Monday, March 30, 2009

It has been a hard week. I'm down to the last supper before my surgery at 5am. Today the doctors laid out all the different things they are going to cut and splice and paste out, onto, and into me. I still feel eminently lucky to be here at this amazing hospital and am thankful for the dedication and ability of  these people, but I am a little scared as I get closer to the reality of the thing. 

I have learned a lot about dining out in Houston this week- Houston has become a much better food town in the past few years and we have had some truly memorable meals here in preparation for a month of taking food in through a little plastic tube that will run into my nose and down to my stomach. 

Today a nurse wrote on my skin "this side" so they would cut me on the correct side of my neck. I was reminded of thirty years ago when I had big red squares on each side of my jaw to aim the radiation machines at, and when Stevie Ray Vaughn and Bobby Earl Smith saw me, they went upstairs at the Rome Inn and got red markers and drew big red boxes on their faces in solidarity with me after some asshole at the bar made fun of me.  I loved Stevie, he had a large, sweet heart. 

And, as Paul Bumgartner would always say, "And so we go..."

See you on the other side!

Peace and Love,
Joe Gracey, Jr.

11 comments:

Lluís said...

It'll be fine Joe, my prayers are with you. There's many a bottle of Empordà wine that we have to open next time when you come here soon.

A great hug from your friend in Girona!

Jolie Goodnight said...

Love you daddy!
"Who is that man?"
Fields: "Oh he's the house detective over at the Grand Hotel." -It's a Gift; referring to Mr. Muckle.

Unknown said...

Hello Joe!
This is Meagan from Feast and I just wanted to wish you all bte best of luck for tomorrow and the years to follow!
Come back when you are finished with the tube!!

Randy Kirchhof said...

Hi Joe. You popped into my mind yesterday; now I know why. Haven't seen you since Lone Star Recording a quarter century ago; astounding that it's been that long.

You're in my thoughts and I wish you the best.

james said...

love you!!

Lynda Jones said...

I'm with you, dear soul-brother!! Peace, love and endless prayers.....

Ed Ward said...

Stockpiling some good Languedocs for ya here, dude.

Word verification: bright.

I'll say!

AlwaysTrumper said...

Funny stuff, Joe...I laughed loud at the Russell Crowe line!
Wishing you a speedy and extra, extra full recovery!
Paul Marsteller

bigdumbhick said...

i still love you

coffee and queso said...

hope you're on the mend soon!

Joe Gracey said...

Thanks y'all. Going to put up the "I'm Back..." blog next, now that the fog is lifting.