Every once in a while you get to work on a gig that you wish would never end. An event that delights you and makes you happy to go to work every day. Last week I started work on a production that should take at least 18 years to complete.
Last week, after 9 months of pre production, my gal brought my second son into this world. Little Lenny was born, coming in screaming at 6 lbs-5oz.. This was indeed a miracle, but for more than the usual reasons. Let me explain.
About ten years ago I went to see a doc for my annual physical. He poked and probed then drew some blood for lab work. He assured me I was a fine healthy specimen. But about a week later I get a call and he tells me I have to go see a urologist. Something about an elevated PSA count, whatever that was. So I go see the doc and he gives me the grim news. I will need a biopsy, but he’s pretty sure that I have prostate cancer.
The good news is that this type of cancer is 99% curable if caught early, which it was. Especially since I was a fairly young man at the time. They eventually performed a procedure where they inserted a bunch of radioactive seeds into my prostate gland and then followed up with a bunch of radiation treatments that would zap and kill the cancer cells. I would still be able to have an active sex life, but the only drawback was that the radiation would act like a vasectomy. My chances of ever being able to inseminate a woman were less than one in a hundred.
A couple years ago I was going through a divorce when I met a wonderful gal, the love of my life. Early in the relationship I felt I had to be honest and I told her that the chances of us ever having a kid together were pretty much nil. I was sterile now. She didn’t have much to say at the moment. But months passed by and we fell in love. She decided that the kid thing didn’t matter that much. We were happy with just each other. How lucky was I?
So imagine my surprise when 9 months ago she came up with morning sickness. My 1% chance had come in. Kind of like winning the lottery. After assuring me that there had been nobody else in her life since the day we hooked up, all I could do was sit back and wait for my little bundle of joy.
Last week I started work on my greatest job to date. Taking care of a boy that bears my resemblance, attitude and smile. I will probably never retire, but that’s just fine. I will be happy to keep on working on the best production I have ever been involved in.
