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I See Trees of Green

Blogging Tunes: Grateful Dead - 1972-04-08 (remaster)

Life is full of dichotomies. For the Landers' family, life has taken a devastating turn and will never be the same. Yet the very same week that I attended one of the most incredible memorial services ever and shed more tears than I have since my own diagnosis more than 13 months ago, I am having the highest energy week since my transplant. I feel profound sorrow while popping with a new level of energy.

If you haven't seen it, here is Patrick's obituary from the SF Chronicle.  As mentioned, there is a fund set up for Patrick's kids. For more information about that and for all subsequent Landers updates, please see: http://www.loveforlanders.org/



The memorial service Tuesday at AT&T park was unbelievable. It's not my place to go into detail here, but let me just say, that I have gained a tremendous respect for the Giants organization. They did this thing right. Also, knowing that Patrick got to experience the 2010 World Series win takes a little bit of the sting out of the NLCS for me. Just another reminder how Patrick and I will be forever tied: I was diagnosed the day after the parade, which I actually attended. I was sick, he was partying. Nuts.

I will share one photo of the big screen at the Park (which flickered through the camera -- click it for hi-res.) It was surreal to enter the lower level, and sit with 800+ people and a couple dozen seagulls, in an otherwise deserted stadium strangely setup for football:

Patrick Lander Memorial Service at AT&T Park

As I mentioned, I'm having a high energy week -- hopefully, I've turned a corner. My counts are continuing in the right direction, and my team is extremely pleased. I'm down to 0.35mg of the Tacrolimus and will drop to 0.3mg next week. Platelets are up to 130, and everything else looks good. I still have cold/numb feet, but I'm learning to just deal with it. I also have quite a bit of muscle soreness, but again, nothing I can't handle.

I'm going full-tilt at work, usually leaving the house at 7:30a and returning at 7p on a typical day. When I first went back to work, I'd be in bed by 8:30p every night. Yet, here I am at around 9pm, blogging away. And I still want to watch the third period of the Flyers/Habs game.

Heather and the kids are doing great. Our good friend Eyan did a photo shoot a couple weeks ago at China Camp. I have this picture spanning two 1920x1200 monitors at work:

Floyd likes 'em up in the zone - click for super-hi-res

Here's one more of the whole family:

Heather, Orion, me, and Floyd  - November 26, 2011

We'll post the best of the best (with honors) to flickr at some point. Speaking of movie quotes. Don't forget to watch Trading Places this holiday season. And look at that "S" car go!

One last tidbit: last night there was a pajama holiday party at Little Arrows (Floyd's pre-school). There were a ton of kids and parents there -- the place was literally jam packed. Some guy with a guitar printed a bunch of Christmas tunes with chords and lyrics and the two of us totally rocked out while dozens of parents sung along. It was killer. After the holiday tunes, we jammed out a few classics like Cripple Creek and a wonderful three-chord Dylan tune I didn't know. Lots of good vocals backing us up. I forget how fun it is to jam with people who can play. I see another band in the future. Just a matter of time.

Kicking more ass every day,

-jg

Comments

  1. Love the family photos. And love to the Landers family. XOXOXO

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  2. Heh... "Best of the best... 'with honors'". GREAT to hear all is going so well, and the family photos are fantastic. Already have Trading Places cued up ("Feeling good, Billy Ray!"), and some Crowded House in iTunes, thanks to you.

    I also had a recent reminder of how good it is to really jam out with people who know how to play - I did a Grateful Dead gig with Gary Backstrom and some of the other old Jiggle The Handle guys... the moments of true modal jamming between songs, everyone really listening and leading, taking it in new directions... it's been about a decade since I got to do anything like that, and made me remember just how amazing it is. It's only a matter of time for me too!

    And chief? Don't worry, you still got a little bit of ass left there...

    Nabib

    P.S. Apparently the Captcha for posting on Blogger doesn't always show up properly in Chrome, so I'm having some trouble posting this. Ironic, since both of them are Google properties.

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  3. Another great post! Thanks John! :)

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  4. So glad to hear your positive news! Thanks for sharing. Gorgeous photos, too!

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  5. Sorry to hear about Landers. The family photos your looking all grown upped ;)

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  6. Nice update and beautiful family photos. You all look great. Thanks JG. We hope you have a wonderful holiday and wish you all the best of HEALTH and happiness in the year ahead. Love, Mike and Yasha

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  7. Our love goes out to the Landers family - thanks for posting the links. And great to hear about the higher energy - sure is great to have you back in the office!

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  8. Great to hear that you are feeling well. We wish you all the best of HEALTH in 2012!!!
    Have a good holiday!
    M&M

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