My Mom, etc...

For those of you who didn't hear, my mom had brain surgery on Thursday. Successful brain surgery. After checking the follow-up MRI, the doctor said he was confident that he got the whole tumor out. Just hours after the operation, Mom was sitting up in her chair in ICU, eating a full dinner and cracking wise. On Friday, she was moved out of ICU to a regular room. Her condition changed hour by hour. At times, she was looking and sounding like her old self. At other times she leaned toward her left side, couldn't walk on her own, and suffered temporary paralysis on the left side of her face. All those symptoms have since gone away for the most part, so it appears that she is on the road to recovery. In fact, she got to go home yesterday. Blake is staying with her for a few days before he has to go back to Baltimore. If she still isn't back to 100% by then, she will come stay with us in our home until such time as she can manage safely on her own. Of course she is so stubborn that she is just sure that she can manage on her own right now and is growing increasingly tired of her sons "bossing her around." We told her this may be our only chance to torture her, so we better make the most of it while we can. It really is amazing that a person can have their skull sawed open, a chunk of their brain removed, and then be home watching NASCAR on TV two days later. (No, that is not a commentary on watching NASCAR.) Thanks to all of you who have sent along well-wishes, warm thoughts, and prayers. It means a lot to all of us.

In other news, it is fun to hear people's various reactions to the news that I am "retiring" from my job. Here is one email I got from a very dear friend from my childhood, Matt Ferguson:

"Travis,

I love you man.
I’ve had a couple of really shitty weeks and along comes bloggdaddy to cheer me up. Lately life has been, well a lot like what my Texas friends might say, “ like wipen’ yer ass with a hula hoop, …the shit just never ends.” Congrats on your successful run at the store. I wish you a wonderful retirement."

Another comment from my friend Jeff Arrigo: "Travis, You really do rock, dude. I mean it."

Yet another person commented, "I think you're making a mistake. You have the easiest job in the world. I'll trade you jobs for a day anytime."

Another comment left me quite amused. "So he's fine with letting his wife make all the money? I guess he doesn't care about being a man."

Well let me tell you: A real man is secure enough in his manhood to allow his wife to be the principle breadwinner.

A real man takes time off from work to look after his seriously ill mother.

A real man takes time off from work to spend quality time with his kid.

A real man realizes that because day-care for his child during summer vacation would cost $100 per week ($400-$500 per month) and fuel for driving to and from work would be another $250 per month, that over half his income would be spent on those two things, and because he and his wife have sacrificed for years to become debt-free, they no longer need two incomes to make ends meet.

A real man lives his own life without concern of what other people think. And that pretty much sums me up, don't you think.

Thanks again for all your love and support, everyone.