My surgery will be taking place about 72 hours from now. Again, I am in the same place I was in September, let's just get it done. I have one last day at Hamilton. As I said before I will be missing graduation and teacher checkout day. I'm sorry that I'm missing graduation, but not checkout day!
As I stated in the previous post, I'm tired so I am sleeping a lot - which I love. However, my attitude has been so much better. I have enjoyed this last week with my students. I truly enjoy teaching high school students. They are so much fun and I know that I learn more from them than they ever learn from me.
Today has been a day that I realize how anything that is like a push-up to me is not good. The muscle and skeletal structure that was removed from my chest does not really allow for me to do push-ups, bench press or pull ups. Today the kitchen faucet needed to be replaced and I am a do it yourself-er. I like fixing things around the house except I HATE plumbing and electrical. I am not a potty mouth kind of guy, except when it comes to plumbing and electric work. It never works out right. Plumbing always seems to require standing on my head and having my sausage fingers trying to work in a small space - not to mention that I'm also left handed which makes it twice as hard. A few words escaped my mouth.
So laying under the kitchen sink, I had to remove the old faucet, all the while doing push-up movements. My chest is screaming at me now.
I don't like to complain. I am above ground and they got the cancer out the first time, I'm sure they will be able to again.
Cancer will lose again on Tuesday. This may sound strange, but I am so thankful that my body is producing cancer that does not require further treatment after surgery. Take it out, lets move on.
On another note, I have had something in my life that has been brewing for about 4 months. For those of you that do not know, I started coaching football in 1979. I have always worked jobs that have allowed me to coach. My dad died when I was 16 years old, and I had several high school coaches that "saved me." I hope to have an influence on young men in the same way that my coaches had an influence on me.
For the last 10 years I have coached at a school that has won 5 state championships. That is unheard of. We have had GREAT kids and have been very lucky.
Over the past several years it has become difficult. Coaching has not been as much fun as I would like to to be. So much time, effort and energy is put into it. Coaching is not about winning state championships. Coaching is about having fun, impacting kids lives, and enjoying who I work with. I have not been in an environment where I have been able to connect with the kids and the game like I would like to. Sometimes a coach just needs a new environment - a fresh start. That opportunity has come along for me.
While this cancer thing has been hanging over my head, I have been dealing with the prospect of hanging up my whistle. It's not what I wanted, but I was prepared to do it.
An opportunity has come along to coach and work in Alabama that I believe will allow me to finish my coaching career on a high note.
It became official 2 days ago. I will be moving to Daphne, Alabama at the end of the summer!
I am married to a saint. Being 3 years from retirement, Sharon will not be going with me. Our first date was after a game that I coached in. We lost, and I did not speak all night. Apparently, she still had a good time. After 36 years of marriage, she says that she would rather have me happy and coaching in Alabama rather than miserable coaching in Arizona. Bring on the frequent flyer miles!
This renal cell carcinoma is just another hurdle. On Tuesday I will clear that hurdle. I will heal, and God willing move to Alabama and have an impact on kids lives.
Eucaristia
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