On Thursday I spent a good chunk of the day at Hopkins for my 15th infusion of nivolumab pursuant to my clinical trial protocol. Dr. Hahn was pleased to see that my long-lingering congestion had finally cleared up, and said that my bloodwork was perfect. As usual, it took the Hopkins pharmacy longer than promised to compound my custom-made sack of liquid, but I spent the time researching how to repair our various cars.
In the past few months, almost every motorized transportation device that we own seems to have quit working. All of our cars have over 100,000 miles, and are showing their age. Jennifer's Jetta needed a new transmission. Kirsten's Jeep needed a new clutch as well as a new master and slave cylinder. Spencer's Honda threw a rod and blew the engine; we replaced it with a used JDM VTEC. My Audi needed new CVT boots, valve covers, serpentine belt. On Thursday I learned it needed a new high pressure power power steering line. The mechanic explained that replacing the hose takes more than 10 hours of labor: remove the front bumper, radiator, wheel, hub, ball joint, and power steering pump. I think I'm done with all things Audi. Even the riding lawn mower has stopped working. And the boat down at Lake Anna needs a new engine, not that we have anywhere to stay since the lake house is down to the studs following the remediation for the water leak and mold. Life is good.
Everyone but me is back in school: Garrett is in his last year of high school, busy in marching band and worrying about college applications. Over the summer Kirsten moved back home, transferred to GMU, and changed her major from business to social work. Spencer is on track to graduate next year from GMU, and is thinking about getting his MSW. And Jennifer is finishing her MSW work at GMU. (Apparently karma requires three social workers in the family to offset all the damage that one lawyer has done.) Jennifer also is working 20+ hours a week with Life With Cancer, a non-profit largely funded by Inova Hospitals. She counsels patients and their families as they navigate the shoals of the sea of cancer. She's made of pretty stern stuff to do that.
With no job or school commitments, earlier this month I spent 10 days in Utah playing with my granddaughters. Rose and I read hundreds of books, had a Curious George binge party on Netflix, went to the train museum and parks, and celebrated her second birthday. Lily is 4 months old and is a roly-poly happy baby. I also visited with extended family, and enjoyed some long drives in the Wasatch Mountains. I grew up in those mountains, and each time I am in them my troubles seem to get a bit smaller, and my gratitude to God grows.
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