Meadowmufn

Burt Reynolds passed away today. He and Jimmie were close. I still remember at Jimmie's 75th birthday, he was surprised by a video birthday message from Burt (and Paul Newman too). It was so thoughtful and great. He'll be missed.

Happy birthday tomorrow Rosco. You're always in our hearts. I bet you're driving around up in Hazzard Heaven in that Rolls Royce Sheriff's car of yours. Khee kheeing all the way. 

Well, congratulations to the USA for their win. England only managed fourth.

Roger, I can see why soccer would be popular with American kids. The only equipment you need to play is a ball. Then you can go to the park and use the proverbial jumpers (sweaters) for goalposts, and you have a game. It may last 20 minutes, or I've seen them go on all afternoon with people coming and going. There may also be the attraction of playing an truly international sport. The four that you mentioned are still predominately played in North America (although MLB played their first competitive fixture in Europe just over a week ago with a game in London). The USA women's soccer team can now say that they're the best in the world (again).

That's pretty cool that we have two active members from the Netherlands when they are in the Final. Soccer is very popular with American kids who play but still has a long ways to go if it wants to challenge American football, baseball, basketball or even hockey on a professional level in popularity.

Back on the road to recovery and hope to stay there this time....feeling pretty good. Believe it or not, the Dukes cartoons have helped a lot!

I'll spring for a maid service. Found out my surgery didn't cost nearly as much as I thought it would.

You know how breast cancer has a pink ribbon and other cancers and diseases have other color ribbons? Well, neuroendocrine cancer is so rare, it shares a ribbon with other rare cancers and diseases. It is the zebra ribbon. It comes from the medical saying "when you hear hoof beats, think horses not zebras”. It means to look for a common diagnosis instead of rare one given a set of symptoms. Well, neuroendocrine cancer is certainly a zebra. There are only 12,000 cases diagnosed in the US every year and 170,000 people currently living with it. It accounts for only 0.5% of all cancer diagnoses. And of neuroendocrine cancer cases, only 2.6% occur where my tumor was located. That's a little over 300 cases like mine a year out of a population of 300+ million. So, my case was rare indeed. I am very fortunate and very blessed that I had a good outcome.
 

I want to say thank you to all of you for lifting my spirits and being here for me during this ordeal. I've been overwhelmed by the support I've gotten here and everywhere. It's true what they say that when you have cancer, your family and friends have it too. It touches everyone. But everyone rallied around and we're done with cancer.

Sorry I'm a little late folks. Wanted to make sure my sore throat was healed up before I tried some of that sh....water. That sh...water can burn your throat sometimes. LOL!

Guys, the surgeon called tonight. He said the biopsies show that they got it all! I'm cancer free! He said I can do a follow up endoscopy with my regular gastroenterologist in a year. I am SO HAPPY! Now, if my sore throat would go away, that'd be just peachy.

Surgery’s done. All went well. Surgeon thinks he got it all. Will follow up with an endoscopy in 6-12 months to double check. Home resting now. Feels like Maudine kicked me in the chest, but that should go away soon.

Surgery’s done. All went well. Surgeon thinks he got it all. Will follow up with an endoscopy in 6-12 months to double check. Home resting now. Feels like Maudine kicked me in the chest, but that should go away soon.

It probably seems like Tuesday will take forever but it will be here before you know it. You are greatly loved. 

Right on darling! You hang in there!! Your family in Hazzard is with you every step of the way!!   
 

Hi folks! Just checking in. I have felt pretty horrible the last few weeks, blood sugar and GI issues. Saw my doc yesterday and she helped me sort a few things out. Stocked up on a ton of Gatorade for the electrolytes. Feeling better today. Can't wait until next Tuesday is over and I can get on to recovery!

Hi folks! Just checking in. I have felt pretty horrible the last few weeks, blood sugar and GI issues. Saw my doc yesterday and she helped me sort a few things out. Stocked up on a ton of Gatorade for the electrolytes. Feeling better today. Can't wait until next Tuesday is over and I can get on to recovery!

We're all in this with you and we're countin 'down with you baby! Boar's Nest here we come!  

OH,  YEA BAYYYBEH!! 

*BIG SMILE*

That's not good news, that's GREAT news.

Well, if all goes well, I will be cancer free two weeks from today (June 4th). My surgery is all scheduled.

Well, if all goes well, I will be cancer free two weeks from today (June 4th). My surgery is all scheduled.

Well, no surprise here...Ray and his staff put on another fantastic Dukes event. Of course this one was a little different. I arrived at 6:00 and the first person I bumped into was my favorite stuntman, Mike. We talked outside the building for awhile, catching up on life in general. It was good to see him again after that scare he gave me at the last stunt show. But tonight wasn't a stunt show so it was nice to know I didn't have to worry about any of my friends getting scuffed up. It was the premier of Ray's movie so the only danger was slipping on spilled popcorn. 
I walked into the massive ballroom amazed at it's size. Scattered in different places was the General Lee, Daisy's Jeep, and two patrol cars, (Rosco's and Big Ed's). The Bandit and KITT were also there. It was $15 to get in (it would have been cheaper if I would have bought it in advance). I got my hand stamped and immediately went over to check out the General. Byron Cherry was nearby so I waited for the people who were talking to him to leave and went over. I had met him in 2014 and he behaved the same this time. He is super friendly, talkative and high energy. Like Enos (who was at Ray's stunt show last year) he is also a southern gentleman....born in Atlanta....and is very easy to talk to. You immediately feel relaxed around him. I asked a lot of questions, like what it was like when he first found out he was going to be a Duke boy, if he ever witnessed any stunts (he watched 6), what were his other hobbies and interests, his friendships with cast members other acting jobs, etc etc. Thankfully I got the time with him I was hoping for. 
Before the movie I chatted with other stunt show folks and fans and made some new friends along the way. Then, the main event. Byron spoke to the crowd and the movie began. It is called "Stuntlife, the Wild Ride". It is the story of Ray and the stunt crew and his family. It was made by Highway Pictures and directed by Aj Satterfield. Only one word is needed to sum it up..."WOW!....I'll use more though. It's an hour and a half long and was so professionally made it is no different than any high quality made movie you'd see in a theater. I'll skip the details of how well made it was but it was truly perfect in every way. Highway Pictures is one class act. Sonny Shroyer, Tom Wopat and Byron also make appearances in it. I think my favorite part was Ray showing and describing each of his 22 General Lee jumps, and adding if he was hurt and where. I think they all were shown from more than one camera angle...some from several angles. Every time he said he wasn't hurt on a particular one I felt a sigh of relief.  I've only seen a few so it was really cool to have a collection of them in order. (I bought the DVD before I left). Then there was the stunts of the other drivers. Some of them were pretty detailed and others were just quick scenes. The music that went with all the jumps and stunts was amazing. Everybody who was anybody with the stunt show was interviewed with the corresponding stunt and others behind the scenes got their well deserved moment or moments of fame....and there were many. The issue of safety was also discussed by several show members. The tribute Ray gave to his father was a tearjerker. When a man, like Ray who is larger than life, gets emotional on the big screen everybody in the place does too, especially me, since his dad was my favorite....no surprise there...he played Uncle Jesse, my favorite. Thankfully I spent a lot of time before and after the show talking to Dean, the new guy who plays Uncle Jesse. He's not new to Ray though. They've known each other a long time. In fact we talked so long most everybody had left and the crew members were driving the vehicles out. Then, as I walked to my car I bumped into Ray securing Daisy's Jeep onto the trailer and thanked him for all he's done. If ever there was a true Duke boy it's Ray Kohn. 
Keep an eye on their website but I think he is planning something new....a Bandit jump... in south-central Pennsylvania on June 22. Next will likely be a Dukes event in August in Virginia. In the meantime if you live too far away I highly recommend you go to his website and buy "Stuntlife." You have my promise you will not be disappointed. I laughed. I cried. I yelled YEEHAWW a lot. You will too. 
 

More good news! The surgeons are opting for the less invasive surgery. The resection for that area is risky and my situation doesn't warrant that kind of risk. They're confident they can get all the cancer with an endoscopic surgery. Just waiting for the surgeon's office to call and schedule the surgery now.

More good news! The surgeons are opting for the less invasive surgery. The resection for that area is risky and my situation doesn't warrant that kind of risk. They're confident they can get all the cancer with an endoscopic surgery. Just waiting for the surgeon's office to call and schedule the surgery now.