Com’ On, Man…, Focus…!!!

[DDT (12)]

“Keep your eye upon the doughnut and not upon the hole…” What a struggle! Trying to stay positive during periods of so much abundant negative reality is... Dang, no end to this drudgery either, it seems, as the daily treatments will continue for yet another week, then another, then… When measured in terms of ‘sleeps’ it sounds even longer! Yeah, the total number remaining is getting smaller with each successful day, but there is simply no relief in sight this side of my own personal ‘horizon’… Immediate parole from my sentence is simply not going to happen for a while.

“Suck it up, buttercup,” I keep telling myself. This major setback will end in due course, and then there will be brightened future prospects, all waiting in a relatively short time… at least, there should be… No guarantees, of course, and there will always be the prospect of more recurrences down the road…  Even the actual ‘release date’ itself is relatively fluid… So far I’ve missed five or six treatments which will result in ‘make-ups’ tacked onto the end, so… yet another week-plus right there! How bad can all this get…? Well…

I figured I was trolling the depths of desperation, when I realized an astounding thought had popped up in my thinker muscle just a short time ago… Not just a bizzarro notion, mind you; no sir, a thought I never would have imagined even remotely possible in my wildest dreams! There I was, on-stage in my minds eye agreeing with Jane Fonda…! Have I lost it entirely now? Is Rod Serling standing nearby? I must have entered ‘The Twilight Zone’ somehow? Maybe I’m still asleep, and this is merely a deeply disturbing nightmare…? Nope…

HanoiJane had been giving an interview a while back, during which she had made the statement, “Covid-19 has been a gigantic gift to the left…” There, I did it again… I found myself agreeing! I have no like nor respect for that… person… Truth, however, is still truth, no matter who is stating it… even her. I don’t  know how much more morbid, perverse reality I can take!!! And, as if all that isn’t enough…

A couple of weeks ago, our girl had her twenty-second anniversary with her devoted companion… He wasn’t, of course, there to celebrate it with her… In fact, there was no celebration at all… Perhaps one will happen once he is released from his bondage… but… Who can know the future…?

Not a bad line of thought, though, come to think of it… OK, that’s my new plan for now… I’m going to focus on her and us doing something worthwhile… Jane Fonda can just return to her prominent place in my ‘Hall of Shame’… where, IMHO, she belongs. Our girl and her partner will be imagining wonderous things ahead and… Com’ on man, I need to focus on better stuff than I have been lately…! I just gotta...!!!

DDT

[hubcapsc]

the total number remaining is getting smaller with each successful day, but there is simply no relief in sight

I really enjoyed the first couple of years of college on Mama's dime. Living in the dorms.
18 year olds could drink beer then. I didn't make much college progress though  ...
I spent the next 11 years or so working and taking one course at a time on my dime.
I remember partway through trying to imagine ever being done, and it seemed like
I never would be.

But I finally got done. We're all looking forward to riding with you when you get done...

-Mike

[Black Dog]

Hang in there Bruce!  You've got a large buncha folks pullin' for ya 

As RJ used to say, Lord willing and the creek she don't rise, you've got a date in June, with lots of friends, and we are all looking forward to that gathering

Black Dog

[The emperor has no clothes]

I wish I had something better for you to focus on.  Hang in there Bruce 

[Whooray]

Thank you Bruce for this post.... You sir are an inspiration!

[Valkorado]

Sounds like that slippery slope of one step forward two steps back.  If anyone has the mindset and gumption to summit this mountain of poo it's you!   See ya on the other side. 

[DarkSideR]

You've got this Bruce!

[Thunderbolt]

Keep up the good work Bruce.  I for one sure do miss it when you don't post some sort of words of wisdom or just a diary of sorts of your recent escapades.

[f6gal]

Instead of sucking it up buttercup, you could suck up a peanut butter cup!

I figured I was trolling the depths of desperation, when I realized an astounding thought had popped up in my thinker muscle just a short time ago… Not just a bizzarro notion, mind you; no sir, a thought I never would have imagined even remotely possible in my wildest dreams! There I was, on-stage in my minds eye agreeing with Jane Fonda…! Have I lost it entirely now? Is Rod Serling standing nearby? I must have entered ‘The Twilight Zone’ somehow? Maybe I’m still asleep, and this is merely a deeply disturbing nightmare…? Nope…

HanoiJane had been giving an interview a while back, during which she had made the statement, “Covid-19 has been a gigantic gift to the left…” There, I did it again… I found myself agreeing! I have no like nor respect for that… person… Truth, however, is still truth, no matter who is stating it… even her. I don’t  know how much more morbid, perverse reality I can take!!! And, as if all that isn’t enough…

Even a broken clock is right twice per day.  I surprised she admitted that, maybe her mind's slippin'.

A couple of weeks ago, our girl had her twenty-second anniversary with her devoted companion… He wasn’t, of course, there to celebrate it with her… In fact, there was no celebration at all… Perhaps one will happen once he is released from his bondage… but… Who can know the future…?

Happy anniversary to you and Ali.  You going to have to do something special for her to make up for your absence on your special date.  Don't forget, you two have another anniversary in June... of your reunion!  
I know just where you should take her for that celebration!  

[DDT (12)]

Thanks everybody! Man, I've sure had mixed feelings regarding posting about this experience... Not an upbeat series of events for sure, and they are so personal. I'm invading normal discourse and imposing... well, you know what this is. I freely admit this is primarily a selfish enterprise in that I find putting stuff out in the open and laying out my thoughts to be therapeutic, even helpful in coping... for me that is... For all of you it has required tolerance and empathy, as another downer voice joins the chorus in the melancholy melody of negativity... I'm truly sorry about that!

A ray of sunshine, however, has shown through all of this, as the impact of 'friendships' has bubbled to the surface! I wouldn't have believed myself just how much it lifts one's spirits and brightens one's day to read all that y'all have said in your replies!!! Thank you very much for your tolerance and indulgence... Thanks even more for your messages of hope and well wishes... I'll likely do it again... and again... As my emotions go up and down, my thirst for solace ebbs and flows... I sure am glad I have this spring to draw from!!!

DDT

[Ice]

Bruce my dear friend, life seems to not be the most joyous right now, however as many have stated already, YOU GOT THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I know your not a planner or mapper as Petra and I are (unfortunately do not have the time to just wander) but the thought occurred to me that maybe you should pull out the old atlas and make an un-plan; what I mean is find the places you haven't been (if there is such a place for you) and map those out as an un-plan, or find the route that does not go there and go there.....
For you I know the plan is always not to have a plan and just ride wherever your nose is currently pointing. But since riding is a no go right now, make your un-plan's of places you haven't been to or that its been a long time since you've been there.
Whenever we cannot ride due to work or weather Petra loves to pull out a map and plan a trip, even if we wont make that trip for another year or five. I again know that's not your style but it does give you something to look forward to once you and your trusty steed can get back in the wind.
Hang in there my friend.......

[The emperor has no clothes]

Ice has an excellent idea ! I would add one wrinkle to it. I suspect there are not many places of interest that you haven't been to at least once or twice. I think a nice "unplan" would be to route out a map that would take you to visit as many of your friends that you can pack in. As an "unplanned event", I think this would bring great pleasure for all involved. It's always been a regret of mine that as of yet I've not actually ridden one mile with you. I would even be willing to hang back far enough over the hill, as to not encumber your "soloish" riding style.  (I have great faith in you my friend) 

[Bigwolf]

Bruce,
I believe Ice has a great idea for “focus”!   You could call it the “The Return to coddiwomple of The Open Road”!  Or maybe “Return to Coddiwomple of this Great Continent”!  Or,... well there are so many possibilities! ....... So very many directions to send the front wheel ..... and, as you once told me, “so many places that I have not been yet”.  Hmmmm, maybe you could make a list of those and consider checking some of them off the list when you and ALI are again in the wind.

Many good thoughts coming your way my friend!

Bigwolf

 

[DDT (12)]

An 'unplan' does strike me as a great idea! Back in the day, I used to plan, plan, and over-plan trips in advance due to the dueling constraints of firm limited time slots but unlimited appetite... I'd spend hours upon hours poring over maps, figuring distances, not just between targets but also between waypoints and refueling spots along the way, scanning around for interesting sites to tick-off on my way by... Shoot, I even made motel reservations much of the time in advance back in those early days of learning the ropes of distance riding... all while trying to cram ten pounds of trip into a five pound trip sack.

Few of those plans, if any at all, ever survived to completion, but... It was, among other things, an effective way to pass the time and channel enthusiasm prior to KSU! In that regard, I can see there would still be value in such an undertaking... I think I'll give that a try... with a slight modification for now... See, I left my atlas in Florida aboard our girl, so I'll have to make-do with MapQuest for now... Heck, it's about the activity and focus anyway and not about the actual development of a real plan, so... I think y'all might be onto something here... I'll get back to ya on that...

DDT