This blog is dedicated to the memory of my hero: George Pluchos. George & I met shortly after high school. Almost immediately we were “BFF”s four decades before the term existed. We spent our time in Portland, “laughing, joking, drinking, smoking”, as well as lots of gambling and [...]

general carousing. This went on unfettered until the mid-eighties when George chose to grow up and get married. Shortly thereafter, I moved San Diego and continued my life of laughing, joking, etc. (I didn’t grow up until I met Debbie, Christmastime of 2009). For the next 20-25 years, George & I saw each other no more than five times, nor did we call or correspond. We followed each other’s lives only through conversations with his brother Greg, and our common friends from Central Catholic and UPS. Still, when I was diagnosed in late 2007, it was George who was among the very first to call and offer his prayers. It was about this time, that I sailed off to the tropics, while he retired to Hawaii with Connie and their two lovely daughters. Still, he continued to make it a point to check on my status at least every month. It was both sad and ironic when in March of 2009 he called me from Maui while I was prepping the boat for a regatta in Mexico. He shocked me with the news that he was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer! After that, Debbie & I managed to visit Connie & him once in Maui, and twice at Timberline Lodge on Oregon’s Mt. Hood. We also saw them a couple of times at Duck Football watch parties in Portland’s Park City Pub. Most notable, was seeing him walk down the aisle with both his daughters (Emily & Katie), at Katie’s wedding. George had no illusions that he would someday beat cancer. But, he was determined to make the best of his future. Despite the fact that he was often ill or in pain, he always greeted everyone with a smile and usually a joke. My takeaway from George’s experience is that patients don’t battle cancer – doctors battle cancer. The patient can only live and love life as best he can. He focuses on his good luck; not the bad. He does whatever it takes to make life appear “normal” for him and those around him. Throughout, George was more concerned about my heath, than his own! While he never kept his illness secret, neither did it wear it on his sleeve. In order to keep friends up to date on his condition, he maintained a blog. He became “MauiGeorge” at www.carepages.com. There, he posted the results of doctor visits, as well at other details. His blog was both informative and entertaining. I encourage you to read his blog! It’s my intention to try to live with cancer the way, my hero, George, did. Part of that is, of course, this blog. While I’d planned to follow him on to CarePages, it wouldn’t work well in my case. I’ve now got six years of “catching up” to enter. CarePages does not allow for backfill. So, I’m using a site that does: SailBlogs. Here, I’ll enter test results, treatments, etc. as they happen. I’ll also endeavor to fill in the blanks from the past. In the best case, this site would automatically alert you when I posted to it. It does not. So, please feel free to check in (and leave comments) as you wish. I can tell you that currently I get a blood test every month, with the results available the following business day. Please enjoy this site. As George before me, I’ll do my best to keep you informed and entertained! The doctors lost their battle with George’s cancer on 21 August 2013. He was 60 years young. Everyone who ever met him will forever miss him!