Category Archives: Pity Party

Eyes Wide Open

By Richard | Published January 22, 2012

I have a few quirks. About 15 years ago, I pulverized a bone in my hand in a testosterone-rich karate accident, and it could only be repaired through plastic surgery. Since anesthetic and I aren’t natural dancing partners, I convinced the anesthesiologist to administer a local that would only deaden my arm. A side benefit [...]

Also posted in Life, Wall-E—The Neuroendocrine Tumor | 11 Comments

True Confessions

By Richard | Published November 12, 2011

Pain is a great leveler. I write that to explain why I had an unexpected reaction last year when I learned that doctors had misdiagnosed my neuro-endocrine tumor, and that I was likely headed for surgery. I didn’t want to tell my family, but not for the reasons you might expect. Over the last two [...]

Also posted in Family, Life, Wall-E—The Neuroendocrine Tumor | 2 Comments

Gray Anatomy

By Richard | Published October 15, 2011

Sometimes a few tears can wring the sadness from a soul. The times when I’ve been able to cry for myself are rare, but I can still be touched by beauty and the pain that others must bear, so I sought out this song by a favorite artist. And as I listened and the tears [...]

Also posted in Life, Wall-E—The Neuroendocrine Tumor | 5 Comments

Full Circle

By Richard | Published September 26, 2011

All good things must come to an end. That title made for a killer final episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, and it neatly encapsulates my next installment in the Levangie chronicles. The first phase of my experimental drug trial finished today and, if it began with cautious optimism, it died with a sharp [...]

Also posted in Life, Wall-E—The Neuroendocrine Tumor | 20 Comments

May You Live in Interesting Times

By Richard | Published August 26, 2011

I’m living in interesting times and the Chinese are right: it is both a blessing and a curse.* Over the next month, I need to determine what comes next. Do I follow a conservative line—Cripes! I cringe every time I define myself with that word, no matter what context—or do I throw caution to the [...]

Also posted in Life, Wall-E—The Neuroendocrine Tumor | 5 Comments

I Would Like Some Cheese With My Whine

By Richard | Published July 10, 2011

Funny what excites some men. A few weeks ago, when Kristina noticed that I have a modest two-pack, I felt flush with potential. Perhaps it wasn’t too late to become what I might have been. I’ve always been one of the fittest people I know. I was training for my sandan (third-degree black belt) in [...]

Also posted in Life, Wall-E—The Neuroendocrine Tumor, Writing | 4 Comments

The Meaning of Hope

By Richard | Published June 16, 2011

Hope. I banished the word from my lexicon more than two decades ago. With an illness as long and as intractable as the one I have endured, it was just too painful and dangerous for me to throw my faith behind any one person or any new therapy. Much better to stay grounded, to live [...]

Also posted in Housekeeping, Life, Wall-E—The Neuroendocrine Tumor | 7 Comments

Good News and Bad News

By Richard | Published June 5, 2011

The first step in overcoming a problem is admitting that you have one. Normally, I don’t have much difficulty facing reality, but this truth is staring me in the face, and I keep looking away. I need to work on my poker face. Maybe I should ease you into it, and write a little about [...]

Also posted in Life, Wall-E—The Neuroendocrine Tumor, Writing | 11 Comments