We haven't heard from you in awhile, and I'm a little hesitant to ask, but I've been thinking and wondering about your brother... how is he?

-- Gayla (privacy@please.com), September 07, 2000

Answers

Maybe someone could email him for us and just give us an update? Anyone???

-- kritter (kritter@adelphia.net), September 09, 2000.

Gayla, and all,

Kit and I are just back from the first of our long business trips we take each fall. This one, we were in NE Texas and SW Arkansas. (So hot we could hardly breathe.)

We stopped and spent the night with my brother on the way home, and found him to be very well. He has a little nausea after Chemo each week, but overall, he is in good spirits and has lost very little weight. He is still taking the MGN3, and will have a scan in another month or so to tell how much the meds are helping. But he is staying very confident, and involved with life. His son is to become a father for the first time in Feburary, and his daughter is to be married in May. I am very encouraged by his optimism, and thaink he has a good chance of overcoming this, or at least gaining a couple of years.

Thank you so very much for asking. You know that I feel this forum is a group of close friends, and look forward to "seeing" all of you again, each time I leave. The landscape was so depressive this trip, that I didn't feel like writing any snapshots, but I love fall, and I'll try harder next time. Early next month we're off to the panhandle and up into Kansas.

Thanks again for thinking of us.

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-- Lon Frank (lgal@exp.net), September 09, 2000.

The air fell down from the sky,

Its torrent, like Hells own breath

-

Trees whispered rasping prayers

Grass sang its song of death.

-

Heat sought out the marrow

Of limbs, both wood and bone

-

In the North the mountain wept

And laughed, like a moon-touched crone

-

We scratched there, upon the dirt

Spat out our dusty groan

-

And in the North the mountain wept

And laughed, like a moon-touched crone

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-- Lon Frank (lgal@exp.net), September 09, 2000.

:-)

That is wonderful news! I'm SO glad to hear he has a positive outlook (and much to look forward to!) Yes, the heat has been very oppressive! My family said it was 109 in Houston this past week. That sets a record for the highest it's ever been! But, cool air is starting to make its way south. It was 53 here Wednesday morning. Ahhh... fall can't be too far off. Hopefully your next trip will be better... looking forward to the 'postcards'. :-)

-- Gayla (privacy@please.com), September 10, 2000.

Lon, I'm so glad to hear your brother is doing that well, I hope it continues!

I dredged up the old postcard thread for a quick one from our trip to the west coast... hope you enjoy it even half as much as I do yours!

-- Tricia the Canuck (jayles@telusplanet.net), September 11, 2000.

Trish,

I read your postcard from the road immediately when we got back. I've been longing to hear the heartbeats of the mountains again, ever since.

Keep up the good work, I always enjoy it.

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-- Lon Frank (lgal@exp.net), September 11, 2000.