May 29 2025
Rob
Ready to break out of the Big House!
So among the many disastrous events of the Annus Horribilis of 2024 was my beloved brother-in-law Rob being diagnosed with bladder cancer the day before Thanksgiving. This did not improve my gratitude quotient. He had the tumor removed in December (merry Christmas!) and subsequently learned that the cancer had made itself at home in his bladder walls, so the bladder had to come out (happy new year!). If it didn’t, Rob would have the shelf life of a dairy product.
So he and Megan headed off to hot as hell Sacramento, or, as Megan unaffectionately called it, Sacoshit. Rob was in really good medical hands, and he faced the surgery and its aftermath with his usual stoic cheerfulness and quirky humor, a key part of his Robosity.
They were gone for 10 days, which is approximately a century. Hospital days are about 10 years per day. While they were gone, some friends and I took turns looking after the dogs, who clearly missed their regular routine and actual owners. Here you see them hanging out while their babysitter sits in the garden, sipping a cocktail and leafing through fashion magazines.
I noticed pretty quickly that dogs are not cats. When dogs walk all over you, bruises result, and Stella’s snoring vanquished earplugs with a pillow over my head with no contest at all. On the plus side, though: no litterbox.
Megan and Rob were glad to finally get home and back to what is the new normal. New normals are never as good as old normals. But I’m just thankful we still have Rob.
A YEAR AGO: Celebrating Megan’s birthday. We had no idea what lay ahead.
FIVE YEARS AGO: We lost the Beautiful Harriet at the ancient age of 19. We still miss her.
TEN YEARS AGO: Megan’s birthday BBQ.
FIFTEEN YEARS AGO: Some quality Girl Time.
TWENTY YEARS AGO: My inner warrior.
Comments Off on Rob