Nancy and Joel's Excellent Adventure: March 2013

The next phase of "My Life-Part Three" looks quite promising.

First and foremost, my son Josh no longer has cancer. While he still must suffer the effects of a final round of chemo (just dotting all the I's according to his wonderful oncologist), he doesn't have cancer any more. He also doesn't have several organs in his body that most people enjoy having, like a stomach and a spleen, but it was definitely a trade that helped the Getman team. Given some time away from chemo and a new eating regimen, he will be able to begin his "Phase Two" in fine shape.  Josh, Cindy, Sam, Sara and your faithful author of these lame ramblings will be forever grateful for your thoughts, prayers, gifts, and concern.

All of which makes my future plans with Miss Nancy of E. Lansing, Michigan quite exciting and look-forward-to-ish.

First on our list is a two-day jaunt into New Orleans, a smooth three or four hour drive from here. We will be joined by old friends Laney and Steve Silva who have graciously consented to mooch off me for a week or so in April. Just kidding, of course. This is a wonderful opportunity for me to reciprocate just a tiny portion of the kindness and hospitality shown to me by the Silva clan. I have stayed with the Silvas dozens of times over the years, often because of some kind of family illness. Back in the early 2000's, Ada and I would bunk in with the Silvas as brave grandson Sam was undergoing his two open heart surgeries. What a comfort it has always been to know that whatever stress or anxiety we faced at one hospital or another, at the end of the day we had a safe and welcoming Braintree harbor in which to dock. The key to the Silva castle was always available to us. I'd tell you where it is hidden, but most of America already knows about the sneaker in the garage. You see, it's kind of an open immigration policy at the Silva's, the Jewish version of Lourdes, where pilgrims of all beliefs can find warmth, food, and a big-ass tv. Should be a fun week.

After New Orleans, I will be flying back to Boston to see Josh, Cindy, and the twins for a few days. Sam is involved in the Weymouth version of the Special Olympics and I am very eager to see him "compete" in various activities. Later that weekend, I will be thrilled to witness Bob and Judy Ernest's grandson Michael as he becomes a bar-mitzvah. Good family stuff for sure.

The day after I get back from all this, on May 1, Nancy and I will be moving into our shared Sandestin townhouse, accompanied by the delightful Vivian, a precocious and rather unflappable West Highland terrier. She has coal black eyes that stare right through you (Vivian, not Nancy), and a keen eye for decorating (Nancy, not Vivian).

 

This will be my fifth address since I moved to the Panhandle three years ago, which either makes me very carefree and adventurous or some sort of vagrant. Kevin, our new landlord, has furnished this beautiful townhouse on the Gulf side of the sprawling Sandestin resort with upgraded furniture and HD up the ying-yang. It looks like it's going to be a tremendous flat screen kind of year. Nancy is excited about the move. I was particularly thrilled to see her studying the ins and outs of the new kitchen and its contents, and pronouncing it suitable for a chef of her excellent skills. Yes, it's definitely going to be The Year of the Joel.

About a week after we move into Sandestin, we'll be flying to Phoenix where Nancy will be reunited with her son, Ethan, and her grandson Aidan. Ethan works at the Scottsdale Fairmont Princess, so we'll be able to stay at that fabulous resort for this visit. Three days in magical Sedona and a side trip to the Grand Canyon should add hundreds of mediocre pictures to my digital collection. If by some miracle of light and lens I happen to capture a good one, I'll be sure to post it on these pages. Don't hold your breath!

Then it's a return to normalcy: golf in 90 degree heat and lazy afternoons spent people-watching at the Gulf. That is until July when Nancy and I embark on our own version of The Long March as we put about 4,000 miles on the Chevy making our way through Michigan, Boston, Asheville, and other places along the way. We'll be burning up the GPS and listening to books on tape until our ears hurt. It's the ultimate test of a relationship: highway boredom and Comfort Inns.I'm pretty sure this trip will yield ripe fruit for this Blog. If not, I'll make something up.

Finally, as 2013 draws to a close, Nancy and I will make our way to Merry Ol' England for an October visit with the Davidsons. They will be escorting son Jamie to his first year at Cambridge and we are thrilled to be joining them around that learned city as well as London, West Yorkshire and even their island retreat on Mallorca.

As one does...

Ain't life grand?

J

Levels and Settings: March 2013

During a recent road trip to other parts of Florida, I was happily reunited with several good friends. We talked about many things, got caught up on the latest family news and generally laughed our way through a few great days.

Somehow we got onto the subject of levels and settings and a wonderful realization dawned on me: just about all of my levels and settings are right where I want them to be.

Take for example my sandwich settings: I have two sandwich settings. The ham and swiss on wheat with brown mustard, lettuce, and tomato. Also, the turkey and swiss with mayo, etc. Throw a couple of sour pickles and stuffed queen olives on the plate and you've got a little piece of sandwich heaven. I'm very happy with my sandwich settings.

My coffee settings are right where they need to be also. It's Starbucks French Roast or Verona, two mugs each morning. Three scoops for two mugs. Strong but not bitter. Very important to have the correct coffee settings. Come to think of it, I'm very happy with my mug settings. There are four of them, and all of them please me. They are the right thickness and have the proper lip action. I spill very little coffee each morning. You'd hardly notice the stains. Good mug settings for sure.

Of course when you say the word settings, most people think of electronics, gadgets, and assorted gizmos. My television and cable settings are elegant in their simplicity. I bounce between MSNBC and ESPN, with occasional stops at CBS for Elementary, NBC for Go On, or Comedy Central for The Daily Show. Simple. Elegant. No reality shows, no Fox Fair and Balanced News, No Home Shopping Network. Good cable settings.

My Ipod settings are also pleasing to me. I prefer "shuffle songs" to a complete rendering of a particular CD. That way I never know what's coming, other than the extreme probability that whatever song plays will not be one of my favorites. As many of you know, my Ipod hates me. But "Shuffle" is still the correct setting in my opinion.

I'm quite pleased with my clothing levels and settings. I am completely set for almost any type of event, whether it be a day of golf or a day at the beach. Actually, when I think about it, those are the only two events I am likely to require clothing for so this will be a short section.

My golf settings are really in great shape. All 14 of my clubs are left-handed which is really perfect for me because of my two hands, the left one works better. I know where everything is in my golf bag. This includes my Red Sox ball marker (the little slanty pocket on the side of the bag) and one of those ham and swiss sandwiches which I forgot to eat last Tuesday. I have new golf balls in the top pocket and usable found balls in the bottom pocket. I start each round with one new ball and one used ball. I don't always finish the round with the same golf balls I started with, but because of my excellent golf bag settings, when I lose one, I know exactly where to find the next one. Often, there is mild cursing during this process.

My cursing settings are right where they should be. If you don't believe me, then #**#@ you!

Toaster settings: check
Shower settings: check
Internet Favorites settings: check (including the ability to watch a Bruins or Red Sox game on my computer. Nice.)
Cruise control settings: check
Underwear drawer settings: check (really, Joel? You went there?)

I would even go so far as to declare that my PERSONAL settings and levels are all nicely positioned. I've dialed back my impatience and temper settings quite a bit. I wish I had done this long before October 1, 2009, but I've learned where some of my settings should be the hard way. My listening setting is much more open than it used to be. I'm much more interested in listening than in talking. As a matter of fact, I never miss an opportunity to keep my mouth shut, to quote Richard Peck. My blood pressure setting is right at normal and I'm hoping I'll be able to free myself of some of the meds I take each day. My family settings are excellent: it would be impossible for me to love the members of my family any more than I do. I'm proud of all of them.

I'm happy with my settings which means I'm happy with ME which makes me suitable for other people to want to be my companion. Yes, my Nancy setting is wonderful.

I'm not so naive as to think that all of these settings will remain so nicely situated forever.

All I know is that today, March 13, 2013, I really love my settings.

Ain't life grand?
J