So far, so good

Since last we spoke, Captain Switzer has gotten some relief from the nauseous effects of his chemotherapy, with a new medicine that lets him tolerate the treatments a bit better. He is sounding good on the phone, having spoken with him both last Thursday and again on Saturday (April 22 & 24).

His spirits are good and he is still upbeat that he and his doctors will beat this thing. He says to be sure to thank everyone who has written to wish him well, and additionally he acknowledges that he feels your prayers on his behalf. As many of you have attested to me in the past, the power of prayer is not to be denied.

Also, he sends thanks to his small company of grass mowers, who have been manning the yard implements to keep Karen from having to deal with any of that. Some of you may remember Karen, as she briefly served as a trained nurse, following the 28th Virginia into battle, while Les was still an NCO. As you might imagine, she is the next in a long list of underappreciated spouses who gives selflessly for a spouse's treatment and healing. Without persons such as her.........

While on the way back from the Spotsylvania planning trip on Saturday, General Cornett and I decided to take in the two-mile walking tour of the site of General Gordon's flanking attack upon Union troops on May 5 & 6, 1864. As we walked and talked about the carnage, we both decided that General Lee was right, when he said, "It is well that war is so terrible, lest we grow too fond of it." That musing of course, led to the reality of the cancer that now attacks Les. In the midst of our walk, we decided to call him, knowing that he should be at home, between treatments for the weekend.

It was as if, during the conversation, he was there walking with us, and I suppose in a way, he was. I came away thinking that the call did at least as much for me as it might have done for him. One other profound thought came from that afternoon, uttered by our General, that we all need to slow down and enjoy life while we can, not just for our own selves, but also for the sake of those whom we hold dear.

I think he was right, just like so many other times in our long association with each other. Life is ours for the taking, and we do need to sometimes make time for the mundane and ordinary moments; those that over time, will escape our memories. So I'll issue you a challenge, not just to hold Les in your thoughts and prayers; I know you'll do that. I challenge you to spend one of those precious fleeting moments with a member of your family or one of your friends, for as Les realizes, we are not promised tomorrow.

Have you taken a walk in the woods lately?

Until next time,
Colonel Gallion