There's A Bogie in Sector 7G

Not much has happened since the last time I posted. As a matter of fact, I had a six month check-up with the oncologists in January. There was nothing, I mean absolutely nothing of significant interest to convey to you. I couldn’t even make something up in my overactive imagination to even entertain the masses. Everything was normal. Except for the whole superior vena cava thing. And the neuropathy in my toes. And the migraines.

So these past six months I’ve been walking along and looking up at the clouds and seeing the silver lining. You know, the problem with looking up when you’re walking is that eventually, you’re gonna stumble and fall, walk into a pole or wall or at the very least, trip over the crack in the sidewalk.

That happened to me yesterday. I was happily looking up at the silver lining, when BAM … right into the pole. Of course, I picked myself up, dusted myself off and looked back to the clouds and noticed that my silver lining needed some Tarn-X. I hate Tarn-X. It works like mad crazy, but stinks like rotten eggs on the bayou. Point being, I don’t use it unless it is absolutely necessary.

Here’s what happened. I went in for another six month check-up with one of my oncologists. This one is the survivorship doctor. In order for you to get perspective, I need to tell you the back story. Because with me, there is always a back story …

When I was first diagnosed with cancer, before I was even assigned an oncologist, I noticed a small lump behind my jaw, under my ear lobe. Very small, but big enough that I asked the surgeon about it. He looked at it and poked it a few times then hemmed and hawed and decided that it was most likely a swollen salivary gland and that it was nothing to worry about. His exact words were, “Don’t worry about it. You’re getting ready to undergo months of chemotherapy and most likely radiation after that. If it were something to worry about, it won’t be in six or seven months.”

I took him at his word.

After the all the chemo and the radiation the lump, which I shall now refer to as Lumphrey Bogart, or Bogie for short, was still there. However, all my blood tests, CT Scans and PET Scans were normal. I felt it just must be a swollen salivary gland like the surgeon had said. I was declared to be in remission so I figured there was nothing to worry about. So I didn’t.

Fast forward three and a half years of normal blood tests, check-ups, scans and x-rays to about two months ago and I noticed that Bogie was getting a little bit big for his britches. Now I like Bogie. I mean we are connected. We are close. I take him everywhere I go, but the fact remains that he is growing. So that made me think why would he be growing? Do salivary glands grow? Not knowing that answer I Googled the location of all the salivary glands to do a little light reading on the subject. The first thing that popped up in the search was a 3D rendering of the location of the salivary glands. I thought wow this is exactly what I’m looking for. I clicked on the picture and shoot-fire if it wasn’t linked to the Mayo Clinic.

 I know I should have looked first, but I got duped and sucked in by the cool 3Dness of the picture. If there is one thing I’ve learned through all the cancer stuff, it’s that you should never look up a medical issue on the Mayo Clinic or WebMD sites or any sites like that. All you’re going to get is a list of possible problems and most of them being the worst case scenario which makes people freak out and run to the doctor’s office with what they self-diagnosed as utterly preposterous issues and most likely not even remotely related to the actual problem. Try looking up a lower back ache on WebMD’s symptom checker. I just did this to prove my point.  I do have frequent lower back pain and I have been to the doctor for it. But for the purposes of this discussion I checked lower back pain, went through the series of questions and the following list are the possible issues: 

Cauda Equina Syndrome	Muscle Strain	Degenerative Disc Disease
Lumbar (low back) Strain	Acute Kidney Failure	Fibromyalgia
Lumbar (low back) Herniated Disk	Osteomyelitis (Bone Infection)	Osteoporosis
Vertebral Compression Fracture (Lumbar)	Kidney Stones	Ankylosing Spondylitis
Bone Spurs	Broken (fractured) Low Back Vertebra	Broken (fractured) Shoulder Blade
Cervicitis	Dermatomyositis	Endometriosis
Helicobacter Pylori Infection	Hydronephrosis	Kidney Infection (Pyelonephritis)
Lumbar Spinal Stenosis	Miscariage	Ovarian Cysts
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease	Prementrual Syndrome (PMS)	Prolpsed Bladder
Prolapsed Embolism	Ulcerative Colitis	Uterine Fibroids
Vertebral Compression Fracture (Thoracic)	Aoritc Aneurysm (Abdomen)	Shingles (Herpes Zoster)
Spinal Tumor	Tick Bite	Endocarditis
Renal Cell (Kidney) Cancer

You know what the doctor says is the reason for my back pain? I’m overweight, I have a bulging disc and like my father, I have degenerative disc disorder. Only one of those symptoms was listed as a possibility on WebMD. I’m not saying WebMD won’t come up with the right issue, but I’m saying that you can’t get a proper perspective when you have 37 possible outcomes, most of which are really major medical issues. This is why if you have a problem, you go to the doctor. Once the doctor gives you the answer, then and only then, should you look it up on the web and then only from credible and reputable websites.

I know I just chased a rabbit, but I can’t stress this enough. STOP TRYING TO SELF DIAGNOSE!!!

That being said, after I had a total freak out about all the issues that could be the problem. I actually went to my general practitioner and let him be the one to tell what Bogie’s issue was. He gave me “that” look. The same look I got when I resembled Quasimodo and had a tumor sitting on a nerve in my shoulder. It’s not a comforting look to say the least.

However, being a great doctor, he was honest and said he didn’t know and decided to run a few blood tests and send me off to an ENT. The blood tests came back all within normal ranges. This news made me feel better.

The ENT was nice enough, but he poked and prodded poor Bogie until I thought he was going to make Bogie mad, but to Bogie’s credit he took it in stride. The ENT measured Bogie and said, “Well if it hasn’t gotten any bigger than this in the last four years, it’s probably something you’ll go to your grave with.”

That did not make me feel better. As a matter of fact that was a bit general and it could have gone either way. So my response, which I felt was a reasonable one, was, “Ok. That’s fine, but are you talking about me going to my grave 40 years from now or 40 days?”

He responded, “Meh.”

Really? Meh? That’s hardly comforting. I mean, I know we aren’t promised tomorrow, but dang. He then said that he didn’t think it was anything to worry about, but he would wait to look at some older scans from my oncologist. That made me feel better.

This all brings me to yesterday when I had my check up with one of the oncologists. I tried very hard to stress that the ENT doesn’t seem to think it’s an issue. She looked Bogie over, poked around and measured him and said, “CT Scan. We need to do one. It may be nothing, but I don’t like it. Lay down.” That did not make me feel better.

I didn’t even get to say anything before she was pulling the leg extender out from the examining table and lightly pushing me back. She pressed hard on my stomach a few times and asked if anything hurt. I told her nothing was hurting and she said I could sit up. Once I sat back up she said, “CT Scan of your stomach and legs too.” That made me feel even worse. I think I actually winced when she said that.

I said, “What?! Why?! What do you know?!”

She smiled and said in a not so reassuring voice, “Nothing,” then sent me off to have my blood work.

Now do you see why I’m a total hypochondriac? Regardless, I’m scheduled for two CT Scans next week and then the week after I have a follow-up visit with the oncologist. So now I’m in a hurry up and wait mode once again. I’m doing my best to be all “glass half full” and not worry about it until they tell me I have something to worry about, but always in the back of the mind is that nagging feeling that there could be something wrong and that Bogie has turned on me.

I’ll keep you posted with the outcome of the tests. You’ll know what I know when I know it.

-Kat

1 Peter 5:7

The Follow-Up ...

Sorry to keep the good folks out there waiting for my update on the heart situation. It was not intentional, but this is honestly the first time since my follow-up appointment that I have had to sit down and write this.

To say I was nervous was a bit of an understatement. To say I was scared witless is probably more accurate. I was scared that I'm 12 days away from turning 40 and my chest was going to have to be cracked open for a bypass or, at the very least, a stent. These kinds of medical problems only serve to feed my hypochondria and making me wait only enables it more.

Fortunately, my fears were unfounded – well those specific fears were unfounded. I've learned a very important truth. ER personnel stink at communication skills. I was told I had NO right superior vena cava. So imagine my surprise when my doctor told me I had a BLOCKED right superior vena cava. Big difference in saying something is missing versus saying something is blocked. Big difference.

Of course not being well versed in medical speak, I'll let this one slide. Regardless, the issue is that I have a blocked vein to my heart. My doctor told me based on the report from my hospital trip that I shouldn't worry about it. All the scans, tests, ultrasounds and whatever medical poking and prodding they did showed that I'm fine and that my heart has bypassed the vein all on its own.

As for the rest of my symptoms, I've pretty much struck out from anyone admitting that any of them were tied to the heart issue. I think it's a vicious conspiracy perpetrated by the medical community for the purposes of encouraging the hypochondria meaning more doctor's visits and more money for them. OK, I don't actually believe that since I happen to have great doctors. OK, I believe it a little bit, but I don't blame the doctors ... much.

I walked away without so much as an aspirin regimen. The only thing the doctor would even consider being remotely related to my heart was the migraines. He did give me something to take at the onset of one and I need to track them for the next three months to see how frequent they may be. If they are too frequent, then he will give me a daily medication for them. Otherwise, I'll stick with what I got.

I've been cleared to keep exercising and if I so choose I can drink caffeinated beverages. All in all an uneventful, but very relieving visit to the MD.

I am indeed very thankful and grateful for all the well wishes, cards, visits, phone calls, inquiries, prayers and hugs that I have received over the last week and a half. I'm a lucky person and God continues to bless my life.

Without a doubt, in 12 days I will be happy to celebrate the big 4-0. And if that isn't a hint people, I don't know what is! Just sayin'.

 

God bless,

Kat

1 Peter 5:7

Hospital Horrors ...

I think it’s safe to say that cancer really and truly sucks. So do the after effects. I mistakenly thought that once I was in remission it would be smooth sailing. My body has not agreed with me on this point. So let’s tally the score sheet. Symptoms that I have gotten during and since my cancer treatments are as follows:

• Migraines
• Shortness of breath
• Swelling in my ankles
• Pressure in my head and face when bending down to pick something up
• General fatigue

All these symptoms had been explained away. For instance, the migraines were probably a combination of hormones and sinuses. The fatigue was because my body went through so much with the chemo and radiation. So on and so forth. These are reasonable explanations, but don’t really offer solutions to the problem.

So for a while now I’ve been feeling like a hypochondriac. While I know that I feel like crud, there never seemed to be any one thing they could put their finger on. Thursday, this all changed. To make a very long story short, I’ll cut to the chase. I’ll not elaborate about the six and a half hours it took in the ER waiting room just to get a room in the ER to be seen. Nor will I mention the fact that after that I spent another seven hours in the ER waiting for a hospital bed to open up to be admitted, that I was questioned, poked and prodded until about 6:00 Friday morning before I was allowed to finally get some sleep only to be awakened two hours later by another round of poking and prodding.

No, I won’t mention all that. I also won’t go into detail that the needy Nelly next to me constantly talked and interrupted EVERY SINGLE CONVERSATION I had with family, friends and doctors and buzzed the nurses repeatedly and argued with her physician and complained about her food and bothered me with questions about her computer and the internet and everything else she could find to talk about. No, I’ll leave that subject alone.

The real “heart” of the problem is this … while in the ER they did a CT Scan on my chest to check for blood clots. I was psyched that they found the structure of my heart was normal and they didn’t find any clotting. Psyched I tell you! Psyched! That is until they said the dreaded word, “but …”

That’s right, it’s always the big but that lets people know how FUBARed the situation has really become. I will not take the time to explain what FUBAR stands for. Those of you that already know, I don’t need to tell and those of you who don’t know, believe me, you don’t want to know. Suffice it to say it means messed up. REALLY messed up.

The big but in this case meant that the scan showed that there was, and I quote, “an absence of the right superior vena cava to my heart.” So what the heck is a vena cava you may ask? I know I did! Well, in laymen’s terms it is a big ole vein that pumps the blood back to my heart. Now, let that sink in for a moment …


… And now comes the “HOLY CRAP!” moment that my parents and I had when they were telling us this.

Fortunately, because God is an awesome God and He knew what He was doing when He created the human body, my heart has compensated for this by using smaller veins and capillaries to pump blood into itself. Unfortunately, my circulation isn’t near what it should be, thus potentially causing all the issues listed above.

While in the hospital, my oncologist and a cardiologist both agree that this problem with the vena cava is due to where they placed the mediport in my chest so that I could receive the chemo treatments. Apparently, the body doesn’t particularly like foreign objects placed in the veins to your heart. The people most likely have this kind of issue that were not born with it are people who have had pacemaker wires, dialysis, other heart or intravenous catheters, or people like me who have had lymphoma tumors and/or mediports implanted. I sure there are other various causes, but I have not read extensively on the subject since I just learned about it Thursday.

They ran a number of tests on me to make sure that I didn’t have any clotting or blockages. I had to have a heart ultrasound which wasn’t too bad. I had already had two of those while I was undergoing the chemo so I knew what to expect. I also had to have a stress test – they said something wasn’t working somewhere so it would have to be done in two parts over two days. Translation: We need to be able to charge more money so we will keep you here for another day.

On Friday, I was injected with dye and stuck on a table for pictures to be taken of my heart. No big deal. I wasn’t supposed to eat or drink anything after midnight, but was supposed to have had a stress meal the next morning before the test. They told me that I would have my stress test around 8:30 in the morning. I fell asleep Friday night around 10:00. Saturday morning I woke up at 7:30. I waited patiently for my stress meal. 8:30 came and went and no one came to get me for the stress test. Needy Nelly was still asleep when they brought her breakfast in at 9:00. I waited patiently for my stress meal. At 9:30 one of the nurses came in and said, “I don’t know why you haven’t gotten your stress meal. I’ll call downstairs to see where it is at.” I thanked Nice Nurse Michelle and waited patiently for my stress meal.

A little after 10:00, my pastor strolled in with a cup of finely brewed coffee. I don’t drink coffee, but since I was hungry AND hadn’t had any caffeine since Thursday night, I was seriously thinking about stealing his coffee. Before I had the chance, Nice Nurse Michelle brought me a Sprite and said I could drink that since I was obviously not getting the stress meal. I had a few sips of Sprite and at about 10:45 they came to take me down for the stress test. My stomach growled. Pastor Hughes said a prayer and was off, taking his coffee with him.

I was wheeled down to the treadmill room and hooked up to every monitor lead they could find. They had five leads across my chest and five leads underneath my left breast. I only am making a point to tell you this as it plays a part later on in the story. They left me sitting in this cold meat locker of a room to wait for the doctor to come in to administer the stress test all the while thinking about the stress meal I never got. After about an hour, the doctor came in and they were getting me ready to get on the treadmill.

Now I have all 10 leads hooked up to my body, a blood pressure cuff attached to my right arm, a syringe of sodium chloride sticking out of the IV in my left arm and a gown that doesn’t ever seem to cover enough but is enough material to keep getting in the way when Omar the lab tech introduces himself. He gets me up on the treadmill and states, “This will start out slow and gradually get faster.” I said, “ok."

Omar started the treadmill at the speed of light and after I caught myself, I said with a bit of irritation to my voice, “That was not gradual.” His response was, “Yeah, I’m not real familiar with this machine.” My response was given with even more irritation as I said, “Well, OMAR, maybe you should stop touching the buttons and get someone in here that is familiar with this machine.”

The doctor then piped in with a, “You’re doing great!” comment. Of course I was doing great, I wasn’t thinking about the stupid treadmill. I was thinking about hitting OMAR upside the head. The doctor told Omar to kick it up a notch and the treadmill moved into warp speed. Then the doctor indicated that he wasn’t getting a correct reading on my heart rate. I know what my heart rate was … it was exploding you jerk! So they brought in Trish because she hooked me up. Trish decided that I had too much boobage – that was her clinical term for it – and it was interfering with one of the leads.

So now, I have all 10 leads hooked up to my body, a blood pressure cuff attached to my right arm, a syringe of sodium chloride sticking out of the IV in my left arm, a gown that doesn’t ever seem to cover enough but is enough material to keep getting in the way, Omar the lab guy trying to stick another syringe in my arm so they can inject some dye and Trish holding my left breast and pressing on the lead while I’m trying to walk very quickly on a treadmill. Really? I mean really?

At this point I have to wonder why these oddities keep occurring when I’m being tested for something. Rewards to the first person who can give me a credible answer for this little pondering. Regardless, I got through the stress test was made to wait again and then stuck on the table to have more pictures of the heart taken. All of that to say there was no clotting or blockage and that I could go home. I was thankfully discharged from the hospital at 6:00 Saturday evening.

I do not know what the course of treatment will be for the superior vena cava, which subsequently isn’t looking all that superior, but I do have a follow up appointment with my general practitioner on Wednesday. Hopefully, he will give me some clear guidance as to the do’s and don’ts and what my options at this point are.

Thanks to all of the well wishes and prayers. I appreciate them and all of you. Hopefully, I will have an update in the next few days.

- Kat 1 Peter 5:7

Dazed and Confused

For those of you keeping up, I went in for my six-month check-up with my oncologist on Monday. To say I was dazed and confused by the time the appointment was over is a bit of an understatement.

However, before I go any further I will put your minds at ease and tell you that I am doing well and am still cancer free. The X-rays looked great and since I haven’t gotten any phone calls, I am assuming my blood work is fine also. They will only call me when the news is bad.

The visit started off with an overview and follow-up from a nurse practitioner in the office. She asked if I was having any issues - you know the typical doctor/patient dialogue. Then my oncologist came in holding his chest and spouting foreign words and phrases like, “soon to be 40” and “mammogram” and other such nonsensical terms.

Here’s where he drops the doom and gloom:

Did you know that when you have radiation treatment in the areas I had radiation treatment (neck, chest and side) that it increases your risk of getting heart disease, breast cancer and thyroid disease/cancer?

Did you know that while not a rare form of cancer, Hodgkin’s Disease is not considered a common form either? And did you that the recurrence of Hodgkin’s is not only possible, but more likely probable?

Of course you did. Or you should have because I was told that during my treatment a couple + years ago. However, what I was not informed of was the significance of the risks. He went on to say that now that I’m in remission he wanted me to go to a survivorship doctor. They specialize in more foreign phrases like, “all the long-term effects the treatment did to you”.

Excuse me? Long-term effects? Like how long is long-term? A year, five years, a lifetime? You mean there are more potential problems than neuropathy and difficulty breathing and migraines and hypochondria? Good grief – literally.

So then he goes back on the mammogram thing. He told me that I need to have a mammogram because:
1) It is that time in my life that it needs to be done and
2) They need to check to make sure the radiation treatment hasn’t caused me to have breast cancer … but, … wait for it … he doesn’t like the fact that to check the possible damage of radiation you have to have a mammogram and that is essentially putting more radiation in your body so I have to see this survivorship doctor first (but not for six months I might add) to see if there are other ways to do a mammogram or some other facsimile thereof. However, before I go see the survivorship doctor, I have to have a chest x-ray which also pumps more radiation into my body. So I really don’t see the difference in just getting the mammogram versus having another x-ray and then being told to get a mammogram … see why I’m confused?

Bottom line is that most tests for cancer involve coming into contact with some form of radiation. X-rays, CT scans, MRIs, PT scans, mammograms all have the potential to do harm over the “long-term”. And if you have had cancer and are in remission then the number of tests you have in life is increased exponentially as you will need to continue having these tests to monitor your health. The radiation treatment for cancer might cause cancer. Aftercare testing might cause cancer. Airport security might cause cancer. Drinking the water might cause cancer. You get the idea. And that’s just the effects of the radiation. Don’t even get me started on the “long-term” effects of the chemotherapy … mostly because I will need to talk to the survivorship doctor first to get a list of potentially harmful and “long-term” side effects that have yet to raise their specter.

When I left his office, I seriously had no clue as to what he just said to me. I knew I should have taken someone with me or at least recorded the conversation. So as of right now, aside from the migraines I continually have, I don’t think I have any health issues …

Oh, but wait! I have to schedule an appointment with my GP for blood work and other stuff. I went in December with my annual 10 month long sinus infection that I always seem to get at that time of year and he had the nerve, the unmitigated gall, to tell me that I was at “that age” in which I should start getting regular six month check-ups to check my cholesterol, blood sugar, blood pressure and whatever (sigh) middle-aged people have to deal with. Gah! “That age,” indeed! I would be incensed if it weren’t somewhat maybe kinda true. But still, he didn’t have to say it. I have feelings, you know.

Anyway, as always I appreciate your prayers and kind words of encouragement. It means so much to me. I hope your New Year is going well.

God bless,
Kat
1 Peter 5:7

The Most Memorable T.V. Theme Songs - In My Opinionation

I recently was going through some old cd's deciding which ones to convert to a digital format, when I came across my collection of Television’s Greatest Hits. Bonus: I have more than one volume!! Then I started to think, T.V. shows don’t have good theme songs any more- assuming that they have any theme songs at all. Most just play credits while the opening scenes are going on.

As I was perusing my collection I came up with MY Top 10 T.V. Theme songs. Let me re-state these are MY Top 10 not anyone else’s and not subject for debate. I recognize the fact that there were/are many T.V. theme songs that were great – these are just MY 10 favorite ones.

Also let me preface this list by saying that just because it’s a memorable theme song, that does not mean I watched every single program on this list. But that just goes to my point as to how memorable a Theme Song can be – if you know what the theme song is and you never watched the program, then that’s good stuff. Again – only my opinion people.

#10 – The Facts of Life

Who can forget the escapades of the girls going to school at the prestigious all-girl boarding school, Eastland School in Peekskill, NY? This show was originally a spin-off of Diff'rent Strokes and centered around Ms. Edna Garrett as she became the housemother to the girls of Eastland. By the 2nd season Ms. Garrett was moved to the position of dietitian and the cast was whittled down to four main girls - spoiled rich girl Blair, impressionable and quick-witted, Natalie, naïve and adorable Tootie and rough, tumble, motorbike-loving Jo.



#9 - Scooby Doo, Where Are You!

This is the first incarnation of the famous gang from Mystery Inc. This one premiered in 1969 and far surpasses any other version - and there have been many other more recent versions, plus a couple of really bad movies that shouldn't even have been made. But if you really want to see how it all began, you should really see the original. Fred, Daphne, Velma, Shaggy and that big ole, goofy Great Dane, Scooby Doo are a true classic that still stands the test of time.





#8 - Wonder Woman

I don't remember much about it, other than it was based off the comic and starred Lynda Carter as Wonder Woman/Diana Prince. I do remember she had a magic lasso and knew how to use it. It also starred Lyle Waggoner for any one who is interested. Check out the groovy theme music it had.





#7 - Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?

I never saw this show. I do know that it was a children's game show based off a computer game of the same name. I did play the game a couple of times. Hey, don't judge. I worked in the Children's Dept. at the Library. Of course someone had to test it every now and then to make sure the disk still worked. Lynn Thigpin starred as "The Chief" on the show and from the few clips I've seen, I'd have to say she fit the part perfectly. But if anyone can listen to this Rockapella song and not tap their foot to it - kudos to you. I find the song infectious. You need to get past the 1st 20 seconds before the songs starts - sorry.





#6 - Simon & Simon

I loved Simon and Simon. My parents watched it so therefore, if I was watching T.V. at that time, I was watching what they were watching. Sigh ... those were the days of a one T.V. household. But I digress ... The premise of this show revolved around two private detective brothers that were total opposites from one another. Starring Gerald McRaney as Rick Simon and Jameson Parker (I had to look that one up) as A.J. (Andrew Jackson) Simon. Many of the shows revolved around the different ways the two would handle a case. Rick being more brash and combative and A.J. being a bit smoother and self-composed.





#5 - The Cosby Show

Bill Cosby as Cliff Huxtable - need I say more? Well, throw in Phylicia Rashad, Malcom-Jamal Warner and a slew of others, including Keshia Knight Pulliam and hilarity ensued. Bill Cosby is like every dad or the way every dad should be - a story-telling, fun-loving and sandwich eating dad everyone loves. This is my favorite version of the theme song. Actually, there were seven different versions of the theme song in all its years on the small screen. This particular one was performed by Bobby McFerrin of "Don't Worry, Be Happy" fame.





#4 - Roseanne

Say what you will about Roseanne Barr the person, but Roseanne Conners the character was the typical Mid-Western mom. This sitcom about a working middle class family dealing with every day struggles was one of television's 50 greatest shows. Roseanne had a smart-alec answer for most of her kids questions, didn't seem overly concerned that most of her dysfunctional family was coming unglued at the seams, but at the heart of it all, she did the best she could to raise her family and support her husband. The theme song fit into setting of the show perfectly. Plus, the laugh/cackle at the end is great. Like The Cosby Show, there were several different versions during it's run on T.V.




#3 - Family Feud

Originally airing in 1976 and hosted by Richard Dawson, this game show is on of television's most popular game show. It's been cancelled and revived almost as much as The Family Guy. Among Dawson's successors were Ray Coombs, Louie Anderson, Richard Karn, John O'Hurley and Steve Harvey, who is the current host. This is one of the catchiest game show theme songs ever!





#2 - Blossom

This teenage girl had a lot on her plate. Her mother walked out, her father had to cope with raising his family alone, her oldest brother was recovering from substance abuse and her other brother, while good-natured, was a complete idiot. But we forgave the latter half because he was played by Joey Lawrence and let's face it, he was a hottie - actually, he still is. Anyway, Blossom, along with her best friend Six, found humor and the positive in most situations. The words to the theme song suggest just that. Performed by the great Dr. John and you have a hit.




#1 - The Jeffersons

Starting as recurring characters on All In The Family, The Jeffersons spun off and ran for 11 seasons. George Jefferson's career as a dry cleaner took off and as a result, he packed his family up from Queens and moved to Manhattan where the fun began. Sherman Hemsley and Isabel Sanford were George and Louise Jefferson, but it was their, wise-cracking, back-talking housekeeper, Florence Johnston, played by Marla Gibbs, that rounded out the show. "Movin' On Up" was the theme song and it is without a doubt one of the most memorable television theme songs in history - at least for me it is.

Ten Years Ago ...

Ten years ago, Ten years ago my grandmother, my beloved Nanny, died at the age of 90. The memories I have of Nanny are the best. I could always make her laugh. She's the one in green in the picture, standing next to my Aunt Ruby. Nanny and I were very close and I was devastated. When she died, she had Alzheimer's Disease and didn't know me when she saw me. She died in her sleep. They say that that is the best way to go. Peacefully and while sleeping.

Ten years ago I was sitting in a Biology class at Spalding University, thinking about how I was going to celebrate my 29th birthday, when we were told that a plane had crashed into one of the Twin Towers in New York City. As the horrific events of that tragic day kept unfolding, the desire to celebrate my birthday was squashed. The senseless loss of life on 9/11 forever changed the American way of life, including the way I felt about my birthday. For a time, I thought I would never celebrate my birthday again. They say we should never forget. Never forget those who lost their lives and never forget how to celebrate life.

Ten years ago, my cat of 16 years, the cat I got for my 13th birthday, Mr. Tibbs had to be put down. His kidneys were shutting down, his liver stopped working, he had heart disease and didn't want to be touched. The vet said she could give him drugs to prolong his life, but that if it were her cat, she wouldn't do that. He would still be in pain and not have any quality of life. I was too upset to drive. My parents had to take me to the vet. While I held his paw, Mr. Tibbs took his last breath. I choked back my tears, told him goodbye and that he been the best friend a girl could ever have. I scoped him up in blankets and held him all the way home to bury him. Even my dad cried. It hurt my heart. They say time heals all wounds.

Ten years ago I was going to get my haircut, when my car broke down on a chilly Saturday morning in front of the Mall St. Matthews at a light, stopping traffic. I reached for my cell phone to call for help and it was dead. I beat my head on the steering wheel as passers-by honked their horn, raised their fist in angry aggression and flipped me off for causing them the inconvenience of having to switch lanes on a busy, crowded six lane road. As I prepared myself for the long hike through the Mall parking lot to get to a store to call for help, a young family pulled up beside me, saw my frustration and offered to take me to the Mall to call for help. They say when you least expect it, God sends you an angel.

Ten years ago my great aunt, Nanny's sister, Ruby passed away. She was frail and though I did not get to see her as often as I would have liked, I have very fond memories of her when I was a child. She gave great hugs and had smile that looked every bit as mischievous as I felt. Peas in a pod.Every October, we would go to Southside Baptist Church for the Senior Citizens Bizarre and I would sit with Aunt Ruby and enjoy a hot bowl of chili and whatever piece of cake she brought to the table. Those fall Saturdays were the best, but they have long since passed. They say its not that you go on, but how you go on that counts.

Ten years ago I sat in the parking lot at work. I had gotten out later than usual and waited for AAA to come because my tire was flatter than a pancake. A co-worker who knew the kind of year I was having came out to go to her car, stopped where I was standing, looked at my tire and then looked at my weary face and said, "Man Kathy, I think you must have royally pissed someone off. I would not want to live your life right now." We laughed. Well she laughed and I sort of half grinned and she got in her car to leave. They say things will get better.

Let's face it 2001, for me, sucked. I mean it royally sucked. It was so bad for me that one of my best friends gave me a book for Christmas. It was How To Survive The Worse Case Scenario. Very appropriate. When I opened it, I actually let out a fully bellied laugh. One you might hear and think, "That person has totally gone off their rocker." It was a rough year. It had me and my parents and other family members shaking their heads in disbelief and counting down the days to a new year. When we rang 2002 in, it felt like a great weight had been lifted off my shoulders.

I'm not sure who "they" are, but in retrospect, I guess "they" are right. I'm glad my grandmother went peacefully and didn't needlessly suffer. I will never forget those people who lost their lives on 9/11 nor will I ever take for granted how precious everyday God has given me. I will celebrate my birthday with a sense of pride. Pride in how our country united together to get through such a searing loss.

Time does seem to heal the stinging bite that the pain of loss can create. You learn to hang on to your good memories and tend to let go of the hurtful ones. Time can temper and make the harsh events of yesteryear more tenable.

There are people, or angels to some, God sends to you in times of crisis. Whether it be for a lifetime or for a fleeting moment they are there to help you, because you cannot do it alone.

The important thing about going on is that you go on in a manner that honors those lost. With an attitude of, "This too, shall pass," you can accomplish far more than you give yourself credit for. Learn from your past experiences and pass on the things you've learned to those now going through the fire you yourself once walked through. Be there for someone when it counts and let them know that things will get better. As trite as it sounds, it rings true.

Ten years ago, I suffered through one of the worst years of my life and I am the better for it.

Somebody's Praying You Through

I know it's been some time since I've written. Sorry, I'll do better in the future. I have stories but not at this particualr time. I will say I went to the oncologist yesterday and was given another clean bill of health. My visits to him have now been pushed out to every six months. All I can say is that I’m grateful.

Grateful to lab technicians, nurses, the fine folks in the Cancer Resource Center, x-ray specialists, my internist, surgeon, cardiologist, oncologist, even my radiologist – although still skeptical about him, co-workers, church members, prayer warriors, friends, family and most importantly, to God. Indeed, I have a lot to be grateful for.

As much as I would like to do the Happy Kathy Dance right now – it’s not all about me. There are those who have directly and indirectly crossed my path to inspire and encourage me that now themselves need to be lifted in prayer. I will not name them by name, in part to not embarrass them and in part because God knows who is on my heart.

I hope and pray that the final outcome for each one of them is as tremendous as mine has been and continues to be. But in all things, I pray that God’s will be done in each and every case. Unfortunately, God’s will is not always in line with our ideas. I’m as prepared as I can be for whatever comes.

I pray that I can be as big an encourager to them as they have been to me. To inspire them as they have inspired me. To be a prayer warrior for them as they were for me when I needed it most.

I pray that they find relief and comfort in the days ahead. I pray that their families also be lifted up and given the strength they need to help their loved ones through the trials they now must face. I pray that God will wrap His loving arms around them and let them know His presence. Speaking as one who knows, to feel God’s presence - especially in times of despair, is a very comforting feeling. It is a calming effect on an otherwise tumultuous situation. I pray God gives them the peace they all seek.

I pray God sends them all the right people they need to help them navigate through their difficult time. Whether it be doctors, lawyers, social workers – whatever the situation is, I pray that these dear people get the guidance they need. I also pray, they read God’s word. It too can offer peace and calm and guidance.

For those praying for others, never underestimate the power of your prayers. For those not of the praying persuasion, you can still encourage and inspire with kind words and actions. For those needing prayer, just know that somebody’s praying you through.



In Christ’s Love,
Kat
1 Peter 5:7