Choosing life over luekemia

It’s been a while since I’ve written. The picture above explains why. We are building a “treehouse”. Actually its a combination pergola/treehouse: two decks with the top being the treehouse deck about 8 feet above the lower deck. Here’s more photos showing the progress from start to where we are now.

Temporary guide frame for establishing corner posts

The project is taking longer than planned. I suppose if I knew more about building and I didn’t get tired so easily it would have been completed a month ago or earlier. My wife and I are building it together and she doesn’t seem to mind the slow pace.

Footing poured

We’re about to install the center beam for the top floor. Soon we’ll be hanging joists and attaching floor boards. The rainy Washington Fall weather is about to hit but we’ll have time to get the basic structure done. Next Spring we’ll be putting the rest of the stuff on the treehouse (safety fence, roof, slide, etc.).

It’s been a good project. I’ve learned a lot about building. I didn’t even know what a hurricane clip or knee brace was before we started.

Joists set for lower deck

So, like I mentioned a couple of posts back, my wife has me doing these projects in spite of my condition. That is the best thing she could do for me. It makes me feel good about myself; a little bit normal. I take it slowly but we’re getting it done.

My best friend painting joists

She’s the best. She has more projects for me after this one; building new window sills, a deck, and who knows what else. I think my days of procrastination are gone. (Sigh, I miss those days.)

Anyway, sometime next Spring I should have a photo of the finished project for you.

The moral of all this is to keep moving. Whatever your stage of leukemia,  find things you can still do and get to them. Life is about living not dying. Preparing to die is a waste of the time we have left. Living is a celebration of the time we have. I choose the latter.

Love you all.