Tempus fugit

We've all seen the phrase "tempus fugit" on the face of a grandfather clock, and of course it's Latin for "time flies." How true that is. My "tempus" has really "fugit(ed)."

I was just out mowing the lawn, ruminating about a number of things, and it suddenly occurred to me that Aug. 20th (today) marks the 4th anniversary of my DaVinci surgery. Four years! Where has the time gone?

A week ago on my birthday I was at my son's house. My daughter-in-law and their four kids were there and we were all laughing and talking, and I said something about how long ago it was that I went through the whole cancer thing. My 11-year-old son looked absolutely stunned. "You had cancer, Grandpa? Why haven't I known that?"

Well, he was only 7 at the time, and the only one of the grandkids I talked to about the "cancer thing" was his older sister, who was 11 in August of 2010. But, he seemed genuinely shocked. Maybe it was the first time he realized that his Grandpa is actually mortal, and far from invincible.

An38's husband had his surgery that same day in August 2010, and down in Australia he had to go through it while clinging to the earth to keep from falling off. I'm sure it's much more difficult in the southern hemisphere.

We actually had a very long thread consisting of posts by a group who all had their cancer treatments in August of 2010. We should plan a reunion.

As I was mowed along, I was thinking about various times HW has seen contentiousness among its members. More than a few. I lurked here for a while before I dared to post, jumping into a rather contentious discussion, and I was welcomed thusly, by a member whom I shall not name:

"Clocknut
This is a prostate cancer forum and about the best one on line at that. There is a world of sound advice and suggestions from great members who have trod the same path and had the same experiences. But it is a cancer forum, not a religious forum. If you feel you have the right to bring religion into the conversation then I reserve the right to offer a counter point of view. Your tone indicates it is more important to you to raise and discuss your religious convictions than it is to discuss prostate cancer ........ that is not the aim of this forum. There are a myriad of sites to debate religious conviction but this is not one of them. It is interesting that the believers insist on their right to bring religion into the conversation but rise up if arms when the other side exercises their right and dismisses their superstitious nonsense. It is no different to a member praising the fact that his having coffee enemas has rid him of PCa..... I feel I have the equal right to refute such outrageous claims. We have seen often the division that religion causes on the forum. The member (who had serious disease) of which Ziggy speaks actually requested that members stop posting that they would pray for him as he was a non believer. He was then unceremoniously and consistently attacked by those very same prayers and driven from the forum because of his request. Keep the division out and keep your religious sentiments to yourself."

I still don't know how he determined the "tone" of my remarks, but I still think that was a very rude welcome, and not at all accurate, but it didn't drive me away. Thanks to everyone here for a wonderful 4 years, and I have made a resolution to double my efforts to be ever civil and ever courteous to the rest of the HW community.

Love to all you guys and gals. Let's keep focused on helping our brothers battle this terrible disease and contribute each according to his own unique gifts. Bill

I had a warm welcome here, so I'm sorry to read that you had a rude welcome. Here's hoping for many more good years here.

Redwing,

Of course, you can and are free to use the "ignore user" feature. I didn't believe in using it for the first 4 years or so here, kind of went against my grain of "free speech" and all that. But eventually, I have found it most useful in keeping me from getting agitated at a small number of posters that love to get under my skin It's easier for me this way, then to read certain remarks guaranteed to push my buttons.

Rather not have to use it, wish it were the case, but it is a good feature for that very purpose. Already had to use it upon my recent return to HW. Life is too short to get into needless and pointless hassles in our on-line world. Live and let live is my usual mantra. There are so many kind and thoughtful people here at HW, so no reason for me to deal with those that choose to be less than kind.

David

I loved, "Don't feed the trolls"!

Early on I was offended by a post on HW, James C. was a moderator at that time. James advised that I ignore the guy. I did. I've noticed, over the years, that the guy has toned his posts down significantly. Now he is respected and listened to.

I feel that the more guys openly take offense to posts they object to, the more they feed the egos of the offending posters .... "Don't Feed the Trolls"! .... Tempus Fugit indeed.

And, Thank You for all of your contributions to helping others.

Hard to believe Mr. WW has already been on HT for 3 years! Comes off in a couple of weeks. :)

So yes.... "Tempus fugit!"

Post Edited (MsWorryWart) : 8/22/2014 5:02:25 AM (GMT-6)

Good on you, clocknut, it's always nice to reflect on your anniversary and I'm wishing you many more and may your tempus ever fugit.

Moonlight, your post sure rang a bell with me, what to say when pray is not a word that has a meaning for yourself. I always use wish instead,it might not have the depth of meaning that prayer does but it does get the personal touch in there . . . Q

PS: BTW I'm an Episcopalian/Sufi so please everyone take my words with a grain of humor.

Hi Bill,

Time does indeed fly. Paul clung on while the surgeon did the upside down surgery on him. Life in the Southern Hemisphere is tough.

Paul regularly asks me how his northern hemisphere twin is doing.

The August 2010 thread was a marathon, I believe there were 10 of us that had surgeries that month and I can remember so much of comfort and support in our thread. This site remains the great place it was then and I feel blessed that we all can meet here.

PSA bloods taken today for him. Hope your results and his are both good.

Smiles and best wishes,
An

Too Bad some seem to take issue with just about anything.