What a wedding! What a wonderful time. Lynda and I left to go to DC last Wednesday. We got off the plane and the weather was just under 90 degrees. Until Monday, when we stepped back on the plane, the temp never got higher than that. And that was only the beginning. Thursday night we had a barbeque at my daughter and son in laws home. That morning we got about and inch of rain and then it cleared off. That evening she had six round tables and sixty chairs delivered for the yard and the patio. (Their home will handle thirtyish inside) and there were about ninety invited. Party was to start at 7. Well, at 6:30 the sky opened up again. For the next hour it rained. Two inches. At 7:30 it stopped. We gave the guests that had arrived towels and they dried the tables and chairs, put the table cloths on the table and at 11 that night you would have never known it had rained. 60 people in the yard and all the rest on the patio and in the house. So, you could tell it was going to be a blessed weekend.
I will share more on the "rest of the story" in my next blog.
Lynda and I prepared for the trip trying to learn how to keep me going as long as I needed to each day, and she did a great job. Everything I needed to participate in I was able to do so, with gusto I might add. Now, let me tell you, we had Sunday afternoon off and we watched the last round of the PGA, sometimes thru our eyelids and then slept on the way home, and then did much of the same when we got home Monday. So, I was ready to start the second round of the second phase of chemo yesterday. Since I've done that protocole once I kinda know what to expect so I'm not just "getting sick" because they say it could happen. This time I'm letting it "come and get me" if it so desires and right now it hasn't, thank the Lord.
Next time, Friday at the wedding. Love you all and God is good. Plus, how does one make it down the journeys without a wonder caregiver? I don't know and am not gonna try. Lynda is the delight of my life.

Things that come to you: As I've always heard, "Life is like a roller coaster. You've got your ups and downs and twists and you don't know when they will come." Well, I've determined that when you get "older" your life is like tire on a car. "Sometimes you are at the top, freewheeling it, and sometimes you're at the bottom with the weight of the world on you, but there are two other times (because you know where you're going) that you are contemplating on how to deal with the phase you are fastly approaching." Hey, growing "older" ain't bad! The Lord has been working with me, hasn't He? Lord I love Lynda

Julia had a wonderful service. No way I could even begin to describe it. Just let me tell you, she will be remembered.
Preparation for the wedding trip "plunges" on! I started my second round of chemo on Aug. 4. (One chemo out of three. Will start the other two after I get back from the wedding.) Aug. 5 was a drag but everyday since then has been good. Mixing and matching extra feeding tube food and 5 hour energy drink, to find the perfect formula for next weekend. What a blast it will be. I may have told you that Erin and Lynn asked me to say the "blessing prayer" at the end of the service. I now have it written and will share it with you after "the deed is done."
Still looks like I will have to have a "by-pass" done in my gut. Occasionally I try to eat something but the "twist" is still there. But, that's to faced after this week after next. Thanks for your prayers and love.
One of these days I will share with my thoughts on "when you roll yourself right off the table." But, that's another day. The Lord continues to be good to Lynda and I. Sometimes He has to give her some extra blessing because I sometimes don't "think before I speak." Please continue to remember Jimmy D. Challenging times.

My great friend, Julia "Red" Terry Wakeley, had a massive stroke last week. Our lives have been intertwined since high school. Her family have decided to lift life support systems this afternoon. She has always beat expectations so I'm waiting for a coupla days before telling you about our lives.
The dilation I had last week. Seems the doc was able to expand one area but he also found a "twist" in my gut, further on down! Now there are five docs, including my brother, trying to figure out the next step. Out of all that has been suggested the one that sounds the best (to me) is to do a "by pass" around the twist. Please continue to pray for their guidance from the Lord. Also, continue to pray for all the other soldiers that are marching me in this journey. And, Ms. Lynda!

Laugh or Cry, Fight or Die and Victor or Victim? (New addition) And, still I choose A, A and A. The last few days I've been dragging around the house like I was B on # 3 but now I've kicked that.
OK, here's the update on my latest round of chemo --- and of course the dilation. Started this latest round of chemo on July 14 and I've been checking each day to see how I will feel if I "take another shot" on August 4, and how I will feel thirteen days later at the wedding. Still don't know what I will choose since the chemo laid me lower than a whale's belly for awhile. All my skin on my face and head felt like it was burned from the inside. My tongue got sores all over it and for about five days I felt like the electronic mat that the runners in the New York Marathon run over to validate their time for the race. But, now that's passed. Victor, that's where I am!
About the dilation. Went well. Opened my up from a 4 to a 10. Two and half times. Next day had a vanilla shake. Opps, would not go thru. Most likely it looks like something is pressing against the area that allows food to go from my FPU on into my intestine. Guess we will do another sonogram, I hope. Did learn something that I hope will help the docs. Seems I have a lot of hiccups. And let me tell you, you can't rest or sleep with them, but as luck would have it, I've found out how to "arrest" them. Here's the procedure. I go to bed, no hiccups. About an hour later I wake up, no hiccups but I know they are coming. Swing my leg out of bed and there they are. Off to the sink. I wash my mouth out with water with a coupla swigs, and spit it out. (This is, of course, after I've set on the potty. First things first!) Then I take seven "Gideon" sups of water, and swallow them --- slowly. Within a minute it all comes back up with whatever is coating my eshpgaus, and guess what? Nine out of ten times the hiccups are gone. Wow is all I can say. I just repeat, if they don't go, and then they do. Boy have I got more rest. Off to the chemo doc tomorrow and I guess we will start making some decisions. I will feel good for my granddaughter's wedding on the 14th of August. The Lord reveals what He wants you to know each day. You can either have your head down and miss His revelations or your head up and see the way. Today my head is up. Oh yes, while your praying for me, include Ms Lynda (which I already know you do) but she's my rock and I love her for it.

Yesterday I got "dilated." I haven't been able to get anything down my "gullet" so they just opened it up. Needless to say, I've got a sore throat today. But, hey, I'm going to get to eat I hope. Turns out Dr. N discovered I had a coupla ulcers, go figger! I will tell you that chemo dries you out and when you're not taking in any water it's tough. But, all in all, I feel slightly better each day. Or should I say, I feel better longer each day. When I crater I crater! More to follow after I eat!
Oh yeah, I finally came to the conclusion that I had been asking God to keep me around without me telling Him why. Seems about 60 years ago I did dedicate my life to doing more than I was doing. My buddy Ray Quiett went on to preach as did Don Moreland, and I just kinda hung back. Over the years I been a pretty good guy but I sure haven't lived up to what I promised long ago, so, who knows, this could be the way of the Lord getting my attention. This is to let you know that when I come out the other side of this illness I will be a somewhat different guy. Something I should have done a long time ago. God is Good and so is Lynda.

Glorious day! Lynda prayed over me at length last night and: I got a much better night's sleep! I woke up with my Upper and Lower Umendeum not sticking to the inside of my skin! And, have I told you how much I wanted to drink water? This AM, with my FPC empty, I said, "What the heck. If it's going to come back up anyway why not drink some." Well, not really "drink", just "supping" it out of my hand just like the soldiers in the bible did so they could keep watch. Oh my gosh, did it taste fabulous! Some came back up --- but not all! This 5FU stuff dries your mouth out and I have a bottle of water with me at all times (and a spit cup). If I didn't do that my mouth would crack, and I only have a half a lap in from of me to get this first mile down. Praise the Lord. Oh, did I say I love you all --- and Lynda? If I didn't, well I just did.