It's been a year...and I am still here!

Amazing and scary...but I will stick with amazing for this blog.   Amazing to still be very much alive, to have hope, and how fast a year went by!  And that's just for starters!

I have been quiet on the Blogs  -  things continue on the course of chemo phase one.  Pet scan indicates further continuation,, which is good.  Although it's a lowish (what does that mean?   Lower than when I started) dose, the nausea and discomfort days 3 to 7 seems to build.   I said to John this morning. "I wish I would get better". Wanting this to go away...he wisely said "you will be better in two days."  He is right....and I need to endure, and I will.

After the previous round of chemo we were at the cabin with Will, KA, Cathy Hopkins, TJ, and Sheryl Johnson from Houston...each from a different piece of my life.  It was wonderful.  As I mostly see people when I am feeling better, they hadn't witnessed when I am not.  Out in the sun on the boat became difficult for me after a bit and all agreed that they often forget that I am sick.  Truthfully,  I do too....but. Not today.

Another PET SCAN two weeks ago and all still looks good, contained, and we will stick to the course another 9 weeks.  Scheduling accordingly!  Another Opera Season will begin in a couple of weeks,  another murder mystery puzzle weekend,  a weekend get away with my brother and his wife...great things to look forward to - yet another winter season.

I push myself to keep moving... Busy helps...John helps a lot with that too ....but sometimes I just want to shut it all down and have a big "siege of the sad"," a pity party....and I do!  Because I can,

Which reminds me of the wonderful line in Meryl Streepe's new movie.... ". They said I couldn't sing,  but nobody can say I DIDN'T sing!"  So let's sing on...

Will, Sheryl and KA

                                          TJ and Cathy

And here's another thing I learned!!!!WE WORKS is a fascinating company with some really wonderful, compassionate, caring, curious people working for them. They held a "summer Camp" weekend for over 2000 people at the boy's camp which is next to us!  They gave us wristbands!  So we went.  Crazy!   Look it up if you are interested.. they rent office space in big cities to entrepreneurs and others who can't afford real offices!   Or don't want to spend the money.

Right now I am sitting in the Cabin at Raquette Lake listening to the hum of the dishwasher and looking out at a crisp sunny fall day.  John has gone out to get the NY Times for our Sunday entertainment by the fire!  We are here by ourselves and enjoying the tranquility.  I treasure these times as much as the wonderful adventures we have had in the past year.  I can play pushing paomt around on canvas, read, write, listen to music - or just do nothing but breath in and out - so happy that I can.  My mind doesn't totally stop but it does slow down!  Anxieties decrease and to-do lists disappear - for a bit.  There truly is nothing like the Adirondacks!  Unlike the coast - our neighbors are few (only two if they happen to be here)  and no drop ins - It's boat access only!

Fall colors are starting to get brilliant - but the colors are there. 

It's time to plant MORE Daffodils!!  but not today.