Everything I need to know, I learned on a ranch

Everything I need to know, I learned on a ranch

 Isn’t it funny how many of life’s little lessons (and big ones) smack you in the face each day?  We spent the night on my friend’s ranch last weekend and I was amazed at how many things we did that I was able to turn into lessons for the kids.  When we first arrived my 40-year friend Darrell Zurovec and his lovely family met us at the gate.  It was here that my kids hopped in the back of the truck to ride to the ranch house.  Every child should ride in the back of a truck sometimes, I don’t care what they say.  The kids loved it.  I cannot thank him enough for the decades of friendship and generosity.

The "play scape"

We got to the house, put our stuff away and immediately went on a little hike.  We followed a dry creek bed and learned about watching your footing and paying attention to your surroundings so you don’t get caught in thorny plants or stickers.  We found some great areas for “critter harvesting” and named one area frog-town.  We fished a tank and hunted for fossils.  We then rounded up the horses but they were a little too skittish to saddle up and put kids on.  Sometimes animals just want to be left alone…and never approach a horse from the back.

Josie ready to ride a horse

That night after dinner we built a little fire for s’mores.  It was a scratch built fire, not a lighter fluid job.  So it was fun teaching the kids to round up and haul some rocks over to make the circle, start with kindling and stuff that will catch quickly, etc.  Finally, once we were ready to call it a night, we made sure to responsibly put the fire out.  There is nothing quite like the night sky in the country.  It is majestic. 

The next day we just explored more of the ranch and the kids took turns climbing up a tower blind (deer blind, not blind folded or lacking sight) which made the moms kind of nervous.  There was a great time had by all.  The ranch was originally settled in the 1800s and there was an original foundation for a house and a food cellar/smokehouse.  It was great to discuss with the kids (who have all the creature comforts of life) what it must have been like in the days before electricity, living off the land, preserving your food, seeking shelter, and having to use every part of an animal.  Isn’t it amazing all the things there are to do without an Ipad or TV?

The underground pantry

Climbing the tower

the old smokehouse and pantry

A big handful of daddy longlegs

One funny thing I learned was that our little dynamic of reds versus browns (hair) was not as unique as I originally thought.  Turns out there are other manifestations.  Apparently browns versus blues (eyes) is a thing too.  It was funny to watch them square off and observe which ones woke up earlier, had certain traits, etc.  I bet your families have similar splits based on funny genetic traits too. This probably helps you understand more of our internal struggles but also is kind of a bummer knowing that we are less unique than I originally thought.

Camp at the Dell Diamond

Connor attended a four day baseball camp this week.  He loved it and his group coach was a guy with whom I went to elementary and Jr. High.  He’s now a coach at Georgetown High School.  The best part was on the first day they gave each kid a pack of baseball cards.  Connor got really excited about them and asked if he could get more.  I walked him up to my office closet and said, “Son, I’ve been waiting 30 years for this conversation.”  I proceeded to show him the thousands of cards that I had been saving for decades.  Now both he and Josie are totally into it.  They have little books and sleeves, are asking about error cards, and who is a hall of famer and who is just a “regular pro.”  (You’re in there Dress).  It may be a temporary thing, but for now it’s really fun and okay I’ll say it…it’s fantastic.  Connor is now convinced he wants to be a major leaguer so he can get free gum and seeds on the bench…and a hall of famer so that kids will want his baseball card.  Either way, I get to relive the joy I had when I first started collecting too.

Nita just passed her insurance certification exam on Thursday.  We are all very proud of her as she has been studying pretty hard for it.  Now she’ll have a few more things to study, exams to take, and choices to make, in order to pick her specialty.  But this will definitely help the family.

I’m glad we got to the ranch on Saturday instead of Friday.  Last week was another rough chemo week. And I wouldn’t have been able to do half the things on Friday that we did on Saturday.  I’m able to predict and somewhat proactively medicate for the week, but you can’t completely fight the way it makes your body feel.  It’s still hard to describe but believe it or not you can taste it…and it isn’t good. 

This week was far better than last and I was able to see some customers and watch my son at his camp a little bit.  I stayed hydrated both at the ranch and at Connor’s camp finding shade whenever I could (chemo also makes you burn quickly).  So there was a lot of sunscreen involved. Monday I went in for some fluids and another blood test.  My CEA score was 14.4.  Still very high, but two points lower than last week.  So two data points doesn’t make a trend, but lower than 16 is definitely better than flat or higher.  Next week we’ll see where we are and then after chemo, we’ll measure again and if we are in single digits, then we are back in business.  If we are not, we have some decisions to consider regarding medications.

Of course this week I’ve been getting steadily razzed by friends about Johnny Manziel and his quest for one last party before he goes clean. In case you haven’t seen (or don’t care) his own father called him a drug addict and Johnny pledged sobriety on July 1.  I hope he makes it.  But it truly shows how some folks don’t properly value or understand how precious life really is.  We get one shot, that’s it.  I’m literally killing myself to get more time and steal a couple of more revolutions around the sun.  It is disappointing to see how many folks just don’t appreciate life, family, and just throw it all away. 

So why do I write about so many specific but possibly mundane activities with my kids?  Well, faithful readers, because I am hoping some of you will help me out. I don’t know how much time I have and what age my children will be when I go.  None of us do really, but stick with me (and no I’m not being defeatist).  If the math is right, and I get lucky, my kids will be 12 and 10 or younger when I am bargaining with St Peter.  How will they react?  No one knows.  They may take my lessons and messages, stay on the high road, set goals, and be awesome.  They may take it very poorly and act accordingly.  We’ve all seen it play out both ways.

This is where you come in.  I expect you to come up to them and say, “Connor or Josie, cut that shit out you knuckleheads!  We watched you grow up, followed your progress weekly, and we know for a fact your mother and father taught you better than that!  Your dad literally put a bag of poison in his chest every other week just to stick around as long as he could to help you grow and learn.  You have a responsibility to do your best, not be the best, but do your best.  You owe him that much, you owe yourself that much. So quit feeling sorry for yourself and thank God for the gifts you have and have had your entire lives! And always remember your dad is proud of you, no matter what.”  So that is why.  And you’ll have a ton of stories and experiences to cite as examples.  Or if they do in fact turn out awesome, you can just say, “I knew you’d be a bad ass, we all did.  Keep it up. Your father couldn’t be more proud of you, but then again, he’s always been proud of you…no matter what.”

My best friend just played a golf tournament in New York and qualified to play in this year’s PGA Championship.  Omar Uresti is an inspiration.  We’ve been friends for five decades now.  I’ve watched his game come and go, but he never gives up.  He never lets anyone or anything get the better of him.  Sure he has moments of doubt, but he shrugs them off and keeps going.  He helps remind me that it is never too late to make a charge and win.  So in my fight against cancer, sure it might get the better of me some days, but I will not let up I will keep grinding.  Like Omar, I know there are people watching and counting on me to keep plugging away and fight.  So that is exactly what I’ll do, one shot at time.  Happy Independence Day everyone.  May God bless you and may God bless America.  TeamMarco@austin.rr.com

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