August 6: Post-vacation euphoria

Back from vacation! It was great. The weather was good, the best day was Tuesday. Most days there was a fair amount of overcast clouds, Friday was the only day that was completely rained out, but the evening was good for the square dance. It meant that there was the chance to do something every day.

The major reality check was the foot/ankle. The first day I walked to the dining hall (about 1/4 mile, a little less?) it was obvious that the cane was going to be needed. But the upper body was a pleasant surprise; I was able to do a fair amount of kayaking as long as the water was calm. My biggest accomplishment was paddling out to a small cluster of islands, which is the closest destination to the camp. I have no idea of the distance. But by doing a few strokes and then gliding I was able to make it out there and back. Emma was with me and promised that if I got too tired that she would pull me back to the dock---she's 14 and a good paddler. We were just out for a paddle and were half-way there and was a last minute decision to go for it. The only negative was that this momentous occasion was not captured on camera. But I was so proud of myself!

That night and a couple others I overdid it things and got pretty bad before dinner, but recuperated after lying down. Susan and I shared a room, which was wonderful--like having a sleep-over. And she really enjoyed fussing over me since she was in Italy during all the surgeries and didn't have a chance to take care of me--lucky girl! But she seemed to like making up for it. We went to tie-dye, and she saw my face after I'd been crouching for a couple minutes; that's something that doesn't work well with me because anything that decreases blood flow back to the heart makes me dizzy. Apparently my face told the story, because she sent Emily for a chair.

Martha came up with John and the kids, just having gotten her last chemo five days before. She was pale, but otherwise looked great. And she managed to climb the mountain--slowly, but she made it! She texted me today, her thoracotomy is scheduled for next Friday. Unfortunately, it's going to be an open thoracotomy such as I had, we were really hoping it would be laparoscopic. I spoke to John, and they are looking forward to just getting things over with.

It was a great week with family, more physical activity than I'd been able to do for the last several years, card and board games in the evenings, lots of fun! My cousin Billy just got voted one of the 10 best bartenders in Boston and demonstrated by mixing up a couple batches of dynamite margaritas. With no responsibility, no driving of the car and no work, I allowed myself to drink more than I've had in years--and felt it was very overdue! Not drunk, just happily tipsy, which felt good.

So, back to the reality this week. Work is a little slow because of some issues with the nuclear material, but that keeps the good mood going for a little longer. First time with a lot of pictures with the new digital camera, so lots to keep me occupied.

Thanks for checking, Laurie