{"id":2547,"date":"2010-02-12T06:37:48","date_gmt":"2010-02-12T12:37:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/doycetesterman.com\/?p=2547"},"modified":"2010-02-11T12:56:38","modified_gmt":"2010-02-11T18:56:38","slug":"the-story-behind-vayland-rd","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/doycetesterman.com\/index.php\/2010\/02\/the-story-behind-vayland-rd\/","title":{"rendered":"The story behind Vayland Rd."},"content":{"rendered":"

As always, Vayland Rd.<\/em> is for my Dad. It’s not a subtle story, or graceful, or maybe even good — but I like it.<\/p>\n

I originally wrote it as part of a fundraiser for prostate cancer research, which was the goblin Dad was fighting at the time. The prognosis was bad, but the end result was a full remission.<\/p>\n

Since then, he’s fought another tribe of the little bastards, this time involving surgery around his mouth. He won that one, too.<\/p>\n

He turns 60 today.\u00a0We have the same birthday, actually.<\/p>\n

Strong connections.\u00a0Better than a silver needle in the collarbone any day.<\/p>\n

So, on his birthday, I’ll say the same thing I said to him when I wrote the first draft of this silly, simple little story:<\/p>\n

“You keep swinging, old man, and I’ll keep handing you the big sticks.”<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\n

Kate’s wanted to see this story for awhile, and kept asking about it, so in a way this revision is for her.<\/p>\n

It’s also for Chuck, who reminded me of the goblin\/cancer connection a few months ago.<\/p>\n

Here’s a list of links to each part of the story, in order.<\/p>\n