Subj: What If?
Date: 1/19/04

To those who have touched my life:

After I sent my, "Someone was thinking about me" story, I got an E-mail response from a person that I first met at Atlanta NSXPO. She chauffeured me around the sites in San Antonio, we got quasi thrown out of a park and she tried to burn my tongue off at a hot and spicy exposition. She has been a good friend, as so many of the NSX people that I have met through the years. I feel lucky to be her friend. Her name is Roxanne.

(This story is written with her permission)

It seems my mail came at a time in her life when one reflects back on old friends and life past, present and future. She told me something very personal...Roxanne has cancer. I requested that she allow me to tell this story as it may help others who have not yet had to face their own mortality. For those of you in our NSX community who have faced your mortality and conquered, I'm sure words of inspiration will be appropriate for one of our own. At this point, Roxanne appears to be taking things one day at a time and not trying to get too far ahead of the situation. She told me that cancer of the parotid gland is frequently contained in the gland and some types are highly treatable. She will have surgery on the 21st.

(Excuse me while I count my own blessings)
I received a lot of support from my NSX friends when my mother died while I attended the last NSXPO in CA. Mom only wanted a small memorial service which would be held in the middle of the week. It was not elaborate and it would only last a short time. I did not ask, nor did I expect, but friends like Peter Mills, Tony DeJoie and Miled Salheb took time off from work and drove to Maine for my support. (It's good to have friends :-)

I feel I have become a better person because of people (like the above) that have come into my life. Because of people like Roxy and members of our NE Club, I have lost the bitterness that consumed my spirit from my divorce. Because of you, I finally became fit for human consumption and met a wonderful person named Patricia. Right now things are great! So what does this have to do with Roxanne?

When Roxanne first told me of her condition through her E-mail, I let out a big sigh and hung my head. Then I looked up and saw the picture I have of Patricia, which made me smile. I started to feel how fortunate I was to have met her. That this was not (by any means) a typical year. That this was going to be a good year for me and for the people I care about. So instead of being sad and depressed, I became very hopeful for Roxanne!

I sent Roxy this message:
I am saddened by the discovery of your cancer. But I am getting a good feeling about this. I think the cancer will be contained. I think you will have a full recovery. I think, you will have a new insight into life and will live it fuller and richer than you ever have before!


Roxy replied:
I've always enjoyed life but I think you might be right about living a richer and fuller life. I've been thinking about all the places that I've wanted to go and haven't yet. I need to get to the other side of this.

I was glad to hear that she was trying to be positive, but I thought a little additional inspiration would help. So I sent her this story about what I have learned in life after watching what my military friend, Bobby Bohr went through.

(My story to her)
When I was divorced, I was in financial devastation. As time passed, my financial situation became better, so I mortgaged the house, went way over my head in debt and bought the NSX. Everyone told me I was crazy to do so. But along with the car came a porthole into a club that contained a group of people that would soon become some of my closest friends. I met you (Roxanne) at my first NSXPO :-). Things were going better in my life.

Time passed. I was walking down the hall to my office and I found a friend, (Bobby, who was going through a divorce) crying in his office. He told me that he was so financially strapped that he couldn't even buy his young son a toy for Christmas. I wasn't rolling in money myself, but I managed to scrape up $50 so he could get something for his son.

A short time passed and Bobby shows up at work with a new Corvette (a car he always dreamed he would someday own). A few people came to me (They found out about the money I had given Bobby) and said, "You must feel like a dope? You gave him money because he was broke, but it seems like he had enough to buy a Vette!"

What they said didn't bother me at all because I had done the same thing with the NSX. But I, and probably he, needed to do that for our sanity.

Less than a year later, Bobby got a mysterious brain tumor and was expected to die. He was getting weak and was unable to drive. He came to work to pick up some last things from his office and he made this comment to me, "Larry, at least I realized a dream with the Vette. It wasn't for long, but I made it." I realized then, that I had made the right decision with the NSX.

Bobby's brain tumor went away as mysteriously as it had come, but it left him with memory and vision difficulties. Bobby is a proud man who served his country with honor and distinction. His son, who he loves dearly, lives with his mother and Bobby was having custody issues. He questioned why all this was happening to him?

Bobby was finally getting his life back together when he met Sharon. Sharon was very good for Bobby and was helping him with the difficulties brought on by his brain tumor. They were planning to get married when a couple of months ago, Bobby and Sharon were in a car accident. Bobby was severely injured. Sharon later died. Again, in a whisper, he questioned life, did he have any self worth. I sent him a card that reminded him of all the times he took my son into the Cobra Flight Simulator and that he inspired my son so much that he went Airborne, just like Bobby.

Bobby called me two days ago, very emotional, letting me know that of all the letters and cards he received, he found inspiration in the one I sent (he thinks a lot of Craig, as Craig does of him) and is once again trying to piece back his life.

So what does all this mean? This is what I have learned. Although one must plan for the future, don't plan that the future will always be there. Fulfill some of your dreams. They will help carry you through the times, should others not be realized. When you kiss your lover, do it as if you may never see them again. Live life to the fullest, surround yourself with quality friends and never look back.

So my friends, who are like family, do not take life, your friends or your lovers for granted. Time is short (and maybe shorter than you realize) so don't waste it on would haves, could haves and should haves.

Larry G.
You may send words of encouragement or condolence, for Roxy having to endure me (I said it first Pete :-), to roxannelsm@rocketmail.com

The way I see it, if her antibodies protected her from me...Cancer doesn't stand a chance!