Today Was a Good Day

Today was an especially good day. And believe me… when you’ve been on chemo for seven months, we LOVE the good days! So let me explain what made the day so special.

• The day started with a doctor’s visit.  It took longer than I thought, so I decided to treat myself to breakfast out after the appointment. An omelette, a bit of juice, watching the streets of Bethlehem out the window… Quite relaxing.
• After breakfast, I got a phone call from an old friend from my years at Horizon Christian Fellowship in San Diego. But honestly, friend is too simple a word. Jeff was one of the assistant pastors in San Diego when I first moved there in 1985. He was the first Christian counselor I spoke with during those early transitional (and troubled) years as a young Christian. He’s also the one who baptized me in Mission Bay. Jeff was always a compassionate and kind man, and conversations with him drew you closer to the Lord. Today was the first time we spoke together in more than 10-15 years I think. He’s still serving the Lord in Fort Lauderdale, and has done a lot of ministry with cancer patients. It was so comforting catching up and being encouraged in the Lord in my journey with cancer. It was wonderful.
• Next on the list was a visit to the optometrist. Though they thought my new glasses wouldn’t arrive for a few weeks, they came in in just seven days. Nice new lenses, self-tinting to polarized sunglasses outside (perfect for spring and summer), and they don’t give me the same headaches my old ones do after wearing them for a few hours. I can see!
• After that, I spent the afternoon shopping for a perfect coat to take to Paris. Picked up a venti Flat White with coconut milk at Starbucks, walked around a mall or two, and it felt so good to have the energy to be out and about. Finally drove to a leather outlet store about an hour from here, and found just the right coat for April in Paris! Quite happy with the purchase, and the price! I love a good sale.
• About an hour after I got home… guess who surprised me with an unexpected visit? My daughter Anna! She flew up from Atlanta for the weekend just to be with me! I couldn’t believe she and Christy kept that a secret… but what a nice surprise. Looks like it will be a wonderful weekend coming up!
• For dinner, we decided to try a Chinese restaurant that was highly recommended to my wife from a co-worker. It’s called Asia and about 15 minutes from here, just outside South Bethlehem. It’s ranked as one of the best 100 Chinese restaurants in the country, and they lived up to that reputation perfectly! Very authentic food, great taste and seasonings, and excellent service. We’ll visit there again!
• And tonight, the three of us are watching “An American in Paris”…. just to get in the mood for our upcoming trip.

So you see, the day was perfect from start to finish. What I learned is that when you have the energy, get up and get out and do things you love to do with people you love and want to be with. No putting stuff off. Do those things that are important to you now because who knows what tomorrow brings.

Oh yes… you know how when you go to a Chinese restaurant they give you those fortune cookies at the end? Well, the picture below speaks for itself. Such a timely message when fighting cancer. Honest to God, I’m not making this up… An appropriate end to the perfect day!