Scott O.
Well-known member
As I was boiling sap today, I remembered a story that made me laugh to myself.
Last year, I bought a new gun, the Taurus m4410 revolver that shoots both a .45LC or a 2 1/2" .410 shell. Lee's immediate "Harkerism" response was " I always wondered what kind of a guy would buy THAT gun". A few months later, a package comes to me out of the blue from Sturgis...containing most of a box of .45LC rounds. I asked him what I could do in return and he said "I don't know but you better not send me money". I looked around and remembered he had said once that he wanted to taste that "homemade syrup". So I boxed up a big jar and included an autographed geunine paper mache corn cob decoy. His response to me was from the movie "Dancing with Wolves" - "Good....trade" and as we talked he sounded genuinely happy about both items. Made me smile to think of it.
Since his diagnosis in January, he and I messaged back and forth to discuss the cancer. We shared a little secret and unfortunately, a common bond.
During my annual physical in January, they found that my PSA level had increased significantly enough to require a prostate biopsy. It came back positive. As encouraging as we tried to be to one another, it was a crushing blow. His death last week knocked me to my knees. I waited to say anything here other than to Steve in private because sometimes too much bad news can be hard to take and it doesn't do any good to cause anyone to worry or feel bad. I couldn't think of anything good to say about it in public. It was just more bad news. And I apologize to you Steve Sutton, for dropping a bomb your way.
But heres the good news...surgery is this Thursday at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit by a doctor that I am lucky enough to live 70 miles away from. He is apparently considered to be one of the best if not the best surgeon in the world using the Veil Method, Da Vinci robotic surgery. He has told me that he thinks we caught it very early so hopefully it hasn't spread anywhere else.
So as I try to find good in all this badness, it occured to me that I had better quit worrying about myself and come up with something positive instead. To do that, I need your help. I am going to ask you all, my friends, to do two things for me. First, I am asking that you guys send my family and me some positive vibes if you think of it Thursday. I truly, honestly think we can beat this thing 100%. Second, I want you guys who dont already do it, to schedule your annual physical and get the blood testing done to check your PSA and establish a baseline to compare against in future physicals. Early detection is the key and its what I am praying is going to save my sorry ass. Do it please...for yourself, your family and your friends who care about you.
Last year, I bought a new gun, the Taurus m4410 revolver that shoots both a .45LC or a 2 1/2" .410 shell. Lee's immediate "Harkerism" response was " I always wondered what kind of a guy would buy THAT gun". A few months later, a package comes to me out of the blue from Sturgis...containing most of a box of .45LC rounds. I asked him what I could do in return and he said "I don't know but you better not send me money". I looked around and remembered he had said once that he wanted to taste that "homemade syrup". So I boxed up a big jar and included an autographed geunine paper mache corn cob decoy. His response to me was from the movie "Dancing with Wolves" - "Good....trade" and as we talked he sounded genuinely happy about both items. Made me smile to think of it.
Since his diagnosis in January, he and I messaged back and forth to discuss the cancer. We shared a little secret and unfortunately, a common bond.
During my annual physical in January, they found that my PSA level had increased significantly enough to require a prostate biopsy. It came back positive. As encouraging as we tried to be to one another, it was a crushing blow. His death last week knocked me to my knees. I waited to say anything here other than to Steve in private because sometimes too much bad news can be hard to take and it doesn't do any good to cause anyone to worry or feel bad. I couldn't think of anything good to say about it in public. It was just more bad news. And I apologize to you Steve Sutton, for dropping a bomb your way.
But heres the good news...surgery is this Thursday at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit by a doctor that I am lucky enough to live 70 miles away from. He is apparently considered to be one of the best if not the best surgeon in the world using the Veil Method, Da Vinci robotic surgery. He has told me that he thinks we caught it very early so hopefully it hasn't spread anywhere else.
So as I try to find good in all this badness, it occured to me that I had better quit worrying about myself and come up with something positive instead. To do that, I need your help. I am going to ask you all, my friends, to do two things for me. First, I am asking that you guys send my family and me some positive vibes if you think of it Thursday. I truly, honestly think we can beat this thing 100%. Second, I want you guys who dont already do it, to schedule your annual physical and get the blood testing done to check your PSA and establish a baseline to compare against in future physicals. Early detection is the key and its what I am praying is going to save my sorry ass. Do it please...for yourself, your family and your friends who care about you.
