I still remember it like it was yesterday. It was a beautiful, sunny October day. It was one of those rare days in Arkansas where you can actually be comfortable outside. But it wasn’t comfortable at my house. My wife had returned from the hospital only a few days before, and we now had the…
Tag: cancer
Then you live with it
I’ve always been a fan of Clint Eastwood, and I love several of his movies. One of my favorites, although not considered one of his best, is High Plains Drifter. I’m not sure what it is I like so much about it. The fact that there’s a bit of supernatural. Maybe the sense of justice.…
Letting go
There are have been many times over the years when people have told me how difficult it must have been to watch my wife suffer from terminal cancer. Certainly, it was a year of constant struggle, of trying to deal with a disease for which there is no cure, or even a reason why. But…
Hawaii delayed for rummage through the trash
During the year my wife was sick, it seemed like our entire life was in chaos. It seemed that almost every day brought some new crisis. But there were a few happy memories from that time. One in particular stands out – our trip to Hawaii. Tracie wanted to visit Hawaii. But it seemed impossible .…
I am not Hope
Former NBA basketball player Charles Barkley once made a commercial in which he proclaimed that he was not a role model. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=R8vh2MwXZ6o I can appreciate that. Especially, where cancer is concerned. If you’re a regular reader of my blog or just know me, you know my wife died of cancer almost nine years ago. Now when…
Escaping to a special place
In times of great stress (or boredom – think long meetings), I have a place I escape to mentally. Actually, I have about five such places. Four of those are just rooms I like. Relaxing places. Calming places. But one of my mental escapes is an event. It was February 2006. My then 12-year-old daughter, H, and I…
My dad can be obnoxious sometimes
One afternoon in my office, a student I had known for a few years made an interesting comment about me. “Mr Trout,” he said, “you eat, breathe, and sleep Marketing.” For better or worse, that’s probably true. I teach marketing. I take on markeitng projects for local businesses. And sadly, I have marketing so in…
Holding together the jello 