Sometimes It's Just Smarter To Be Smart

(News Brief: I was shocked to see that our little blog has been reviewed by "blogged.com," which apparently does nothing but review blogs. They gave us an "8.9 (Great)" and a reader gave us a "10."  Not bad when you consider the last thing I thought the blog would ever be is reviewed. If the audience is growing large enough to be found by an outside reviewer, maybe we are touching far more warriors and knights than we ever believed.)--DCF

All right, I fess up. When I made reservations for the trip to Vegas this weekend, I asked the airline for  assistance from one gate to another in Atlanta and to also help expedite the security process in Vegas. They said they were happy to do it. It's not that I couldn't walk from Concourse D to Concourse A, its that I have learned to conserve energy whenever possible. As for the security line in Vegas, on the day after Super Bowl that is going to be a Que that would make the old Soviets jealous. While my legs are stronger, I worry they would not take the 45 minutes in line normally required.

As for the Show itself, thereto a ounce of prevention is worth a pound of "oh, Hell, what do I do now?" I have attended SHOT many times and know the convention center well, especially the little sofas that line the walls of the second floor. Seldom used and perfect for a nap. However, the nice lady at the center said that if I needed real help, they had a comfort station that would do the job just as well.

Mostly good thinking for any warrior to scout the territory of relief before going anywhere outside the camp. As for working the show, I have decided on 30 minutes walking and 10 resting, in any chair that presents itself. I have also determined not to do any after hours parties, except our own. Yes, I have made sitting arrangements there as well.

The SHOT Show is huge, taking up all of the LV Convention Center. And the floor is good old fashioned concrete. For a healthy person, eight hours looking at this rifle or that gun rack or this new set of camo can be back wrenching. No matter how much I want to appear (and will do my best to) healthy and normal to all my old pals, what would be normal exhaustion when I would leave four  years ago, could be debilitating this time. I don't want to spend any more time getting over it next week than I have to, especially with two quail hunts coming up the week after (yeah, I am gonna try to ride a horse, if I can boost myself into the saddle).

It was very difficult to make these self-help plans in advance. Ego and Id struggled over it for sometime, until finally I just had to tell Ego to shut up. Having cancer--and all its intendant issues--is not a sport. It is not something on which we have to prove anything. It is all about taking as good a care of ourselves as possible (the pipe withstanding) and that is what I decided to do.

So when I ride by all those pedestrians at the airport, perched on the back of that little golf cart, I am going to pat myself on the back for being, for once, a little smarter than the average He-Man.

Oh, it was three years ago Friday that I found myself on one of those sofas and just too tired to go to my hotel. Sherry and I canceled some plans that night and left the next day. It was the first real sign that I was somehow not right. A month later I was dx with kidney cancer.

Comments

[Teri]

Congratulations on your review! Well deserved.
I am in India on an extended business trip, been here about a month..with 3 more months to go. As a warrior, I was hesitant to make the trip, my husband traveled with me then returned to the states last week. I have been here several times before..so I was aware of the constant struggle with the noise, the hoards of people every where that one encounters during the normal daily routine...(very much like a continous trade show!)..tiring in the past..exhausting now. Please take care of yourself during the trip. I am learning to pace myself..a hard thing for me..hope you are doing the same.
Wishing you and Sherry the best of days.
Teri

[Mary]

Hi David - Blog reviewed WOOHOO. I do believe you are reaching many more Warriors than you believe. Great job. As far as the trip, take advantage of as many "creature comforts" as you can. You deserve them and that is what they are there for. Make sure you give a big wave as you drive by those pedistrians in the airport. They will be envious. Have a great weekend.