Part 18
"Getting My Groove Back"

After my chemotherapy treatment was finished I started to get back my life. The reason why there was such a large break between chemotherapy and surgery was because the doctors wanted your body to totally flush out all of the chemotherapy before you had surgery. It usually takes the body a month to do this. It the meantime, I started to do all of the activities I did before. I started working again at Brooklyn's (Bagel/Deli/Espresso) and KPLU Radio 88.5. I didn't work nearly the amount of hours I did before but at least it kept me busy. I'm the kind of person who always likes to have something to do.

It was a little different working again. I always wore a hat whenever I worked. I didn't want all of the old customers asking me what happened to all my hair. Of course they found out. As soon as I started making the coffee again in the morning, the usual customers would ask me "where have you been"? I would then have to break the news to them. After a while, this starts to suck. The last thing I wanted was for people to feel sorry for me and act differently around me. But of course, it seemed like all of the customers started to act really nice to me (and of course, leave good tips). I guess I would probably do the same thing.

Life at KPLU hadn't changed much. My desk was left just the way I left it 4 months ago. I had a card waiting for me when I arrived and all of the staff was happy to see me. It was good to see them too. I still wore my hat when I worked for KPLU too.

The best part about being in remission was that my tongue was back to its normal color. This meant food started to taste great. Everyday I would eat a sandwich at Brooklyn's and would usually go out to eat in the evenings. I never missed food as much as I did then.

My playing career started to pick up again. I was now able to go to Jazz Ensemble practice at PLU everyday. The band was my "family" at PLU and I truly missed being with them. I used to sit in the chemo room thinking, "well, the rest of the guys are practicing now." The only bad thing about the whole band situation was that I was going to be unable to play for the Fall concert. It was going to be held on November 20, 1998. Since my surgery was going to be performed on the 10th, that would only give me 10 days to recuperate. I knew that this would be impossible for me to do. First things first.

My nightlife was starting to blossom again. I usually played 3 times a week for some gig, whether it be Roof & Doofs, Grounds 4 Coffee, or a private party. My date life was also flourishing. If I wasn't playing somewhere, I would be off on a date with "some lucky lady". Sometimes we would go to a movie. Sometimes out to eat. Sometimes, even at a school party. I remember for Halloween I went to one of my friend's party with Kelly. I figured that since I had a baldhead, I should probably use it for my costume. So that year I pulled off quite a good "Stone Cold Steve Austin" outfit. My sidekick, Kelly, was Chyna. We easily had the best outfits of the evening.

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