Finally!

I have always had people around me who set the bar pretty high. After all, I belonged to what I consider to be an above average family, thanks to my hard working immigrant parents and my capable siblings. My childhood experiences were way above average, especially when one sees the images coming out of Gaza, South Sudan and other places. I’ve been surrounded by people who excel in their life vocations, whether they be my siblings or my own children. 

Listen, this is not a lament: Personally, I’ve lived most of my life solidly in the middle of the pack. Average. The mean. 

I was an average student with an average intellect and, to be honest, below-average study habits.

Though I won a couple of athletic awards in high school, I was an average athlete.

I became an average coach even though I loved what I did.

As an educator, a profession I cherish, I was average, with the occasional bright moment.

I was/am able to be an average spouse thanks to Kathy who has an above average heart for average people like me.

Average driver….below average handyman…, below average musically, …average gardener,...

With the arrival of cancer in my life I continued my journey, on or below the mean line . I was well below average for duration of a stem cell transplant. The same can be said for the clinical trial I participated in for a short 11 months and for the third treatment protocol that ended early with alarming bone marrow hot-spots.

Today, however I am giving notice to all of you who live your lives at the apex of the Bell Curve. I am climbing to join you! That’s right! I am now above average in something. The data for the drug Teclistamab shows average duration of effectiveness as 11.3 months. I am approaching 13 months with no signs of relapse. Yup. Finally at age 66, I am escaping the mushy middle. I am finally above average at something!😃 😀
I will try to stay humble.

I am truly #thankful for this gift from God.