It will be a year for celebration

By Barry Ginter

Nevada Appeal Editor

Before the year is over, you'll most likely be able to pronounce the word "sesquicentennial." It's the word for a 150th anniversary, which is what is happening this year in Carson City.

Yes, 150 years ago the city's founders were working on the first buildings in what was to become the capital city.

The Appeal is officially kicking off its coverage this Sunday (which will continue every Sunday thereafter for the rest of the year). As far as the community celebration ... well, for now let's just say there's an impressive group of community representatives working on some big plans, which will also be unveiled this Sunday in the Appeal.

I think it's going to be a year that won't soon be forgotten in Carson City, one that will reaffirm all that is good and special about this community.

For those who have not been longtime residents of Carson City, it will be a unique opportunity to learn about the people and the ideals that built this community. For those who've lived here a long time, it's another opportunity to show their pride for Carson City. And, justifiably, that pride is strong.

One of those longtime residents, Michelle Miles, called this week about a particular point - making sure that Carson residents and others understand that Carson City is not in the Carson Valley (that's in Douglas County). No, we're in the Eagle Valley, and she never misses an opportunity to set the record straight.

She called this time because she noticed in a story about our inclement weather that a meteorologist talked about Carson Valley but didn't mention Eagle Valley.

A few years ago, she noticed an ad from a Carson City jewelry store that talked about specials for people in the Carson Valley, and she called to set the merchant straight. And she had to tell a proud friend whose son had just set up a locksmith business that his card indicated he was taking customers in Carson Valley, but not Carson City.

"Within the last couple of years I notice it happening more and more as new people come to town," she said.

•••

There's been plenty of movies made about people who are given only months to live and what they choose to do in those remaining days.

On Dec. 16, Tom Blomquist was told by his doctor that he might be dead in six weeks, possibly six months, a year if he were really lucky.

He came up with some simple things ... visit the ocean and San Francisco again (where he worked during one very good year, even saw Ella Fitzgerald rehearse at the Fairmont). He began planning for hospice care for his final days. His doctor told him there are drugs that would keep the pain to a minimum. He began planning how to disperse his possessions.

But now there's a new development. Recent tests show the brain tumor hasn't come back (he had surgery in August to remove it) and that the cancer in his lung hasn't grown.

He's not out of the woods ... it's still Stage 4 cancer, but the planning for his final days on his acre in the sagebrush south of Silver Springs is less urgent. Initially he lived there, by choice, with just an old wood stove for heat and no electricity or running water. Through the help of friends, he now has limited electricity from solar panels that give him a few hours with lights each night and time to boot up a laptop computer and send e-mails.

The doctor at first didn't think his cancer patient could live in those conditions, but now the theory is that's what kept Tom going. Having to chop wood to build a fire to stay warm and cook, and to pump water to wash dishes, keeps one connected with the bare essentials of life. He said he's grateful that he has friends and that he can see well enough to read. It keeps a person active, too. He walks about a half-mile a day. His humble home is so quiet that a high-flying jet gets his dogs, Truckee and Rivers, out barking.

He's convinced that if he were in an apartment somewhere, he'd be dead ... "too much time to watch stupid TV and eat stupid food."

Tom is not asking for sympathy. In fact, there have been offers for him to stay at the homes of others, but he has no intention of leaving any other way but feet first. And he knows his cancer can probably be traced to 30 years of smoking filterless Camels.

An e-mail came on Feb. 12 from Tom, saying:

... I owe $141,000 in medical bills I want to get working on.

I want to learn to ride a horse, finish the Harry Potter books, read more on the Supreme Court and The Constitution, plus the Koran, Bible and other spiritual texts, a few novels and more on the history of Poland.

I want to read a poem every day and walk to the Carson River every day with my dogs.

Because of the help of good people I live much better now; by spring I hope to have running water and propane for heat and cooking as I cook on a wood stove and heat water to bathe and wash dishes."

He's still planning to sell much of his stuff ... says he doesn't need it any more.

As for paying off those medical bills, he has a plan for that, too.

How? Well, one of his ideas is selling T-shirts at his Web site, www.getthisshirt.com. His first offerings: "Don't much care how you did it in California," and "Armed, off my meds and can't pay my medical bills."

Yes, he's aware how many T-shirts he'll have to sell, but he isn't complaining.

He's grateful, because he also knows that every day on earth is a gift worth celebrating.

• Barry Ginter is editor of the Appeal. You can reach him at 881-1221, or via e-mail at bginter@nevadaappeal.com