Mission Log:
July 20, 2026
Tomorrow isn’t the destination. Tomorrow is ignition.
Today was about alignment. Packing the overnight bag. Charging cables. Pens and journal. One last low iodine breakfast at Steak ‘n Egger. A conversation with a friend about Pokémon cards. A new scene for Paul’s Penance. Watching SEAL Team and being asked a question that lingered long after the credits: How will I be remembered?
The launch checklist wasn’t just for the hospital. It was for me.
The Night Before
There are days that feel monumental because something extraordinary happens.
Then there are days that feel monumental because almost nothing happens at all.
Today was one of those days.
Tomorrow I report for radioactive iodine treatment. After a schedule change, the treatment itself will begin Wednesday, and oddly enough, that felt right. The mission shifted by twenty four hours, but the destination never changed.
With that settled, today became less about doing and more about preparing.
Last night I packed my overnight bag. The debate wasn’t whether to bring my Nintendo Switch. It was which companion should make the journey. Pikachu won without much discussion. Some missions deserve familiar friends.
Breakfast was simple. My medications came earlier than usual, and after briefly returning to bed, I was back on my feet before sunrise. It felt like my body already knew tomorrow would begin long before the rest of the world woke up.
A Lyft notification arrived almost immediately after waking. Too early. Cancelled. Even missions need the right launch window.
The rest of the morning unfolded slowly.
Somewhere between journaling and thinking, a brand new scene for Paul’s Penance appeared almost out of nowhere. Those are gifts I’ve learned not to chase. Just welcome.
Later, my friend Lara from the Hay House writing community reached out. She’d discovered a rare gold Pikachu card while walking and asked if I could help identify its value. Old hobbies have a funny way of resurfacing. Years ago I spent countless evenings playing both Magic: The Gathering and Pokémon. I suggested she check with a local card shop and asked her to keep me posted. Who knows…maybe that little piece of cardboard will find its way into my own collection someday.
Packing continued throughout the afternoon.
Journal.
Pens.
Charging cables.
Extension cord with extra outlets.
Medication.
And, perhaps most importantly, Scrivener on my iPhone.
That app has quietly become one of my favorite creative tools. The moment I save a scene, Dropbox synchronizes it across every device I own. Phone. Tablet. Laptop. Desktop.
Wherever inspiration lands, the words are waiting when I get home. As someone who’s watched technology evolve from X:Drive to Dropbox to today’s cloud ecosystem, it’s still a little magical.
Not every subscription earns a permanent place in my life, but this one has.
While reflecting on technology, another memory surfaced.
Back in high school, guidance counselors gently suggested college might not be for me after my ACT scores. Community college became my doorway instead of my destination. Looking back now, I smile.
Two bachelor’s degrees.
A master’s degree.
ABD toward a doctorate.
People still ask if I’ll ever finish the Ph.D.
Maybe.
Right now, writing feels like the degree I’ve always been pursuing.
Later in the afternoon, while watching SEAL Team, one question landed harder than expected:
“How will I be remembered?”
It wasn’t a frightening question.
It was clarifying.
The answer wasn’t accomplishments.
It wasn’t degrees.
It wasn’t even books.
I simply found myself writing:
I am worthy of love…and a whole lot more.
Jeff treated me to dinner at Steak ‘n Egger, one final favorite before tomorrow’s journey. My now-famous low iodine veggie skillet with jalapeños somehow managed to taste even better knowing it would be the last one for a while.
Before turning in for the night, I watched a documentary called Finding Happiness. Somewhere during the film, another realization quietly settled in.
Alignment isn’t found in isolation.
It’s found in community.
Before bed, I packed one final item into my hospital bag.
My journal.
I may not process every thought while I’m there.
But I’ll be ready if one decides to visit.
At 6:25 tomorrow morning, a Lyft will arrive to take me to the hospital.
The next chapter begins before sunrise.
Mission Status: ✅ Sol 22 Complete
“The longest journeys are often separated from the next chapter by one perfectly ordinary day.”
