Fall is Here and I'm Feeling Fine. No Really. I'm Fine, OK? Jut Let Me Be! Just Act Normal! Everything is OK!

Alrighty, so it’s been awhile. I’ll be honest. The second half of this summer got weird for me in all sorts of ways. But Autumn is here and everything is gonna be just dandy. Or at least that’s what I’m telling myself.

So since I’ve been absent for a couple months… and I do want to get back into regular posting here… I’m thinking this post is a bit of catch-all of what’s been on my mind in the style of one of my favorite substacks. It’s a person that likely doesn’t need my help plugging anything, but I’m gonna do it anyway despite that I’m getting nothing out of it financially. Sometimes you just need to uplift good things in the world. It’s from

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

and it’s a really nice mix of news, opinion, music, and just general awesomeness. Would you expect anything less from the person who chose to appear in this movie at the height of his popularity in the basketball world?

Kareem (if he doesn’t mind me being so familiar ) generally starts things out with a brief summary of something in the news along with his thoughts, so here’s my version:

For the first time, in a long time, there is a new brain cancer treatment that has been approved by the FDA in the USA and is in the process of getting approval in many other nations in the world. It’s not a cure and not suitable for all variations of brain cancer (there are a lot), but it is clearly a substantial improvement on many levels over existing treatments. Longer survival rates (for most, but not all), very well managed side-effect wise, and it’s changed the “standard of care” for many brain cancer patients. In fact, had it been around when I was diagnosed in 2018, I very well may have avoided chemo and radiation which caused so many physical and cognitive issues for me. It’s kinda wild to think about how my life now would be different if but also exciting to think that others may not have to go through the same things I have.

It’s called vorasidenib and is the result of an international clinical trial. I love that so many institutions and nations took part in its study because it proves again the pithy cliché that teamwork makes the dream work.

And I can’t move on from this topic without bragging that my neuro oncologist at Duke, Dr. Katy Peters, was one of the many co-investigators from around the world. She’s kind of a badass. I mean, she’s kept me alive long past several statistical “expiration dates”. I was actually a candidate for the trial, but she had me doing too well to fully qualify.

On a related note: While a great many things have been rough since me and the family moved from Knoxville, TN to Richmond, VA, one of the highlights has been the level of care and attention from my new local cancer team at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). I’ll write more extensively about it soon, but when it comes to healthcare, unfortunately, NOT ALL FACILITIES ARE THE SAME. And even the good ones can have issues with inequities across genders, ethnicities, religion, sexual orientations and such. All the bad stuff the wacko “snowflakes” have been talking about are a real thing.

Long story short, my new local oncologist at VCU (Duke has worked with a local team since I haven’t lived in Durham, NC) actually did her residency with the aforementioned Dr. Peters and remains in regular contact with her. It really makes me feel watched over.

Don’t be afraid to get that second opinion. It may change nothing. But it also might improve your situation. No reputable hospital that believes it provides good care will dissuade you from getting a second opinion.

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One of my favorite parts of Kareem’s sub stack is his music recommendations. They really run the gamut of genres connected to some simple thoughts/tools for living. So I want to do the same and share “Compared To What” live from the Montreal Jazz Festival in 1969. And it cooks, man, it really cooks.

I first heard the song when I randomly purchased Roberta Flack’s debut 1969 “First Take” album at a library sale back when I lived in Detroit, but the song actually goes back a few years earlier when Gene McDaniels wrote and DIDN’T record it. Still, it went on to be covered by several other artists and very likely set the stage for Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On?” album as well as artists like The Last Poets and Gil Scott-Heron.

Oh, what the heck… here’s the awesome Roberta Flack version that started my obsession with this song back in the mid 90s when I stumbled across a library replacing their vinyl with CDs and cassettes.

Regardless, I mention the song because it always reminds me how you can be upset about problems in the world and still celebrate being alive. I know it may not be for everyone but I want to celebrate ALL THE EMOTIONS.

Side note/plug: One of the things I’ve done over the past year is start a “secret” podcast as a Patreon supporter of the Discograffiti podcast. Basically, if you throw the host Dave Gebroe $5/month then you get access to my “Soldiers of Sound” podcast where I interview members of his Facebook group (free to participate in) which is made up of a bunch of music-obsessed folks that range from average Joe’s to professional musicians that you very well may have heard of. Anyway, I bring that up because the latest podcast episode I did features a fascinating and thoughtful dude in LA about interesting covers and, yes, “Compared to What” is one of them. If you’re into music at all, then Discograffiti gives you a ton back. I don’t make any many from this either but I just think Dave’s ridiculous dream of rating every artist that matters is admirable. Plus he’s dealt with a host of health issues, including kidney cancer, so I’m an easy mark.

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As I mentioned before, Fall is here. And. like many others, it is my favorite season. It’s a tad cooler. Pretty colors around us that are changing slowly enough that it gives me something to look forward to noticing each day. I’m not a pumpkin spice guy but I do like any excuse to drink some warm tea as I sit outside. The season generally brings that. I know some don’t like that it’s a seasonal allergy high point, but I don’t mind a few extra sneezes in exchange for what I think is perfect weather. And yes, I acknowledge that my allergies are fairly mild overall.

I’m hoping the change of season helps me turn the page in this new chapter of my life. And I’m so close to finishing the rock opera (fundraiser for Teen Cancer America and the UK’s Teenage Cancer Trust). I’m slowly figuring out a daily schedule and palette of regular activities that are good for both my health and my family life. I’m headed to St. Louis very soon for a cancer-related research and advocacy meeting AND then to Las Vegas right after to see a music festival of old bands that have been largely forgotten by anyone under 40 with a longtime friend and former bandmate.

All in all, life isn’t too bad, but Have had more than my share of rotten, over-emotional days. It’s a process, but I’m getting there.

Here’s one last song share. It always reminds me of this time of year for whatever reason.