I am borrowing the REO Speedwagon song and album title for today as it conveys exactly what is going on. REO began in 1971 with their self titled first album. The group changed to lead vocalist Kevin Cronin on their next album, R.E.O./T.W.O. They had a few hard rock hits from the album, and then Cronin left the band for four plus years (REO lost the spark.) When Cronin returned in 1976 REO took off again, in 1977 they released the live album; Live: You Get What You Play For.
The live album catapulted REO to arena rock star status. 1977- What a year! I graduated from High School, bought my first really cool car (1968 Chevy Malibu 327 V-8 4-speed.) and continued my educational journey at Portland State University... I was fortunate enough to see REO with Ted Nugent at the Portland Memorial Coliseum... The Portland Trailblazers won the NBA championship after losing the first two games then winning four in a row... The Seattle Mariners played so-so in their first season in the American League... Leaded gas cost about .65 cents a gallon... The USA gave the Panama Canal back to Panama... The Apple II computer came out... Star Wars... The Trans-Alaska Pipeline finally pumped the first oil to port... Seattle Slew becomes the tenth Triple Crown winner in Horse-racing... I don't know which was sadder, Elvis dying or Jimmy Carter being elected President... I could go on and on about one of my favorite years. REO Speedwagon wasn't at the top of any list, but they changed the way I looked at music for at least a few years.
Yvonne and I are still in awe at the generosity and support we received prior to traveling to Houston for what we thought would be a long trip. We were disappointed but I was able to get some tests done that I finally have the final results of. All good news. My bone marrow was normal, probably the first time since my initial diagnosis when that has occurred. It doesn't mean I am cancer free just yet, I will discover that with a PET scan tomorrow. I am pretty sure I have some lymphoma lesions including lumps in my stomach area. Still, coupled with feeling better, I even went swimming for the first time in months today. I might be able to climb that Columbia Building after all! Dad is doing much better after his bypass, we are both trending up. Ridin' The Storm Out is about hunkering down while a big storm blows by in the mountains. To me there are similarities to our Northwest weather, but I am also riding out this darn cancer as I continue to look for a cure. Live Happy, keep your head down if you must- don't be hesitant to get some support. If you are under 45 years old you might think the band wears wigs, they do not.
