Update 10/3/10

Just an update on where I am in regards to my progress. The shingles are still with me but are not as painful as they were. I am doing ok. Right now I am lying down watching the Ryder Cup with my son Chris. Go USA! I will keep you updated on my progress over the next week.

Thanks for all your prayers and support.

Mark

Starting a New Treatment

Mary taking me for a walk

I have been home now for 11 days making a slow recovery from shingles. My neck and face still have pain but it gets better everyday. I can’t wait for the pain to go away.

They did an MRI scan on Tuesday the 7^th, and we reviewed it with the doctors on Wednesday. The scan showed that the swelling has moved into the other part of my brain and the tumor has grown a little bit.

Chris and I walking through the neighborhood. Like my Sox?

We discussed the options and I am going to start a clinical trial at Strong, which should begin on September 20^th. It is called XL184. You can look it up on the web.

Just to look back over the past month. My father’s funeral at St. Ann’s was very well done. Everybody did a great job especially my brother and niece who gave nice and hilarious talks and captured Dad accurately. It was especially good seeing all of the people at church and at Bellevue CC. 105 people showed up. Thanks for showing up. It meant a lot to my Mom.

It’s nice to be home, I am trying to get out more although I have to use a walker and wheelchair to get around. Thanks to Chris for being my chauffer. He watches over me and makes sure I don’t fall down.

That’s its for now. I will keep you posted on my progress. Need to get back walking.

My View from hospital of:

University of Rochester "Nipple of Knowledge"

If its not one thing, its another thing

Just in case you were wondering where I have been, the day after my fathers service at St. Anns, I was taken to the hospital with a case of the shingles. (The second coming of the chicken pox.)

I was hoping that it would not be serious, but it ended up being a lot more serious than expected. They put me on a mega dose of an antibiotic that reacted with my seizure medicine and caused my Kidneys to start to fail. They immediately took me off the antibiotic and I began to improve. The good news is that my shingles are starting to heal and I am thankful to be home after 9 days in the hospital. I came home on

Monday August 30^th. The bad news is even though the shingles are clearing up. My face and my neck are burning off; it is very painful. Please keep me in your prayers and I pray the burning effect of the shingles goes away soon. Thanks again for your continued support.

Mom & Dad ( ashes) arrived in Rochester last evening

Mom & Dad arrived in Rochester last night. We are headed to St. Ann’s to plan the mass for Dad this coming Saturday @ 11: 00 am.

Below are the details for the mass at

St. Ann’s

4471 Onondaga Boulevard

Syracuse, NY‎ 13219

NORBERT W “ BUD “ MUENCH

CALLING HOUR 10-11AM @ CHURCH

FUNERAL MASS 11-12PM

RECEPTION IMMEDIATLEY FOLLOWING @

BELLEVUE COUNTRY CLUB

1901 Glenwood Avenue

Syracuse, NY‎ 13207

Gone Home ...

Norbert W. Muench

12/4/1919 – 8/2/2010  (around 9 pm)

THE FOLLOWING POEM WAS READ BY HIS BEDSIDE AFTER DAD WENT HOME TO GOD.  AT HIS BEDSIDE WERE MOM, BILL, ROBERTA (BOBBIE), RACHEL, ROLLIE & VICTORIA THE HOSPICE NURSE.

KATHY & DAN , MARK & MARY, BRIAN & CHRIS WERE TELE CONFERENCED IN.

AFTER THE READING – A HARMONICA PLAYER PLAYED TAPS.

*** Thank you to the Veterans Affairs Hospice & Pallative Care staff for being so kind to DAD & our family.  God bless all of you !

I'm Free

by Anonymous

Don't grieve for me, for now I'm free
I'm following the path God has laid you see.
I took His hand when I heard him call
I turned my back and left it all.
I could not stay another day
To laugh, to love, to work, to play.
Tasks left undone must stay that way
I found that peace at the close of day.
If my parting has left a void
Then fill it with remembered joy.
A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss
Oh yes, these things I too will miss.
Be not burdened with times of sorrow
I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.
My life's been full, I savored much
Good friends, good times, a loved one's touch.
Perhaps my time seemed all too brief
don't lengthen it now with undue grief.
Lift up your hearts and peace to thee
God wanted me now; He set me free

THE FINAL FLIGHT ......

I have arrived home . I spent M-F with my Mom & brother moving  Dad into the VA Hospice at Bay Pines – St. Petersburg , FL. Brian flew in with me on Monday &flew back to Fairport on Monday. Kathy flew home on Sunday. Her husband Dan had prostrate surgery on Wednesday 7/28 . Please keep Dan in your prayers.

My Dad planned it right. This is not the first time he has been at the VA, but it will be his last. His nurses & caregiver’s at the VA are wonderful. They are great at what they do !!! THANK YOU !!! They make DAD as comfortable as possible.

Thanks to my brother Bill & his family Bobbie, Rachel & Rollie for being with my Mom & Dad this week.  I truly believe DAD would be proud of us at this moment.  He taught us well & we all played our roles. I am PROUD to be a MUENCH !!!!

Anytime now DAD will take his final flight.  You are the greatest DAD & PILOT I have ever known. 

THANKS DAD FOR YOUR LOYALTY & NEVER ENDING LOVE FOR OUR FAMILY WE ARE BLESSED TO HAVE HAD YOU IN OUR LIVES FOR SO MANY YEARS .

WE ALL LOVE YOU !

Love   …. Mark.


PS: To see more photos click the Flickr Photostream at the top right hand corner of the page.

The Dash (Moments with My Father)

It’s been 9 weeks since I have really written anything in my blog. It’s been a busy 9 weeks. Like I said before it’s a rollercoaster ride. The good news is, I am feeling stronger than ever, although I am still weak on my right side and don’t have a lot of stamina. I have mastered the motorized carts while shopping at Wegmans. Forward & Reverse !
I am continuing my Chemotherapy. My blood platelets continue to fluctuate so I am not on a regular schedule. Steroids are still part of the daily routine of meds.  I have gained back the 30 lbs. I dropped. One day at a time!

My Dad is struggling with in an infection in his foot and congestive heart failure. Mary and I were down to visit Dad and Mom 2 weeks ago. Kathy has been down helping Mom out  & " Little" Danny flew down to see grandpa. Bill arrived in Tampa on  Saturday, & Chuck Marvin on Sunday. Brian and I are headed down tomorrow. Dad is an inspiration to all of us, he has fought hard over the years and he continues to do so.   

I am not sure how many of you have read the poem THE DASH; its about what you do between your birth and your death with your life. I would like to share with you THE DASH as I know it between my father and myself -

October 23^rd 1955. SYRACUSE NY. 22 Beach Drive Darien, Ct. the Convent. Tennis Courts. Jerry LaRoque saved boys life ( mine ). Taking the train into NYC from Ct. The barber school in New York City. Walking the streets of NYC with Dad 2 blocks ahead. Governors’ Island. Subway. Maps. Hurricane Donna. YMCA walking home from Y when I was 6 years old. Grandpa and Grandma Muench & Grandpa and Grandma Marvin Sunday Evenings after going to Valley plaza Carrols. Herb Slotnick. Dewitt drive in - PHSYCO + many other movies at Dewitt drive in. Erie Blvd. 1^st flight with Dad from Weedsport N5127A. Family gatherings at Otisco Lake. Dinner at Grandma and Grandpa’s at Robineau Rd. Sunday visits to Grandpa and Grandma Marvin and Muench. Basket of wooden blocks at Grandma Muench’s. Colored TV. Wonderful World of Disney. Grandpa Muench’s licorice and Cigar boxes. Civil War. Poly and O’melia. Gertie. 108 Hilltop Rd. St. Anns. CYO basketball games. The Wall St. Journal. The daily shower at BCC. 6pm dinner followed by 9 holes at BCC. (With GG) Lemonade and Ice Cream. (10 cans for a dollar) Station wagon full of kids each with a dollar in their hand. Playing basketball at the Y downtown. Riding home through the hood. Washington DC. Marymount. Ertha Kitt. Climbing the Washington Monument. Reading the newspaper outside the white house. Gettysburg. MAME. St. Ann’s. Bishop Ludden. St. John Fisher College. 6/3/78.TRIPLETS 7/16/86 AB&C. Florida. Disney World. Universal Studios. JB Rudolph Inc. Salina Street. Kemper building. Maas Brothers. Dillards. Lake Seminole CC. Coke with no ice. NYAC. Berns Steakhouse. Taxes. Tennis at Fernwood Circle. Swimming at Fernwood circle. Station wagons. The Vista Cruiser station wagon. Barr Lewellyn Buick. Roog the Doog. Willy Wompers. Marcus Aurlies. GOLF. Touch and go practice Tampa, Clearwater area. Leaning the fuel out. COAST GUARD.

These are just a few of the events to fill in the dash of times between my father and myself. Anyone who knows my Dad would have a story or two to tell. He has taught me a great deal and wouldn’t be the man I am if it wasn’t for his example. Thanks Dad.

Please view the video of my father talking about his flying days in the Coast Guard.

I read of a man who stood to speak

At the funeral of a friend

He referred to the dates on her tombstone

From the beginning to the end

He noted that first came the date of her birth

And spoke the following date with tears,

But he said what mattered most of all

Was the dash between those years

For that dash represents all the time

That she spent alive on earth.

And now only those who loved her

Know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not how much we own;

The cars, the house, the cash,

What matters is how we live and love

And how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard.

Are there things you’d like to change?

For you never know how much time is left,

That can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough

To consider what’s true and real

And always try to understand

The way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger,

And show appreciation more

And love the people in our lives

Like we’ve never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect,

And more often wear a smile

Remembering that this special dash

Might only last a little while.

So, when your eulogy is being read

With your life’s actions to rehash

Would you be proud of the things they say

About how you spent your dash?