A year after being diagnosed with terminal cancer, Ron Anderson returns to Springer for 'A Tuna Christmas'
Ron Anderson is in a place in his life that will allow him to return to a special place in his life.
He was diagnosed Oct. 1, 2014, with inoperable Stage 4 pancreatic cancer. The original diagnosis was sobering. His doctors told him his survival window was 12 months.
"I thought by now I would be trying on angel wings," Anderson joked a few weeks ago.
Instead, he is going back to the Springer Opera House stage next month in his familiar role in "A Tuna Christmas," a two-man play in which he stars along with his old friend and boss Paul Pierce. The play will have an 10-show run from Dec. 11-23.
It will be like old times.
The two have done the show more than 150 times over 14 seasons, making it a holiday tradition. They estimate that more than 42,000 people have seen it during that time.
Topher Payne played the part last year when Anderson was undergoing chemotherapy and coming to grips with the diagnosis. Payne, an Atlanta playwright and actor who has become a part of the Springer family, was scheduled to perform this year.
"I have never been so happy not to do a show in my life," he said recently.
Payne understood the news in a way few could. He, too, is a cancer survivor, having been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2001.
"When Paul made the call to tell me that Ron was in good enough shape to perform, the show became secondary to the news that Ron was in good shape," Payne said.
Anderson retired late last year as the associate artistic director of the Springer Opera House and director of its Theatre Academy and Children's Theatre. Between November and July, he went through 12 rounds of chemotherapy.
First Baptist Church pastor Jimmy Elder is Anderson's friend and has walked this journey with him.
"While some of the things in his life had to change during the diagnosis and treatment, like the great improvisation actor that he is, he adapts the presentation, but never loses the direction of the story," Elder said.
Though Anderson's cancer is not gone.
"I want to be clear: I am not cancer-free, but I am living with cancer," he said.
He recently met with Dr. Andy Pippas, his oncologist.
"The doctor is not willing to put a window on it," Anderson said. "But Dr. Pippas said it was a much bigger window than he or I imagine. And he emphasized the word 'much.' And Andy Pippas is not a giddy guy."
Anderson has been spending his time focusing on what is important. He has given a number of speeches to local civic and church groups about his illness and his attitude combatting cancer. He has become one of the faces of cancer survival in a community that seems to have more than its fair share of the disease.
Anderson spoke to the local Rotary clubs, using his love of baseball to encourage those dealing with tough times to stay in the batter's box and to keep swinging.
A week ago, Anderson gave the Thanksgiving testimony at First Baptist Church in downtown Columbus. The scripture that led into the testimony was Psalm 126, versus 5: "Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy."
"So, I'm working on a new plan -- one without a timeline," he said. "It sort of comes down to this: Live every day fully, focus on what's important. That's it -- that's the whole ballgame. And I don't have a bucket list -- I guess I should get one, people keep asking me, but I really don't. It's kind of an overrated idea, if you think about it."
And that plan starts and ends with each day, spending them with his wife of 37 years, Debbie, and son, Max.
"This past year I have spent time with the people I love," he said on Sunday. "And I've noticed that the more I do that, the larger that group seems to become. It reminds me of the story of the loaves and fishes. We remember that the miracle wasn't that what was in the basket magically multiplied at Jesus' touch. The miracle was that as Jesus shared, other people shared. And so the baskets themselves multiplied. Everyone shared and no one went hungry."
Anderson makes it clear he is not comparing himself to Jesus, but admits this year has been a journey in faith.
"I understand as you understand that generosity and kindness have a multiplying effect," he said. "The more we give of ourselves, the more others around us do likewise. We become part of a great compassion machine, which, I believe is the true nature of God among us."
Elder said Anderson has walked with deep faith.
"Truly the illness has not limited him but given him a new stage upon which to engage the imagination of the ones who mean so much to his life," Elder said. "Plans would have most certainly been more limiting than anything else he has faced. His faith has been his constant foundation and strength."
Which brings the story back to "A Tuna Christmas."
"It's part of Christmas," Pierce said. "We have people tell us all the time that this is exactly what they need at this time of year."
The play is a spoof in which Pierce and Anderson play multiple characters. Getting them in and out of costumes can sometimes me more challenging than the actual performance.
After 14 runs, they have the lines down.
Ask Pierce about his favorite line and he will say with hesitation, "Vera wouldn't let go of that trophy if you sprayed her with mustard gas," quoting the character Pearl Burrus.
Ask Anderson and he immediately shifts into the husky voice of Didi Snavely: "Dee Dee's Used Weapons, if we can't kill it, it is immortal."
It's that familiarity that Anderson craves this holiday season.
"I need to do this," he said, "as much as the people need to see it."
"A Tuna Christmas"
Characters played by Ron Anderson:
Arles Struvy
Didi Snavely
Petey Fisk
Jody Bumiller
Charlene Bumiller
Stanley Bumiller
Vera Carp
Dixie Dewberry
Helen Bedd
Farley Burkhalter
Garland Poteet
Characters played by Paul R. Pierce:
Thurston Wheelis
Elmer Watkins
Bertha Bumiller
R.R. Snavely
Pearl Burrus
Sheriff Buford Givens
Ike Thompson
Inita Goodwin
Leonard Childers
Joe Bob Lipsey
Phoebe Burkhalter
This story was originally published November 25, 2015 at 5:45 PM with the headline "A year after being diagnosed with terminal cancer, Ron Anderson returns to Springer for 'A Tuna Christmas' ."