Today (January 20th) would have been my 47th wedding anniversary, and it is a part of my dreams and jewelry that have now melted away.

Although we became separated several years ago, we remained friends. Annette had moved back to Oshawa, Ontario, and I stayed in White Rock, British Columbia.

I wrote about Annette’s move back to British Columbia when I developed a significant health issue in the summer of 2021 and the major surgery in May 2022.

If you didn’t read that story, here is a recap of that story:

My dog, Holly Golightly, was sixteen years old, had lost her hearing, and was almost visually impaired. I couldn’t put Holly in a kennel because I knew she wouldn’t survive that environment.

I also didn’t know if I would survive the surgery, and at least Holly would have someone she could stay with for her during my surgery and recovery time in the hospital.

The day after my jawbone replacement surgery in May 2022, I almost died in the ICU of Surrey Memorial Hospital.

After spending two weeks in the hospital, I returned to my rented White Rock suite.

Although Annette still had a rented apartment in Oshawa, she offered to come to White Rock to help me during the long recovery period.

I accepted her offer because otherwise, I would have needed to move to a retirement home.

I paid for her return flight (business class) to Toronto on two occasions before she decided to move back to British Columbia after her sister, Liz, died.

Danny, this was supposed to be a new story. We’ve already read your life-threatening surgery story! ~ Spanky

Yes, Spanky, but many of my new readers haven’t. By the way, are you still eating spaghetti with your fingers?

Anyway…

My health continued to be a challenge, and I knew that my future was going to be an ongoing struggle with the Grim Reaper. I had been fighting him since June 2009, when I was diagnosed with stage 3 throat/tongue cancer and given only a 40% chance of surviving.

Although my voice became almost incoherent, I continued chasing my dreams as an actor and landed SOC (silent on camera) roles in three TV commercials.

My heart and blood pressure became an ongoing issue, and I needed to have three electric cardioversions during 2024. Two were done on the same night, October 27, 2024. I was lucky to survive.

Shortly after, I began getting my stuff together in the event I didn’t see any more tomorrows.

In November 2024, I had my gold jewelry appraised at a jewelry store here in White Rock. The following are the certificates for each item.

By the way, I had explained to Annette what I planned to do with the jewelry. I figured she wouldn’t feel comfortable selling the items after I passed.

The total estimated replacement value of the jewelry was $27,394 CDN.

I had researched selling gold jewelry and knew you only get the melted gold value – significantly less than the estimated replacement value.

However, no one can ever estimate the value of the memories attached to each item but me, so I was prepared to accept the best offer.

I forwarded the appraisals to several gold buyers in Vancouver and the surrounding areas but was shocked at how low the melted value was.

Suddenly, I got a great idea!

I’ll take the jewelry and appraisals to a buyer in Bellingham, WA, about 30 minutes from my place in Canada. At the time, the US dollar was worth $1.34 Cdn.

I researched gold buyers in Bellingham and came up with the name of a gold buyer with the highest customer reviews – Bellingham Coin Shop.

The store staff were invaluable and honest, and I accepted their offer of just under 5,000 USD.

While driving back to Canada, I cried. I felt a vast emptiness inside me. When I got home, I was in a state of depression that lasted for a week.

However, I kept my two silver rings because they represented the secrets and dreams featured in my Tiffany story.

On December 30, 2024, I had surgery to have a pacemaker for my ailing heart.

Although it’s been three weeks since the surgery, I already feel much better, and I’m now confident I’ll live forever.

In closing

The things left that I cherish in life are my friends and my memories.

I plan to continue writing until there are no more tomorrows.

I will celebrate each new day with a smile.

And I will love and keep each of you in my heart until the end of time.

Dedicated to Love and Dreams.

I hope my stories are a gift to your head and heart.

Hugs,

Danny

Today’s tune from Danny’s library (purchased):

Look around me
I can see my life before me
Running rings around the way it used to be
I am older now
I have more than what I wanted
But I wish that I had started
Long before I did

And there’s so much time to make up
Everywhere you turn
Time we have wasted on the way
So much water moving
Underneath the bridge
Let the water come and carry us away

[Strings Interlude]

Oh, when you were young
Did you question all the answers?
Did you envy all the dancers,
Who had all the nerve?
Look round you now
You must go for what you wanted
Look at all my friends who did and got what they deserved

So much time to make up
Everywhere you turn
Time we have wasted on the way
So much water moving
Underneath the bridge
Let the water come and carry us away
So much love to make up
Everywhere you turn
Love we have wasted on the way
So much water moving
Underneath the bridge
Let the water come and carry us away
Let the water come and carry us away

Songwriters: Graham Nash

Here are other songs I’m listening to: These Songs Will Make You Smile Today.