BLOGAHOMA

It was right before the Mayor’s Blues Ball when we found out that Michael had Non Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. We did not know the extent as all the tests weren’t back yet. We (the family) went into factoid overdrive as we tried to learn as much as we could about this cancer. We did everything but cry. No tears. It was time to get ready for what was to come next. My husband, Michael, had just gone through his biopsy and had a large slash on the side of his neck with the still visible stitches. But we had VIP status at the Ball because Michael had donated his graphic work in the studio to the Blues Ball. We went knowing there would be questions. We had already told family and some close friends in the Park but we knew that a whole slew of Medicine Park folks would be out enjoying the event. And so it happened that it was also Michael’s Lymphoma coming out news.

I was still shaky. It had been a whirlwind week of lab tests and biopsy with appointments nearly every day. We didn’t want to distress anyone but we also wanted to still be part of the community. Secrets are not what our little community is about. Between sets we told folks. My friends wanted me to get up and dance but I wasn’t ready yet on the first night. I was more somber than usual and was fine until a friend thought I needed a hug and then I cried a little. And when on the last night Janiva Magness sang “Save Me” I broke up again.

The months have passed and chemo has begun. The Southwest Oklahoma Cancer Treatment Center is a gift that funding drives like Spirit of Survival has help to build. And yes, we donated our time and our art to this drive for several years never even considering that we would have to use the facility. Everyone who has been through cancer treatment told us that it was of utmost importance that we trust and connect to the *treatment team. Our team led by Dr. Nimeh and the clinical research nurse Suzy McCoy has been the top. Michael’s examination room was donated by Arvest Bank, the president of which, David Madigan we consider a friend.

And as far as the town is concerned we are surrounded with sincere prayers and offers of help if and when we need it. So far we have needed some rides to and from appointments and a few grocery pick-ups. One cannot help but to love Medicine Park folks. This is not to dismiss the abundance of well wishes from family and friends living a distance away who still find ways of helping by prayers and deeds.  And how could we have faced it without our adult children who have flown in to stand by their Dad and help us through the maze of information and finding financial assistance.

Michael is one of only 50 in he US in the clinical trial known as LYM 66 which combines 3 chemo drugs, Rituxan, Bendamustine and Bortezomib, for the first time in the treament of newly diagnosed Non Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. We are doing it for Michael but also in hopes of a cure. The picture is of Michael on the Thursday before Halloween as he climbs in his chair dressed in his Marauder shirt and hat ready to face down chemo. We have six months to get through this and we are making the best of it. Lymphoma’s color is lime green which is the color of our bracelets that read “Say it, Fight it, Cure it”

*Note: Recently we’ve gotten to know a few more names of the team including Monica our chemo nurse who is so attentive at her job and has the most pleasant way of explaining what is happening and Kelly in finance.

The  “Big Pasture” Offers to the Homeseeker and Business Man a Golden Opportunity..

So reads the headline of enticement in 1907 to the last land available in Oklahoma, Grandfield.

Looking Out toward the "Big Pasture" from Grandfield

Yesterday we met with the City Manager, Randy Clark to go over the details of a brochure that highlights the history of the area that Michael is putting together for the town. I’m not sure what I was expecting but what we got was a guided tour, blending of history and the present with running dialog as Randy drove us around in the Pick-up. Grandfield is located 15 miles from the Texas line in Southwest Oklahoma. Grandfield is small city that was center of thriving farm activity in its heyday. Today it is still a pretty town in the plains where you can see the Wichita Mountains in distance. I have to admit (despite the little downtown having several vacancies) I really had a good feeling about it. A few of the buildings have been recently restored a sign of a city government that cares. Grandfield has two distinct sides of town, the historic with houses going back to early 1900’s and the “newer” ranch style neighborhood where houses are from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s.

I am here to tell you that there is again “Opportunity” in Grandfield. Let’s say for instance you have an in home business and want to locate to a small town and away from the hubbub, you can get a home site for a dollar right near parks and schools, ready to build with utilities in place. That’s right a dollar. And it is still convenient to larger cities like Wichita Falls, TX and Lawton, Ok for big shopping. What if you don’t want to build but want a nice house? Lovely ranch styles between 2000 and 2400 square feet sell between $70,000 and $80,000, half the cost of houses found in neighboring areas. The old houses when they come up for sale much lower. Randy recently auctioned a 1920’s brick bungalow and got $10,000 and it sits on 4 lots!  It was bought by someone in Alaska.

How about opening a grocery store. There is a building that has been completely updated with freezers and coolers and whatever a store needs that is looking for a tenant. Grandfield is willing to let a grocery business move in for FREE! What’s the catch? The town will benefit from the tax revenue. And there are other vacant buildings to consider for a business.

We stopped in at the local From My Heart Bakery/ Restaurant that had just established itself in town. Being that it was midweek they had a pretty good gathering. We went for the garden salad with chicken. Or as Randy said “give me one of those salads and drag it through the garden”. (It was loaded with fresh vegetables). And of course we couldn’t turn down the mile high lemon meringue pie.

So how do you find out more? Call Randy and he can fill you in. Randy Clark is very knowledgeable about real estate, since he was a contractor for years. He received his college education in political science (I believe) at Cameron University so being city manager now fits right in. He is also a successful rancher and that was born in Grandfield and most assuredly believes in Grandfield. Peeked you interest? Call and make an appointment or go and take a look see and don’t forget to stop by for pie! And tell them Muriel from Medicine Park sent you!
Serious Seekers
City Hall
223 S Main Street, Grandfield, OK 73546
(580) 479-5215 email Randy

Medicine Park Ice Storm January 31, 2010

The TV weathermen warned us, brutal, devastating, electric outages, it was coming be prepared!  And we stocked the cupboard and the refrigerator but did not get a back up generator or fill the propane. You must understand the disbelief. The day before in Medicine Park it reached 66º with sun. We were used to a couple of “brutal” winter days turning to sunny and mild in a few days. It came like it was preprogrammed. But then IT began Thursday morning, first the rain, wintry mix and finally sleet turning to unimaginable layers of ice covering every tree limb, every leaf, every blade of grass. Then by 8:45 AM the lights flickered sporadically until they flickered no more. Michael went down to get the last mail we were to receive before the Big Rock Rd. became impassible for the next 4 days.  He walked the dogs and talked to the neighbors who confirmed it was an all Medicine Park outage. The neighbors, Steve and Janelle invited us to stay with them for they had a wood burning stove in the living room. They invited us and our dogs, Doolin and Cordy to join them and their dogs, Pepper and Wiley. We were friends but not best friends.

We had our last meal at home while the temperature stayed over 60º inside. Michael made turkey burgers on the propane grill and we had cole slaw. We left while there was still day light. Layering ourselves in clothes and throwing together some basic food we walked up the icy road and deposited ourselves in their home. We carried our cellphones to keep contact with our children and with our neighbors. We would use Michael’s until his battery was gone and then we would use ours. The first night was one of the hardest. It was dark by 5:30 and time seemed to crawl. Every 15 minutes someone would ask the time. At 7:30 it felt as though it was 10:00. It was quiet save for the breaking and falling of limbs and trees and dark except for the blue flashes of transformers blew. But we started talking and before we knew it, it was midnight. There was a lot to say for our previous time together was relegated to 20 minute neighborly exchanges as we walked with the dogs.

The dogs may have known each other more closely since their dogs would come up and call on ours and they would romp in the yard for several minutes a day. With no computer or TV the dogs became our entertainment. They range in size from small and feisty to medium large and comical.  The next day we made our way back to our house to change clothes and add more layers. Michael was steady on his feet where I slipped and fell a couple of times. We grabbed up the beer, cheese and snacks and headed back up. A light snow helped by reducing the slickness of the ice and I didn’t fall again.

We kept in contact with our children, one in San Francisco the other in Tulsa. Kim commandeered my Facebook as me as she noted there were many questions as to what had happened to us and if we were alright.  Kim became command headquarters and asked that everyone keep her abreast of the latest news on the state of the roads and the power outages. Michael and Steve took turns grilling as we threw together makeshift but very good dinners. On the third day the ice had melted enough to allow the guys take a trip to the convenience store to pick more supplies (including beer), the conditions of the roads and check the devastation in town. They came back with a description of the damage they encountered.

By Sunday morning the roads were passable we called ahead to our friends in Norman who invited us to stay with them and their 5 cats. Our neighbors had told us we could leave our dogs with them since our destination friends had cats. Although foggy, the roads were clear most the way. As soon as we said hi and thanks we headed toward the shower. All the comforts of home and then some. We stocked up on cellphone car recharger, flashlights, and miscellaneous things we missed while packing in our 42º house. We discussed on how we could planned better next time for an emergency situation. We treated ourselves to coffee and free WI FI at Borders and picked up books and magazines.

We planned to come back to Medicine Park by Tuesday and made plans of either accepting the invitation to stay in a home with a propane fireplace but had no water or rejoin our friends who had a generator now it was just then we got the call (I should say calls) that informed us, in very excited terms, that the lights were on in Medicine Park, at least most of the town. Bidding farewell to our friends who had sheltered us during the ice storm we traveled back to our home and our dogs and what we hoped would be constant flow of electricity. All the time the song “You Don’t Have to Live Like a Refuge” kept playing inside my head.

Water Allotment

post by Muriel Fahrion

Not so unusual for pipes to freeze in January but it is a rare occurrence in Southwest Oklahoma, yet it happens. Yes, thank you, we did leave the faucet dripping but nontheless when the temperature plummeted to single digits the pipes froze. Our pipes are only minimally buried due our granite rock mountain terrain and any dirt we do have is not very deep. Optimistically, we believed,  just give it a day and it would thaw. January 2010 has turned out to have record cold temperatures for our area so unfortunatly it is day number four without water. We bought several gallons at the store but it amazing how much water we use. We resorted to melting down ice cubes from the freezer but that disappeared pretty quickly. We would have melted snow if there had been any left but it was gone after a 2 day thaw after Christmas.

Yesterday my husband, Michael, ventured out into the frigid air to borrow more than a cup of water, multiple gallons in fact (that is after the car’s steering decided it would unfreeze first). We have no large container with a lid but after asking several neighbors he found  the folks 2 house up who were not only willing to lend us water but also had a large container with a lid for the transport.  Handily these good neighbors also keep numerous plastic jugs to evaporate the chlorine before they fill their large aquarium. So armed with water from his hunting gathering expedition we were ready for a few more days.

The big container was to flush toilets that we replenished with gray water from doing dishes etc. We use a large stewing pot to boil the water and then to wash dishes. There was a baking soda technique I employed yesterday in the water just to see what those seriously green people were doing.  I washed my hair in the sink but once again catching the water I wet my head with to then rinse the soap out. Although we generally pay  attention to the weather currently I have been the suns cheerleader encouraging to rise to the occasion and bring us thaw. Michael has taken the neighbors up on letting him use the shower. I am using the “spot cleaning” method with a wash-bowl as they would have done before indoor plumbing.

The Lessons…. To conserve water is really a personal choice. For us it is not about the money savings since we never use over the minimum allowed so using less would not reduce our water and sewage bill. The experience of having no running water does show us that we can be resourceful and not complain about it. It proves that being friendly and helpful yourselves means that neighbors are very willing to come to your aid when you’re in a pinch. And when the water does return to liquid form we will greet it with a shout out.

Avoid the craziness and find unique and made in Oklahoma gifts. The owners are personable and helpful and will make your shopping pleasant.

In the past I have bought gourmet treats from Lulabelles, a stuffed buffalo toy from the Laughing Lizard, lucious home made fudge from the Medicine Park Ice Cream & Candy Co, wine as a hostess gift at the Winery of the Wichita, blankets from the Rusty Buffalo, fun jewelry from the Raspberry Leopard, and motorcycle tshirt from Chaps My Ass. This year the puppies will find a treat from the Cobblestone Doghouse.