I remember exactly where I was and what I was doing 35 years ago today -- and it wasn't sitting at home thinking about cancer!

I was in the day room at my training company at Ft. Ord with about 30 other soldiers. We had just finished dinner in the mess hall. Some of the guys had been sitting in front of the TV for hours, ever since The Eagle landed on the surface of the moon, waiting for Neil Armstrong to come out and actually stand on it. When he finally did it, a shout went up that drowned out most of his historic words, "That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for Mankind." A short time later Buzz Aldrin joined him, and they frolicked like schoolboys.

I remember interviewing Aldrin about that incredible feat, and he said that standing there and looking up at earth, and taking in the magnificence of the heavens all around him, reaffirmed his belief in God. He knew for sure that such precision and beauty and enormity could not have been the result of chance.

I remember, too, that the moon landing on July 20, 1969, temporarily united a country very divided by the Vietnam War. There was a huge out-powering of national pride. American flags were everywhere -- much as they've been since 9/11. A couple of days ago Jenny and I were driving down Highway 94 and saw on elderly man pull over to the side of the freeway, get out, and retrieve an old tattered American flag, which had probably blown off of someone's car. And we thought, of all the people who drove by that flag, why was he the only one to stop and dispose of it properly?

Can I take a minute to publicly thank Preston Turegano and photojournalist Howard Lipin for a wonderful job on the article on Sunday? If you didn't get a copy, I have several! And the article (minus most of the pictures) is posted on the Union-Tribune's Web site.

And let me thank the scores of you who read the article, learned of my "battle," and wrote me in response. I treasure your e-mails, and thoughts and prayers and encouragement, and ask any of you who have been reluctant to write to please do so.

I told Preston I didn't realize he had such a broad readership, and that I'd better treat him with more respect from now on. For a man who makes his living criticizing people in the media (and often, deservedly so), he did an incredible job of capturing what Jenny and I are going through, showing a lot of sensitivity and fairness.

I'm also hearing from a lot of you who have experienced similar symptoms following your chemotherapy sessions. One thing I didn't even realize was a probable side effect was my constantly running nose. (Sorry if you're reading this during lunch). But I get them frequently -- and especially while eating! I have no explanation for it, but then I have no explanation for most of my body's reactions to this! I did "pony up" and get my blood levels checked yesterday. They're fine, so I'm clear to go for chemo No.4 a week from today. Oh joy! Be still, my heart!

But from what I hear from you folks, nobody is immune from trials and tribulations. Even St. Paul, whom many consider the greatest Apostle, was afflicted with some sort of malady which stayed with him all his life. He says in his 2nd letter to the Corinthians, "Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it from me, but He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." (II Cor. 12:8)

That's like one of my favorite Bible stories about an Israelite man named Gideon. Just a regular guy from the smallest tribe in the country. God told him he would be a great warrior, and lead his country to defeat the occupying Midanite Army. So Gideon got together 22,000 men, but God said that was too many -- even against hundreds of thousands of Midanites. You see, God wanted to make sure He got credit (honor and glory) for the victory. So he helped Gideon whittle the number down to 300 Israelites and they sent the Midanites packing in an overwhelming win! The details are in Judges 7.

Frankly, when I see what a miracle the human body is in its way of handling "assaults from within," and how perfect are the moon and the heavens, I have no trouble giving God the credit and taking comfort from his promises -- just like Buzz Aldrin.

-Bill