Testicular Cancer

Since half the world knows already, I may as well announce it to the other half.

I was diagnosed with testicular cancer in May and start chemotherapy on Monday, July 30th at Beth Israel hospital, Shapiro Building 9th floor. The hospital already took one of my boys away in mid-June. Someone asked if I feel like half a man and I said "No, I feel like twice a man cuz my remaining boy does the work of two!"

I've been keeping the day-to-day light and easy and as a result of this medical discovery, my values system has definitely changed. I have no idea how long this humility will last, but I feel definitely humbled by this whole ordeal. It's as if my last shred of invincibility was burned along with my 20's. Even though I am still a pissed-off liberal, I am going to go a little easier on the political outrage (I've read that anger can be just as bad for your arteries as nicotine and alcohol). I do plan, however, on keeping my readers abreast of my life experiences and fleeting thoughts.

I am going to end with a book review that has nothing to do with the aforementioned content. Dry Manhattan, written by Michael Lerner, is a really fun history read of New York City in the 1920's. The book relays how one fanatical lobbying group had the power to make a country look ridiculous for 13 years by banning booze! And it wasn't just a behavior-purity thing for them to pass prohibition, but a vicious anti-immigrant policy. Sound familiar to nowadays? Religious conservatives, whether annointing George W. Bush or getting a boner for jihad, cannot be trusted with sound judgement. It is my estimate that the Iraq War will be as detrimental for the Republican Party in 2008 as the "dry cause" was for them in the 1932 election (when Roosevelt went on to serve three-plus terms after first repealing Prohibition). Although I'm not a drinker, I support the freedom for people to choose how they want to live their lives within a reasonable margin of safety. Soon you'll be hearing more from me about the medical marijuana bill being reconsidered in Massachusetts.

But for now, Bottoms up!