Welcome to European Tribune. It's gone a bit quiet around here these days, but it's still going.

Today I'm 74, celebrating in Lyon.

by LEP Wed Dec 8th, 2010 at 10:39:29 AM EST

I'm in Lyon visiting with Melanchthon and seeing Raphael, my almost 20 year old son, who's in his first year of school here.

I won't write a long diary or try to be humorous; it's been by and large a crummy year for me.

About a year ago I was diagnosed with kidney disease it being discovered that one of my kidneys was completely dead and the other operating at 50%. I was put on a lot of medication and went on a low salt diet and my half kidney has been stable since then.

It was then discovered that I had prostate cancer. In July I was operated on to liberate my prostate and bladder; it was sucessful.

I then had to take 8 weeks of radio therapy to kill the cancer, which I've just finished.

Believe it or not I never felt that bad during the whole year.

So that's all I'll say; I'm no longer screwing but I'm still kicking.

See you all next year at 75, I hope  ;)

P.S. Thanks to everyone who wished me Happy Birthday on Facebook.


Display:
Et bon courage.

Hope to see you soon.

The Hun is always either at your throat or at your feet. Winston Churchill

by r------ on Wed Dec 8th, 2010 at 11:30:40 AM EST
Never mind the missing bits, Len, you're the greatest.

Many happy returns of the day!

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Wed Dec 8th, 2010 at 11:37:01 AM EST
LEP LEP wonderful LEP. I don't do Facebook, so I wish you a very happy birthday here. Lyon is a good place to be, though hold the sodium.

I'm falling apart too: the old ecosystem is not what it was. But my ailments are piffle compared to yours. You give me hope there's still something to be done.

You have wonderful kids, and I do too. We've done our bit. Cheer up old chap! Have a cup of tea and continue to kick.

I insist you are at next September's Paris meet up.

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Wed Dec 8th, 2010 at 11:46:05 AM EST


You can't be me, I'm taken
by Sven Triloqvist on Wed Dec 8th, 2010 at 12:38:51 PM EST
[ Parent ]
as soon as I track you down... you and the 'Thon...

It is rightly acknowledged that people of faith have no monopoly of virtue - Queen Elizabeth II
by eurogreen on Wed Dec 8th, 2010 at 12:06:48 PM EST
Thon?

"People only accept change when they are faced with necessity, and only recognize necessity when a crisis is upon them." - Jean Monnet
by Melanchthon on Wed Dec 8th, 2010 at 12:26:17 PM EST
[ Parent ]


You can't be me, I'm taken
by Sven Triloqvist on Wed Dec 8th, 2010 at 12:39:35 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Overcrowded tram. Caught up with Lep and the Big Fish at the corner of Bellecour and Victor Hugo. Lep had one of those improbable encounters, when his teenage daughter's best friend popped out of the immense crowd with her dad in tow. 'Thon bribed a restaurateur to put a table on the pavement so we could have a beer (sorry, Melanchthon NEGOTIATED with the restaurateur -- man he's good! He should be at Cancun!)

We then separated, with the intention of meeting later at the Hotel de Ville. Alas, we tried, but we were swimming against the current (I must say, the municipality exhibited better crowd control technique than the police did, in October) and by the time we were within range, they had gone home... No problem, there will be other times.

As for the actual Festival of Light... My first impression is that it's a bit of a bust this year. I suspect it was on an austerity budget, certainly less spectacular than last year, and nothing, so far, that really surprised and delighted me. I'll see if my daughter got any useable photos...

We'll have another go tonight. I will attempt photos, but will not expect much.

It is rightly acknowledged that people of faith have no monopoly of virtue - Queen Elizabeth II

by eurogreen on Thu Dec 9th, 2010 at 05:51:05 AM EST
[ Parent ]
All the best, and may your coming year be better than the last one!

(Though I imagine if you're off to dinner with Melanchton you're off to a good start.)

The fact is that what we're experiencing right now is a top-down disaster. -Paul Krugman

by dvx (dvx.clt ät gmail dotcom) on Wed Dec 8th, 2010 at 12:27:54 PM EST
Wow! You are one tough old guy, LEP. I am now doubly impressed with your photo essays about the protests, knowing some of what you were going through. Keep on keeping on. I am looking forward to more from you and your cameras.

"It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."
by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Wed Dec 8th, 2010 at 02:05:07 PM EST
Absolutely keep those wonderful pictures coming. They are a real treat here at ET.

And Happy Birthday from me too!!

by sgr2 on Wed Dec 8th, 2010 at 04:10:41 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Congratulations on your birthday and for your courage. And Lyon is a lovely city in which to celebrate, yes?

Karen in Bischofswiesen

'tis strange I should be old and neither wise nor valiant. From "The Maid's Tragedy" by Beaumont & Fletcher

by Wife of Bath (kareninaustin at g mail dot com) on Wed Dec 8th, 2010 at 02:08:44 PM EST
Happy Birthday LEP! So long as they keep all the good bits you've got a long way to go! I hope to see you in Paris again some year soon.

Index of Frank's Diaries
by Frank Schnittger (mail Frankschnittger at hot male dotty communists) on Wed Dec 8th, 2010 at 03:17:18 PM EST

Happy birthday LEP. I'm glad to hear you haven't felt too bad despite all those serious problems. Keep taking the photos and I hope to see you in Paris soon, my own minor problems permitting.  

Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner - that I moved to Nice.
by Ted Welch (tedwelch-at-mac-dot-com) on Wed Dec 8th, 2010 at 05:50:46 PM EST
wow!  you're one tough SOB!  ;-)

mazel tov!

by stevesim on Wed Dec 8th, 2010 at 06:33:13 PM EST
Happy birthday, man.

you are the media you consume.

by MillMan (millguy at gmail) on Wed Dec 8th, 2010 at 08:25:06 PM EST
Yay! Happy LEP day!

Wishing you a much better next year.

by ThatBritGuy (thatbritguy (at) googlemail.com) on Wed Dec 8th, 2010 at 08:48:23 PM EST
I recently read of someone who said, 'The view from 70 is spectacular.'  I wonder if you would like to comment on this thought & share yours.
by arcadesproject on Wed Dec 8th, 2010 at 09:10:28 PM EST
It's difficult for me to comment because I haven't led a 'normal' life. I had a son at 54 and a daughter at 57 (who's still at home and in high school.)

So i'm still looking at life from about 50 years old, although my body is not in agreement.

Hey, Grandma Moses started late!

by LEP on Wed Dec 8th, 2010 at 09:39:41 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Not on facebook, so I'll have to wish you happy birthday on a blog: Wszystkiego najlepszego.
by MarekNYC on Wed Dec 8th, 2010 at 10:27:14 PM EST
Here's hoping that you feel better than not-that-bad this year.

paul spencer
by paul spencer (paulgspencer@gmail.com) on Wed Dec 8th, 2010 at 11:20:24 PM EST
Happy birthday LEP!

I can swear there ain't no heaven but I pray there ain't no hell. _ Blood Sweat & Tears
by Gringo (stargazing camel at aoldotcom) on Thu Dec 9th, 2010 at 12:07:53 AM EST
Not on Facebook either, thus a big Happy Birthday to you here. Maybe the new year of life be filled with lots of health, fun and happiness.
by Fran on Thu Dec 9th, 2010 at 12:33:07 AM EST
Happy birthday, Lenny.

Of all the ways of organizing banking, the worst is the one we have today — Mervyn King, 25 October 2010
by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Thu Dec 9th, 2010 at 02:04:49 AM EST
speechless with respect and honor. all the best, LEP. glad to have made your acquaintance through ET.

"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anaïs Nin
by Crazy Horse on Thu Dec 9th, 2010 at 02:52:52 AM EST
Happy 74th! We'll have to have a mass ET LEP 75th bash.

Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.
by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Thu Dec 9th, 2010 at 04:08:18 AM EST
I was aware of the kidney problems, but didn't know about the prostate cancer! You must have had your fill with hospital visits. Let's hope you've seen the last of them very soon.

My wishes not just for a happy day on your birthday, but also for a new year full of them. As long as they don't take your funny bone away you should be recovering fine, Len.

Enjoy Lyon, 'Thon and your son, it sounds you're off with a good start. Here's hoping it will be the best year you've ever had. :)

by Nomad (Bjinse) on Thu Dec 9th, 2010 at 04:59:57 AM EST
Bon anniversaire! Age ain't nuthin' but a number!

"The basis of optimism is sheer terror" - Oscar Wilde
by NordicStorm (m<-at->sturmbaum.net) on Thu Dec 9th, 2010 at 08:47:31 AM EST
Now LEP has left for Paris, the Fête des Lumières has lost its radiance...

"People only accept change when they are faced with necessity, and only recognize necessity when a crisis is upon them." - Jean Monnet
by Melanchthon on Thu Dec 9th, 2010 at 10:19:53 AM EST
                 
                  ;)

Hey, Grandma Moses started late!
by LEP on Thu Dec 9th, 2010 at 12:16:04 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Chúc Mừng Sinh Nhật bác Lep !

Un roi sans divertissement est un homme plein de misères
by linca (antonin POINT lucas AROBASE gmail.com) on Thu Dec 9th, 2010 at 01:46:05 PM EST
Happy B'Day Lenny. Glad to hear you're on the mending.
Hope we'll be able to have lunch some day, weather permitting of course.
by Bernard (bernard) on Thu Dec 9th, 2010 at 04:36:10 PM EST
Thanks Bernard,

Email me your phone number; I seem not to have it.

Hey, Grandma Moses started late!

by LEP on Thu Dec 9th, 2010 at 04:46:19 PM EST
[ Parent ]
I know about bad years- I've had a couple- and this one sure sounds sucky, but, as long as you're still kicking, and new things still make you smile, instead of hide your head, there's hope.

And the best part is we still need you.

Call me about doing a photojournalism thing on my upcoming site, Parisstories.com, and take pictures.

Tell us a story with your camera---perhaps about the wonderful murals in Lyon.

Jim


Capitalism searches out the darkest corners of human potential, and mainlines them.

by geezer in Paris (risico at wanadoo(flypoop)fr) on Thu Dec 9th, 2010 at 10:27:47 PM EST
Thank's geezer. You are my model for courage!

Hey, Grandma Moses started late!
by LEP on Fri Dec 10th, 2010 at 04:08:48 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Boy, are you in trouble!

Capitalism searches out the darkest corners of human potential, and mainlines them.
by geezer in Paris (risico at wanadoo(flypoop)fr) on Sun Dec 12th, 2010 at 08:03:04 AM EST
[ Parent ]
as you are one of mine...

all the best for a great three quarters of a century.

i second the appeal for a description of the view from those commanding heights, and please no more talk about normal, it makes me nervous!

thanks for being here on the ET bus-to-somewhere with us, you help so much to make it the interesting ride it remains.

and thanks for reminding me how young 59 is!!!

;)

'The history of public debt is full of irony. It rarely follows our ideas of order and justice.' Thomas Piketty

by melo (melometa4(at)gmail.com) on Sun Dec 12th, 2010 at 08:57:36 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Sorry I'm late but Mazel Tov and Penblwydd Hapus!
by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Fri Dec 10th, 2010 at 03:04:39 AM EST
Happy birthday
You have a reason to live/your young children first of all/ and you will find that will in you to continue this journey I am sure...that will is what keep us alive...
All the best my friend.


Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind...Albert Einstein
by vbo on Fri Dec 10th, 2010 at 08:17:23 PM EST
Happy Birthday LEP!

Sorry to hear that this past year has brought you so many health challenges. Sending best wishes for a better one to come. xo

by olivia on Fri Dec 10th, 2010 at 09:54:01 PM EST
Happy birthday, somewhat in retrospect, LEP.  I expect that your next year will be better than the last!  Your trip to Lyon sounds like it went OK!
by canberra boy (canberraboy1 at gmail dot com) on Sun Dec 12th, 2010 at 05:17:36 AM EST
Happy birthday, although a bit behind the rest of everyone. And mazel tov. And best for a terrific year to come.
by Mnemosyne on Sun Dec 12th, 2010 at 07:10:15 PM EST
Although quite belated, I wanted to wish you a year with respite from care and concern. Always enjoy when you stop by at BT, as well as your wonderful photos here.

"Leadership passes into empire; empire begets insolence; insolence brings ruin." William Carlos Williams
by Indianadem on Sat Dec 18th, 2010 at 02:33:13 PM EST


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