Rocky's Birthday "Party"

     Five years ago Rocky was diagnosed with small cell lung cancer, the kind that cannot be surgically removed. We didn't think he was going to make it and were prepared for the worst. 


     Miraculously, he tolerated and responded well to chemotherapy and radiation treatments. He gave up smoking, although slowly, and went on to have a hernia removed, was diagnosed with prostate cancer, and then had a mild stroke that affected his vision in the only good eye he has. By the summer of 2005, the COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder) was causing him most of his physical problems and over the years, he learned to administer his own breathing treatments, uses supplemental oxygen, and uses a cane.


     So, last year when I realized he probably was going to celebrate his 80th birthday, I really wanted to give him a surprise party. But he asked me not to, and although I considered giving him one anyway, when I thought about his frail physical condition, I decided not to.


     However, 80 years total of life and 5 years of cancer survival plus the other problems he's had, I really wanted to recognize his 80th birthday in some way. That's when I came up with the idea of the birthday card shower through the USPS. As of today, his birthday, he had received 74 cards, about 8 e-mail messages, and numerous phone calls.


     So, today, just the two of us had a party! We had cake:

with candles on it; one big 8 and one 0.

Rocky loves chocolate cake!

     Then there were presents, one from me and one from our handyman, a pair of candlesticks he had hand carved.

     He was especially pleased with the Bose music system I gave him.

We spent the rest of the afternoon opening half of the birthday cards. Most everyone wrote notes with theirs, so I read the notes and recorded the sender. Hopefully, Rocky will be able to carry out his plan to tell a story while I record it with my little Flip camera and then post it on You Tube as a thank-you to everyone who sent a card. 

Here Rocky is with his cards,

We are hoping our grandchildren will be able to get away and come over this weekend.

It's "iffy" since Jessica works in a restaurant and Chris has many obligations around music.  But Rocky and I have most of a cake here, and we can fill the house with music!