Today I went on a walk...

Today has been a huge day for me. I went on my first walk by myself since I had surgery. I went about 300 feet outside my house, but I felt like I was exploring some distant land with Shadow. Why was I feeling so adventurous you say? Well, I got my first testosterone shot yesterday and my dad called me this morning to see how I was doing. The conversation started like this:

*Phone ringing**
Robert: Hello Dad (I have a smart phone, so it shows me who is calling)
Gary: Hello Robert, how are you feeling today?
Robert: Just great... I have not moved out of bed today. (I must have sounded extremely manly at this point)
Gary: Your voice sounds deeper... must be the testosterone shot.

Robert: You know dad, I feel a bit big right now. I think I might take Shadow on a walk.
Gary: You're the man

                                                           Shadow hanging in the fall leaves today. She matches.


So feeling like Paul Bunyan I hung up the phone, and watched tv for another half an hour. Until I felt another wave of testosterone flow through my veins and I remembered how deep my voice currently is did I crawl out of bed, march myself into the bathroom, and took my first shower in four days.

Washing my body with Dove soap and Bumblebee shampoo I thought about the possibility of calling my doctor for another testosterone shot. But oh well, I got out of the shower smelling effing magical... four blue birds were waiting for me when I got out and were sharing the weight of a cotton towel and the gently dried me off (along with testosterone, I am heavily sedated on pain killers, so this is just my recollection of my morning). I got MYSELF dressed and took a stroll outside. Shadow and I braved the conditions for a good 23 minutes until Kasia got home to make us lunch. We survived with minimal damage. Shadow may have some  frostbite, or it is just a piece of ice she is holding in her mouth from the kitchen.

 

You can see my new scar where they removed the testicle. After my first shower in four days.

                                             How 'the Tiger' takes advantage of me sleeping on drugs. Picture via Kasia.


Shadow is someone that will be mentioned in this blog quite regularly. Shadowfax is my dog (whom I now share with Kasia. *she would get upset without that disclaimer. Kasia, not Shadow), she is a golden retriever/border collie mix, 7 years old, climbed more mountains than most goats, and is as close as I would assume any child I ever have will be. I got Shadow in Logan, Utah after I had returned from my first treatments with cancer. She was a beaten dog and was going to be put down due to the fact that Logan, Utah has no pound. So if the Humane Society does not pick them up... they put them down.

Shadow asked me to keep her alive (she was speaking at 4 months old) and surprised by a dog speaking, I decided to take her home with me... 7 years later, she is still the best purchase I have ever made. Shadow is my best friend, daughter, protector, and all around lifetime companion. She understands that I have cancer for her and I have had numerous talks about it, and we have both agreed that I am going to be completely fine. 




















                   Kasia's ring holder ^                                                                                                That's my girl