Ever since the evening heat has modified, Will and I have enjoyed meeting friends for dinner on restaurant patios, every night this week. Knowing that to be true, who would believe that my lengthy struggle with cancer and chemo has been intensely debilitating for these last three years.
In prepping for our CA vaca during July and August, I’d not had the energy to pack anything in my duffle without lots of help from my friends. However last week, I packed myself up (over several days) as we plan to drive to the west coast on Sunday to enjoy another week with family at our two bedroom, two bath timeshare.
In addition to having enjoyed our cabin in the forrest up north for 45 years, our family thoroughly enjoy weeks accrued at our beautiful timeshare in Newport Beach— just 20 minutes from Barry’s house—where we enjoy this sumptuous resort near to an abundance of west coast family and friends—this, along with our cabin in the forrest, which we all enjoyed before cable and with no TV on the premises, has been the foremost satisfying decision we’ve made with the enhancement of family time in mind.
Hard to believe, we’ve been enjoying the cabin for 44 years and this ocean view condo, for seventeen. See what I mean about counting my blessings, over the main theme of my life, thus swinging my mind away from the tumor in my neck which, hopefully, chemo has been attacking, relentlessly, over these past 27 days. Tomorrow I finish this first round of my third time in need of chemo, over these past three years. And with two weeks off before my next round of 28 days begins, I plan to enjoy a glass of wine or a margarita, each evening with dinner.
This morning while texting my dear friend, Susan and my sister, Lauren (I’d received texts from each one filled with concern over not having heard from me for three days) being that they’d contacted me daily, without fail, I’d replied.
Last night, after settling myself in bed, I looked at my texts and realized I’d not texted anyone since Sunday. First time in close to three years that I’d been remiss , though not with our sons, whose calls are enjoyed most every evening as they each feel need to touch base to see my ready smile and hear strength of spirit in my voice ..
Susan has a mammogram, today, and Will is on his way to discuss his current PSA while undergoing his bi-annual appt with his urologist, who’d removed Will’s cancer-ridden prostate, eight years back, followed by prescribing radiation
I saw one of my many doctors, yesterday. Yet another blessing along with medical innovations that continue to improve the quality and length of our lives.
Recently, we’ve been aware of a string of funerals (several friends in their late seventies passed away within these last few months) indicating our need to accept our youthful spirits watching over bodies, which, over decades, have continued to age. And thus am I experiencing sound reason to enjoy the continuance of my upper range birthdays while remembering anniversaries of birthdays of loved ones, who have passed on. Within an hour we’ll attend yet another memorial service via zoom.
In short, no matter my current age, I can pine for my lost youth or focus my youthful spirit toward remaining so resilient as to cling to life for one second longer than my weakened body’s very last breath. And hopefully, no matter your current birthday, the same may be true of your choice to honor, preserve and enjoy the sanctity of your ageless spirit along with Ravi’s and mine …
2019 just before my cancer diagnosis and pandemic
Ever since Ravi’s birth, our spirits have felt as one
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