Wonderful Weekend all on Oxygen

[Guest guest]

Just want to share the great weekend I had and remind all too that it

was all on oxygen and as far as I can tell it in no way impacted my

enjoyment of the weekend at all. Did use many refills of my Marathon

though.

Thursday around noon my friend was due at the DFW airport from

Minneapolis. We hadn't seen each other in 28 years but were inseparable

in our much younger days. Well, about the time she was suppose to land

as I was waiting at the airport, she texted me from the Tarmac in Ok

City. They ran out of gas circling in Dallas due to the weather. At any

rate she arrived around 3 and then I drove her to her hotel to check in.

We then went in search of food. The first restaurant we went to was

without power, so we continued. Ate and talked at Pappas Brothers Steak

House and then went back to the hotel lounge and talked for hours.

Friday I picked her up at 11 and we had seafood at Papadeaux. I also

went a bit crazy and had the best chocolate cake. Then we headed to

Fossil Rim, which is a wildlife reserve beyond compare. It was about an

hour and 45 minute drive. At Fossil Rim we got a bag of animal food and

set out to drive through the reserve. In all we spent about 3 hours

there and fed all the animals at our car windows with them eating out of

our hands. We fed six varieties of Antelope (didn't see the seventh,

Wilderbeast), Aoudad (Barbary Sheep), four varieties of birds including

Emu and Ostrich, five different varieties of deer, Giraffes, three

varieties of Oryx, Gazelles and three varieties of Zebras. We then

headed back to town and had dinner at the Cheesecake Factory and then

talked more in the hotel lounge. Of course the entire day was talking.

Saturday, I picked her up a bit before 11 and drove her around to show

her more the area I live in. Drove by some ranches not far away and out

around South Fork. Then to my home where she met and the three of

us went to Mimi's for lunch. After lunch, she and I headed to the Dallas

World Aquarium and spent a couple of hours there. Then to the hotel for

more talking before a light dinner at 's Deli.

Yesterday, I met her for breakfast at the hotel and then drove her to

the airport.

Things were as if we'd never been apart. The fact I am on oxygen was

irrelevant. So was the fact I have a terminal disease and may not have

long to live. We've been honest and open about that but we have way too

much to enjoy to dwell on it. Life after diagnosis and with the disease

and with oxygen can be wonderful. It involves sharing time with those

you care most about. It involves living each day to the fullest you can.

For those who don't know I have UIP/IPF diagnosed summer of 2007. I've

been on oxygen since diagnosis and am on 2 lpm for sleep, 2 lpm sitting

(sometimes require none sitting) and 3-5 lpm for activity. I have many

other conditions too including most that are common among the group and

some that aren't. I'm taking several medications but none other than

oxygen for my disease. I was put on oxygen at the time of diagnosis.

Now I plan some more one or two day outings with (ex-wife, best

friend, closest family, housemate) and a couple of lunches and outings

with some board members and some trips for the fall including the one to

Chattanooga. Even if you can't go there, get together with some other

members from your area. You'll find it so nice. I've now met a total of

at least 15 members and when you throw in families probably 35-40 people

from the boards. And thats without counting the entire town of Snyder,

TX which is apparently all family to Wally.

Death happens when life ends, but every moment until then is life to be

used and nurtured in the best way possible. I enjoy mine and intend to

continue to do so even when I reach the end and am sitting at home doing

little and taking morphine. Now, I will not be responsible for what I

might say or type at that point. But for those new to the disease, I

haven't had two better years in my life than the last two. Now, today,

I'm relaxing and resting. But my mind is at work making future plans.

Have a good day all, every day you can.