Off Ramp: Loma Linda Week 5

Week 5: Oct. 18th-Oct. 24th


After four weeks routines are starting to develop. Like the trips to Trader Joe’s that remind us of home. Or finding a place to fellowship that we can call our “church away from church.” Sunday we visited Trinity Church in Redlands after exhausting the various online search engines. It is as close to being at Glenwood as we have found so far. Good solid Bible teaching; friendly atmosphere; with uplifting music and worship. I am sure we will return.

Last week Diane met a young mother being treated with protons for a non-cancerous brain tumor. She is out here alone while her husband holds down the fort with their two boys back home in Nebraska. Tuesday we thought it would be a good idea to introduce her to Trader Joe’s. After all, T. J.’s is foreign to her part of the country. Thursday her family came out to join her for a few days. She is one of many stories we find here of strength and courage as well as modeling the value of a Christian faith in the face of adversity.

Treatments have settled in to more of a routine with my appointments around 7:30 each night. It has been interesting how relationships are also becoming part of the routines. With the various offerings for the patients, interaction with others is happening on a regular basis. I have been involved with a “Men Only” support group on Wednesday afternoons to share in the experiences of the other men going through this treatment. Conversations have been quite open and frank which can be very helpful. The Wednesday evening meeting is more of a fellowship and education time open for wives and caregivers to join in.

We are still surviving “Boot Camp” with the constant encouragement of Charles and Courtney. Every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday mornings at 9:00 AM we don our workout gear and head off to sweat, grunt, and groan. I hope to maintain this commitment to exercise when I am finished with my treatment. Diane had a great head start on me in this category as she came here in great shape. Maybe that is why I experienced a slight hamstring pull on Thursday. Hopefully it will not hinder my graduation at the end of next week.

Aerobics anyone? Get a load of some of these offerings at the Drayson Center: “Tone & Moan” with Romy; “B.A.T.s (Buns, Abs, & Thighs) with Gail; or “Salsa Aerobics” with Lydia. These seem to suit Diane just fine as she headed out to “Total Body Workout” with Rachel Friday morning. I am still holding out for “50 Something Aerobics for Idiots” with Wilbur or maybe the self guided “Aerobics While You Sleep.” I’ll give these a little thought while I am out at the pool.

We wrapped up the week Saturday with a trip to Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure. This allowed us to use up some passes we had from a previous visit to the Magic Kingdom in Orlando. The last time we visited the Anaheim theme park the current sites of Downtown Disney and California Adventure were the old parking lot. On a sad note, The Country Bear Jamboree has been replaced by some other bear named “Pooh” and his many adventures. At least Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride continues to hold it’s own in spite of competition from the likes of Hannah Montana. Just another 80 something degree day in Southern California.