Outside the Norm?

My bewildered Oncologist (Cancer Doctor) told me today that he has absolutely no clue as to why the severe cancer, orginally diagnosed in 2002, has not yet claimed my life, and, so far, has not yet re-emerged (even after chemotherapy and multiple surgeries).
His exact words were, "You are so far outside the norm!", and then just shook his head in perplexity.
Wait a minute!
Was that quote from him in reference to my health or my personality?

...and goodnight, Mrs. Callabash, wherever you are.

Larry D. Kump

The Secret

Harold B. Lee, former President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), knew the secret of happiness:
"Happiness does not depend on what happens outside of you.
It is measured by the spirit with which you meet the problems of life."

All about me (redacted email to a friend from '86)

...
I'm still curious as to how you stumbled across my blog...
Although much of my personal history is included in my blog (http://kumpster.blogspot.com) and I would suggest that you scroll down to to the two photo entries near the very bottom (beginning) of the blog, I'll give you a brief snapshot of what's been going on with me since way back when (in 1986), when I was living in Indianapolis, Indiana, serving as the Executive Director of the Indiana State Employees Association (since 1978, having relocated there from Cumberland, MD; at the suggestion of my first wife, who didn't like living in the Western Maryland mountains).
Our independent state employee advocacy organization in Indiana got swallowed up by the AFL-CIO in the late 80's, but I continued to fight for our autonomy (within the AFL-CIO), which was not at all well received.
They worked hard with our local leadership (Board of Directors) and finally got a plurality of votes to send me packing in February of 1989.
My Dad was ill at the time, and my folks wanted me closer to home, so I accepted their invitation to move in with them in the Eastern Panhandle of WV (10 miles North of Martinsburg, WV and 10 miles South of Hagerstown, MD) while I searched for another job.
I worked various short-term jobs until I reluctantly accepted a position as Correctional Case Manager with the Maryland Division of Corrections at Roxbury Correctional Institution in January, 1991.
I did that just to "come in out of the rain", and thought I only would be doing that job for several months or so until I found something better.
Nathless, I'm still in prison, very active in the independent employee union (Maryland Classified Employees Association), still fighting the AFL-CIO on issues which I believe are essential to employee liberty and job justice, and likely to remain at this job post; at least for a little while longer, while I reconsider the rest of my future.
Also in 1991, I purchased a 3 acre, heavily wooded lot from my Dad (he practically gave it to me), which is a couple miles down the road from my parents, and put a used mobile home on it.
My home burned to the ground on October 31st, 1986 (Happy Halloween), and I thereafter rebuilt a "stick-built" home on the same site.
Having remarried in 2001 to a wonderful lady of my faith, I began to add a home office, 3 more bedrooms, and a master bath to my home for her and her three children. (I lived with her in her home while this was being done)
However, in 2002, cancer struck me down again for the first time since 1981.
As previously in 1981, it was diagnosed as terminal, albeit, this time it was my kidney.
...
...
She (my beloved wife) ...divorced me on June 16th, 2003.
I've had multiple surgeries, chemotherapy, and Priesthood blessings since then.
(I'm still an active and devout member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints).
To the doctors' astonishment and the chagrin of many others, I'm still here, working, and kicking.
Meanwhile, my Dad and Mom still survive, albeit he now is on Home Hospice.
My son David and daughter Sarah now are grown and living in their own homes in Hanover, PA.

Worth sharing and sharing and sharing and sharing.......

What does Love mean?
A group of professionals posed this question to a group of 4 to 8 year-olds.
The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined:

"When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. "

Rebecca- age 8

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"When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different.
You just know that your name is safe in their mouth."

Billy - age 4

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"Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving
cologne and they go out and smell each other."

Karl - age 5
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"Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs."

Chrissy - age 6

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"Love is what makes you smile when you're tired."

Terri - age 4
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"Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a
sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK."

Danny - age 7

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"Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of
kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My Mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss."

Emily - age 8

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"Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen."

Bobby - age 7 (Wow!)
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"If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate,"

Nikka - age 6 (We need a few million more Nikka's )

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"Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday."

Noelle - age 7

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"Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well."

Tommy - age 6

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"During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and
smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore."

Cindy - age 8

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"My mommy loves me more than anybody You don't see anyone else
kissing me to sleep at night."

Clare - age 6

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"Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken."

Elaine-age 5

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"Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says
he is handsomer than Robert Redford."

Chris - age 7

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"Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him
alone all day."

Mary Ann - age 4

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"When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little
stars come out of you." ( What an image! )

Karen - age 7

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"You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if
you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget."

Jessica - age 8

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And the final one:
Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once talked about a contest he was asked to judge. The contest was to find the most caring child.
The winner was a four year old whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife:

Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there.
When his Mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little
boy said, "Nothing, I just helped him cry"

...and goodnight, Mrs. Callabash, wherever you are.

In Reply to a Friend about My Patriarchal Blessing

Thank you.
This has been on my mind for a long, long time (all my life), and the question continues each week as I continue to reread, ponder, and pray about my Patriarchal Blessing to help me better learn what God would have me do with my life.
My Blessing goes into great detail about a great many things, some of which are simply incredible, and it even mentions specific details about an Eternal Companion, but there is nary a word in it about children.
Looking back over my life, I think I now understand more about my relationship with my children, because my children were very young when they were separated from me by Divorce, and just did not have the opportunity to spend as much time with me as I wanted, hoped for, and should have done more to make happen.
Even so, I am grateful for the time I had with them and to my nonmember ex-wife for helping me to do that.
In the Temple, we are told that that it is not good for man to be alone, and I know, without a doubt, that this is true.
We also are told that we can have much joy in our posterity, and I know that this also is true, but perhaps this just will not be the case for me in my circumstances, at least here and now.
Another great friend, in similar circumstances to yours, but also nonetheless humble and trying to do his best, reminded me that God means exactly what He says in our Patriarchal Blessings, but that it can take us a lifetime (or more) to understand the fullness of His promises to and love for us.
One more thing, and on an even more wondrous note, it was personally revealed to me in the Temple how our kindred dead and others on the other side of the veil are actively involved here and now on the Earth, trying to influence and help us, and frequently intervening on our behalf.
Part of this is done because of their duty and their love for us, but part of this also is from the great gratitude they have for us for the proxy work that we have done on their behalf.
I love my Patriarchal Blessing and continually refer to it.
It is Scripture from God that He wrote personally, just for me.