I love somores! Camping has been a part of my life for more years than I can remember. Growing up our vacations were spent on the road, just a truck with a camper shell, a station wagon and a tent. There were hot meals twice a day (including breakfast, no cold cereal and toast for us); lunch was on the road. We would get up and start moving around 9am, then drive until around 3pm when we'd look for a place to stop. With three to four weeks each summer, I can say I may have been in virtually every campground on the west coast from San Diego to Vancouver B.C. Quite the achievement for a kid from Berdoo (aka San Bernardino).
Anyway........somores. You remember things that have played a significant part of your life (yes, somores qualify) and more especially, those people who have played a significant role. Recently, I have cause to remember more of those people - cancer makes you do that. Chalk one up for the big C!
So, for more info.........
I started this year with a ride on the Fullerton Loop with my buddy Larry (of Gary, Harry and Larry fame...but that's another blog). I couldn't get my fat rear through the entire loop and had to abandon (that's biker talk) after my front tire flatted - I believe from the fatness (I be one big mexi"can") that I asked it to carry. So I decided to tadaaaa.....lose weight. After shedding a few lbs, I was shaving and noticed a lump on the side of my neck. Thinking inflamation, I waited a few days, with lump still present I decided to see my doctor. I was going to just go to Urgent Care when I discovered that they were in the process of moving to the same building as my Doctor. Ok, ok, ok, so I just called my doc. He examined me (after scolding me about the extra lbs) and my journey began.......x-ray, blood test, urinalysis, MRI, FNA with ultrasound, bronchoscopy and finally, the PET scan.
NOTE: I have chosen to take on my cancer head on. It may be my upbringing in Berdoo, it may be the nuns from Our Lady of Guadalupe (Sister Maria Aunsuncion......remember her?) or it may be my Dad. I am going to say yes to all with a special nod to my old man.
So with this mindset, I have titled my blog the "Aztec Cancer Warrior". This is in homage to the Eagle Warriors who helped to defend the people of Aztlan ("Aztec" in Nahuatl), a mythological place for the Nahuatl-speaking culture of the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries that were situated on an island in Lake Texcoco (now the location of Mexico City). The Eagle Warriors were one of the leading military orders in Aztec society and were considered soldiers of the sun.
That's what I want to be when I grow up, a soldier of the sun........