FRONT PORCH TODAY!

Front Porch Ramblings: A Simple Man’s Reflection

Hello! It’s been a while since I sat in front of my keyboard and just let my thoughts spill onto the screen. This time it feels different. In the past, if I took a few days off, it was usually because there wasn’t much going on or I felt like I was just repeating myself.

But this morning—Saturday, my so-called “me day”—I realized that my usual routine might not play out as expected. Chemo has hit hard in session four, and it’s knocked me back a bit. It hasn’t been fun, but I won’t dwell on that. As tough as it’s been, I’m still up, still moving, still telling everyone good morning, and still looking forward to tomorrow. I truly appreciate all the prayers and concern, but this will pass. We’ve got two more rounds to go, and then we’ll tell chemo to get lost!

I’m definitely in a rambling mood this morning—quicker than usual, even. Maybe that’s a good thing. My sleep patterns have been all over the place, but I’m okay with that. It gets me out on the Front Porch earlier, and it lets Penthouse Dude, Thig, and Twig spend a little extra time together. Judging by their energy today, they must’ve gotten some rest because their wheels were turning fast. Even Penthouse Dude gave me a few “Where are we headed today?” looks. I chuckled and told him, “I have no idea, but we’re rambling down 33 Highway for a while this morning.”

The “Good Morning Everyone” Gang

Every morning, I post “Good Morning Everyone” on Facebook. Why? Honestly, I didn’t have a reason at first. I was up in the early hours, wondering who else was awake at that time. Of course, I knew some poker pals were, but I was curious—who else was out there fighting a battle of their own?

I found some people, but it hasn’t evolved into what I initially envisioned. Maybe that will happen in time. What I do know is that it means the world to me when you take a moment to say good morning back, even if it’s just a quick acknowledgment. I notice every response, and I look forward to them. You don’t have to do it, and I know sometimes it might feel like a small chore but trust me—it’s appreciated. It’s the one thing I’ve stayed consistent with, and it plays a bigger role in my journey than I ever expected. THANK YOU ALL!

A Lesson in Patience

When I first started sharing my journey, I had a vision—one of my usual big, wide-open ideas. It was real, but not well-defined. Just a million thoughts floating around in my head, waiting to take shape. I thought it would be simple to put together, but then something happened that changed my approach completely.

Penthouse Dude took me to someone else’s Front Porch, and that afternoon changed everything. We talked, and as I shared my ideas, I got a few “Holy poop” looks in return. Then came the advice: Be patient.

Patience? That’s a word I had to look up again. I’ve spent my life flying through everything, never knowing the known—just rolling with the unknown at full speed. Now, ironically, I know the unknown, and the only way forward is to slow down and take things as they come.


A couple of weeks ago, I finally accepted that I can’t outrun chemo. It’s here, it’s real, and it consumes your life while you battle through it. So, instead of fighting that reality, Penthouse Dude and I decided to take it one day at a time until they stop pumping this fuel into me. I still wake up with big plans for the day, but I’ve learned to set some of them aside for later. End of April will come soon enough.

This patience thing is new for me, but it’s keeping me together. Strange how life works, huh? Thanks for the advice, Heather, and for everything you and Keith have done over the past couple of years. And a shout-out to Perfectly Imperfect as well!

A Hard Topic to Face

I’ve avoided talking about this, but today, I feel I must.

There’s a fundraiser this Wednesday in my honor. Some incredibly kind and caring people have put it together, and I can’t thank them enough. But I have been torn over it, and it comes down to one simple truth:

I am a financial idiot.

I created this situation myself—completely unnecessary, entirely avoidable. Those closest to me know this, and to be honest, it’s embarrassing. I spent years acting like it was no big deal, convincing myself (and others) that I was just enjoying life. But looking back now? That was a load of poop.

I worked hard my whole life but didn’t pay attention to what I was doing. Never in a million years did I think my recklessness would come back to bite me. But it did.

I share this not for pity, but as a warning. I see people making the same mistakes I did—living in the moment, ignoring what’s down the road. Please, think beyond today. If I could go back in time and fix just one thing, this would be somewhere in the top five.

But that’s only part of why this fundraiser is hard for me.

Emotions I Can’t Control

I know myself well enough to know that I won’t handle Wednesday emotionally well—not at all. And while you might say, “That’s okay,” for me, it isn’t.

For most of my adult life, I’ve locked my emotions away. The only ones I ever let slip were anger and frustration—those were easy. Now, suddenly, the floodgates are open, and everything is spilling out.

Most people haven’t seen me since all of this began, and I worry they won’t believe what they see on Wednesday. And honestly? I don’t blame them.

I, too, am still questioning all of this.

I could sit here and overthink it, rework this part of my rambling, but instead, I’ll leave it as is.

Wednesday will be tough.

Wednesday will be different.

Wednesday will leave you wondering.

Wednesday will be my chance to remove that last brick!

Patiently waiting to see how much liquid a tinted pair of ski goggles can hold,
A Simple Man