughly check it out. Bladder cancer is not something to deal with after the fact.

It is now 11:59 a.m. and I have officially put in a 21 hour day. I'm off to bed.

Love, peace and grace, Dr. D

For All My Fellow Dog Lovers

From Tranquilla II on the Back of Eddy Creek - Lake Barkley --- For those of you who love dogs. Many of my Tybee friends will recognize some of these photos.

http://www.ldarrylarmstrong.com/

Love, peace and grace, Dr. D

When a Beloved Dog Dies - By Our Friend Junie

From Tranquilla II on the Back of Eddy Creek - Lake Barkley --- You just know I have told people over my 58-years. You just know. Maybe it is intuition, a feeling, a sixth sense or something even more esoteric but whatever it is you just know.

You know within 30-seconds of meeting someone whether or not you will like them.

Such was the case with our dear friends (and new landlords) Vince and Junie at Tybee Island. For one thing they love dogs (and as you will see later in this article Junie captures that well in writing); second, the are kind and gentle people, which is demonstrated through their behavior towards people and animals; and third, they are connective souls - two people who have finally found each other on this trip through this world and you can see it in their behavior toward each other and hear it in their words when they speak.

So, it was no surprise to me that when Junie shared her latest writing with me (she also wrote and sang for me a little ditty she had composed about their dog Tobe) that it would capture the spirit of one of her dear friends feelings when his dog passed. Since it was published in the Tybee Island newspaper I believe it is safe to republish it here.

For some of us our dogs are the closest friends we ever have. For those of us that were only children they became a focus of our world, our constant companions, our confidants, our best pals. And even for us guys when girls came along it was always our "best buddies" that were there when our hearts were broken.

Here is Junie's tribute to her friend Jimbo's dog "Rebel."

When a Beloved Dog Dies

The e-mail from Jim Heflin read: “My beloved Rebel died Saturday morning at 2:30 a.m. from a heart attack. He and I played outside most of the day, and he was his normal self. The vet said that he had more than likely been sick for some time and that dogs, like humans, mask their pain so that those close to them will not worry. I am grateful that he did not suffer, but I miss him more than you will ever know. He was my constant companion for 11 years.”

Rebel came into Jim’s life by accident---or maybe not. Whatever the case, a large dog, with a large head and huge ears, showed up in Jim’s yard on Tybee 11 years ago and decided to stay. Rebel grew into a “Great Beast”, part German Shepherd and part Akita, who knew how to spell. If he heard the letters, c----a---t, the chase was on. He enjoyed illegal frolics on the north beach with Jim’s family, and when Jim moved to a house with a pool, Rebel enjoyed poolside activities as well as an occasional swim. The Heflin’s house will not be the same without his booming bark or presence. Jim will not be the same either---he has lost his best friend.

People who are lucky enough to have the unconditional, uncomplicated love of a dog know that dogs bring out the best in us. “May I always be the person my dog thinks I am” pretty well sums it up. We thrive emotionally because of their constant and non-critical affection. Actually the only real fault they have is that their lives are too short. We know from the beginning that our dogs will probably leave this world before we do, but we are willing to undergo the terrible grief because the time we have with them is worth it.

Dogs and their owners make up a large part of Tybee’s population, and are a daily sight on the island ---in trucks, convertibles, or cars (either in the driver’s lap or riding shotgun) ---in bicycle baskets, in wagons, walking their owners, hanging off porches, chasing cats, and howling at sirens. The sight of them always makes me smile. And, in a few months, when Jim has had some time, maybe he’ll find another best friend. Not a replacement, because Rebel can never be replaced, but another best friend. Because none of us can have too many friends. I think Rebel will be pleased if he does.

“You think dogs will not be in heaven. I tell you, they will be there long before any of us.” Robert Louis Stevenson

And yes, Junie and Kay it made me cry.

Love, peace and grace and until next time, Dr. D

Finding the Way Back Home

From the Back of Eddy Creek On Lake Barkley - Kay has spent the day working in her gardens and I have spent the day preparing for the Storm Lake, Ia. Leadership consultation later in April.

However, I visited today my favorite eating and hang out in Princeton - Peggy's Cafe - to catch up and see Miss Allison and the regulars. The talk is still centering around the ice storm of the decade and the problems with insurance adjusters and getting claims filed.

I am pleased to report that our insurance agent Tim Murphy from Hopkinsville personally visited today - that my friends is customer service! Our initial claims have been paid and although there are some small claims yet to be filed we are grateful for all that everyone has done for us while we were away.

Patrick my handy man, Jeremy and his helper Juan, Elmer my farm manager and our friends Bill and Susan and Matt and Janette, our neighbors and family Barb and Jim --- and others have all been great to have helped us out while we spent the winter at Tybee.

And that's what I like about rural America and the family here at the lake and at Tybee - when one is in need, friends are there to help. That is the basis for our humanity I think.

Many of the line workers that came from various states that had worked Katrina said the damage here was worse than Katrina's!

However, you didn't hear people moaning and complaining to FEMA, who also has not had the sterling reputation they once had, nor did you see activists rushing in to plead the case of the poor and down-trodden. We didn't see Obama flying over the area to review the situation and frankly we don't expect it nor need it.

The bottom-line is this: we can and do take care of our own in the real America where the rubber meets the road and we don't need no "stinking" bail outs to do that.

Thanks to everyone.

Love, peace and grace and until next time, Dr. D

P.S. For those of you who have not yet seen our "talking dogs" here is the first video of our very talented "Little Bit"

Kay Saves the Day!

From the Back of Lake Barkley on Eddy Creek - Our trip back home was as long as the trip to our beloved Tybee Island yet this year I did not have the remorse and unfulfilled feelings I often have.

We have made an arrangement with our new friends Vince and Junie and have rented their place called, and yes I am not kidding, "The Love Shack." Although we have privileges to come and go throughout the 12-months our work schedules will most likely only allow us to maybe "eek" out 6 of the 12 months from now until next April. However, you can bet I will be there as often as possible.

When we arrived at the cabin back home - Kay beat me by 30-minutes or so - I rolled into the lake to see a fire being fought down on the lake front of the property. It seems my Brother Jim's fire got out of hand. Kay saved the day with rakes and a water hose. Actually I am pleased that he had started the burn without me. There is a lot of work to be done, however, Nephew Jeremy and his co-worker Juan did a great job of cutting and stacking the tree tops.

Love, peace and grace, Dr. D




Kay and "The Boys" at our second home at Tybee Island.