3 years out

3 years ago tomorrow I walked into the University of Washington Hospital and stayed for 29 days getting pumped full of chemo, stem cells, morphine, and various other drugs.  

In remembering that time that I try to forget, I went to UW yesterday and delivered a dozen donuts to the nurses up there to say thanks and show them their success story.  I got to see one of my favorite nurses Olivia, who was a 22 year old home body when she was caring for me.  I told her to get out and party on the daily while in there.  While I was there, she walked down the hall, looked at me and said “JOHN MALKOSKI!”  Then held her hand out and showed me the engagement ring on her finger.  

It was pretty fucking awesome.  

After walking out the UW that day feeling as good as I did about the visit and where I was with life, I decided that I was going to celebrate each of the 6 days I was getting chemo with doing something rad.  
Day 1, I went biking with Jim Bob and Stuart at St. Eds and we found some killer new trails.  

Day 2, I met up with a bunch of Dads at Chucks Hop Shop to pound some beers after work and tell stories of dropping our kids off at college. 

Day 3, Todd, Tyler and I we went surfing on Lake Washington.  The air temp was 56 and the water was 64.  

Day 4,  I left for lunch with Todd and somehow ended up spinning laps at Stevens Pass Bike Park.  It was their closing weekend and the dirt was some of the best its been all year.

That night Lisa and I went to the Varsity O'Dea vs. Prep game. Prep got served up.

 Day 5 was all time.  Up early to drop Mac off for football practice, then off to Greenlake with Pat and Jen to walk the lake.  We saw may characters that day, this city does not disappoint.

 Lisa likes to wear her tights inside out. 

 This dude just didn't give a fuck.  I liked his style.  

 Then that night it was off to Pennywise.  Lots of whooo ohhhs went down.  

And for my final day of chemo celebration, Toohey and I drove 478 miles round trip in a jaunt that took us 11 hours to complete just so we could get our 23rd consecutive month sliding on snow.   

And that's how I plan on remembering my 6 days of poisen from now on.