What would you have done?
When I was told by my oncologist, on Friday 13th September, that there were no further conventional treatments to try to slow down my stage 4 prostate cancer, it confirmed what I already knew. In the event, not a great shock. My cancer was first confirmed in November 2022, so I have nearly lasted two years without much pain or inconvenience. And now I’ve survived another month.
I’d like to stay alive a bit longer because there are a number of things I’m looking forward to. The outcome of the American election for example. It would be really irritating to pop off before I knew the outcome.
Then various children/grandchildren have birthdays in the period running up to Christmas and I’ve already painted them bespoke cards. For them to receive them posthumously would somehow seem macabre.
It would be good to be able to enjoy another Christmas too.
And so it goes on. Lots of reasons to stay alive.
Yesterday, someone gave me a date for an appointment in late January. My current diary runs out on Sunday 5th January and I thought to myself, ‘time to buy a diary for 2025.’ For many years I’ve always bought a week-to-a-page diary towards to end of October. So, I went to Rymans and stood by the diaries deciding what colour the cover should be. This year’s is red so I chose black (of course!). As I walked to the counter, it suddenly dawned on me that I probably wont be needing a diary for 2025.
I bought it anyway and when I got home I showed the diary to my wife and asked her if she thought I was being optimistic. She of course thinks I should have an electronic diary on my smart phone but I resist this and am perfectly happy with my old fashioned paper diary.
My question to you is this: if you put yourself in my shoes, would you have bought a diary for 2025? Answers on a postcard please.
