2 HOPEFULLY, OUR FAMILY’S PLAN FOR TRAVELING SAFELY WILL MINIMIZE RISK FACTORS

Since we’ll be in Houston for at least a month, planning the logistics of how best to travel and where to stay during the pandemic has seen our family airing differing opinions (concerning minimizing risk factors) via FaceTime and Zoom—thank goodness, I was serious about having family meetings (in which we all took turns leading with talking stick in hand) when our three sons were kids.  Upon reflection, I’d had no clue, during those meetings in which conflicts were aired calmly, discussed respectfully and resolved peaceably, that we were rehearsing for how best to resolve conflicts bound to arise once our sons developed into open minded, clear thinking adults.

Our plan for traveling to Houston and back (garbed in hazmat suits, no less) is set and will be explained in a future post.

As we find ourselves contending with the impact of C-19 on three medical campuses (Mayo here, MD Anderson and Houston Methodist in Texas), we face more complications than I can explain without taxing my brain, so thank goodness, Will, Barry, Steven and David have been brainstorming, via FaceTime, ever since the date of my surgery was set.  As for me, I listen, quietly, piping up only when a thought pops into my head that’s not yet been aired and discussed.  In this way, I’ve minimized anxiety from rising so as to maintain my sense of peacefulness until surgery has passed.

Here’s the plan that came together, following several family discussions, concerning our stay in Houston:  During the first week, Will, David and I will stay in an Air bnb near both medical campuses, where I’ll see doctors and undergo additional pre-op tests.  Once I’m admitted to Houston Methodist, Will plans to stay at the hotel that’s adjacent to the hospital until I’m released.  We’ve stayed there twice before, and that’s where Will wants to be—as close to me as possible.  Though we know that Will can be in the hospital on the day of my surgery, we’ll not know whether he can visit me after day one, because protocol continues to change, back and forth, depending upon whether C-19 is spiking or not ... the fact that so many people refuse to wear masks just doesn’t make sense!  Interesting that trump, who refuses to be masked is surrounded by those who are tested for C-19 every day, as is he while his lordship tells everyone not to worry over this highly contagious disease spreading from home to home across our nation like wildfire

Once I’m released from the hospital, about ten days following surgery, Will and I will stay at the hotel or if the air bnb seems safer (because of the pandemic) then we’ll join David, again, who (along with his brothers) believes the air bnb poses less of a health risk than the hotel.  Several family discussions ensued on FaceTime until a compromise addressed the plan outlined above, which may seem strange to anyone who was not privy to our detailed conversations.  At any rate, everyone felt heard as opinions, concerning C-19 and safety, were calmly expressed and respectfully discussed.  (Again—thank goodness, family meetings were taken seriously while the boys grew to be men.)

Be safe, dear friends, wherever you may be, by taking the Covid crises so seriously as to mask up and protect your eyes—a wide selection of inexpensive, protective glasses, found on Amazon, can be delivered, overnight  ...

Every day, we all confront the fact that life on planet Earth continues to become more bizarre than anyone can believe.  Fortunately, most people can be masked more comfortably than is true of me, based in the fact that I was advised to wear a surgical mask, because chemo left my blood in such a weakened condition as to undermine my immune system, which suggests why I require as much protection as possible from ANY contagious bacterial or viral infection.

Seriously, all we need do to defeat this deadly virus is to distance socially while wearing masks and eye protection in public places until the virus cannot feed on us as hosts—unfortunately, having trump, whose commentary proves on a daily basis to be mentally deranged, as commander and chief of our nation sure doesn’t help to resolve long-standing conundrums, which, during decades of complacency, have become overwhelming in nature, over these past three years.

November can’t get here fast enough for me—hopefully, I’ll be on my way toward healing and trump will be sent packing ...
🙋🏻‍♀️🌈🌻Annie

1 WHERE TO STAY IN HOUSTON AS SAFETY REMAINS OF PRIMARY CONCERN WHILE C-19 RAGES ON

About two weeks ago, our family brainstormed more than once on ZOOM

My sister, Lauren and her husband, Mark, participated as well.  Why?  Well, whenever decisions must be made, during life’s crises, Our family minimizes confusion and maximizes peace of mind by brainstorming, together, so as to hear everyone out, after which, I listen to what my gut has to say once my power of intuition has had time to holds hands with my heart and common sense.  It should come as no surprise that my gut tightens each time anything unfamiliar is added into the mix of unknowns that await our arrival in Houston.

I found it really helpful to hear Lauren say that she perceived of the hotel, where Will wants to stay, as being less of a risk than Barry, Steven and David believe, because whenever I consider staying in an Air bnb, my gut agrees with Will’s opinion, which considers the hotel to be the better choice as it’s adjacent to my doctors’ offices and the hospital, as well.  And the last thing he and I need to confront during this trying time is a heightened sense of emotional conflict as thoughts of the nearness of this surgery arouses anxiety, which then exacerbates confusion concerning our decision-making process.

My sister’s opinion proved helpful, because, sixteen years ago, she’d had reason to stay at the hotel in question, as did Will and I, when Mark, having suffered a heart attack in Mexico, was air lifted to Houston Methodist Hospital.  So Lauren, along with Will and I, knew the layout of the hotel.  Though I’m tempted to offer you a detailed explanation as to why Will and I do not consider this particular hotel to be as risky, during the pandemic, as other hotels may be (most people who stay there are in our situation), it may be best to restrain that temptation in the interest of moving forward ...

That night, after zooming with our family, I slept soundly, aided by an ambien (feeling grateful that the lesser dosage works its magic on me).

The next morning, I had labs, at Mayo.  Then Will and I came home only to rush back there that same afternoon resultant of my being in need of a platelet transfusion, which led to the cancellation of my last two infusions of chemo, offering my body four weeks to restrengthen before flying to Houston on July 21st for appointments with surgeons and additional studies followed by Covid testing, quarantining and dual surgeries (heart and lung), scheduled on July 28th.

This week, Barry drove in from the coast for several days, so that we could enjoy patio visits with our eldest son before I undergo the serious nature of these surgeries, which now prove two and a half weeks away.  Next week, following Covid testing, David drives in from LA several days before he, Will and I fly in hazmat suits, face shields and masks to Houston.

Before landing in Houston, I’ve had to under go a series of pre-op tests at Mayo, which included—a 3D Cardiac MRI, a pulmonary function study, an echocardiogram/drug induced stress test (since running on a treadmill with my walker was was out of the question) and a full body PET scan, all of which kept me busier than I’ve been for close to a year—and as we’ve moved beyond these last seven months of grueling hard work, which saw chemo dedicated to deactivating the sarcoma that’s been attacking my lung, a gynormous leap of faith awaits our arrival in The Lone Star State where Covid is raging based in the fact that states with Republican governors, following trump’s ‘lying non-existent guidelines’ opened up before there was any reason to end lockdown (just as is true of the southwestern state in which Will and I have chosen to raise our family, over these past 46 years).

On the upside, I passed every test with flying colors, and no one was more relieved then me upon hearing that my last two infusions of chemo were cancelled so as to offer my blood sufficient time to restrengthen before surgery, and over these past two weeks, lab results are looking good.

😷Annie

PS

Good news!

With so many moving pieces, I can’t remember if my relief has ever been expressed to you concerning the fact that Steven’s covid test was negative, and his fourteen day quarantine (beginning when he’d stopped by his office, masked and gloved, to pick up the mail and later learned he’d been exposed to C-19) has passed.  Needless to say, our son’s brief exposure to the virus refortified his personal decision to continue to quarantine so seriously as to wear masks, gloves and glasses whenever necessity demands his leaving the house, which proves rare being that Steven’s lungs have been compromised by asthma since he was an active tyke on a trike.

Though Steven continues to practice law from home, other lawyers with whom he shares office space and a receptionist (the person who is presently recovering from Covid) had been seeing clients in their offices, unmasked until the virus hit so close to home as to stimulate Steven to mandate masks be worn by everyone who steps into the office—thank goodness for that!

Steven’s present dilemma concerns Ravi’s fall semester of kindergarten as our Governor, Superintendent of public schools and board of education cannot get their acts together concerning how best to mandate precautionary measures in hopes of safe guarding youngsters from Covid when school starts in August ...

Don’t even get me started on how I feel about the fire breathing dragon who keeps setting fires throughout The White House ...

Just as ‘Never a dull moment’ has never been so prevalent within our family’s lifetime as has proved true over this past year, the same is true throughout our nation, most especially over these past three and a half years—and just as our family comes together to brainstorm toward developing the best possible plan in hopes of keeping all of us as safe from catching and succumbing to Covid-19 as is humanly possible, leadership throughout every level of our government has got to get its act together so as to do the same, because, during trump’s reign of terror, leadership, at every level, has literally been insane.

As I always plan to end on an up note, I’m glad to say that the results of last week’s PET scan shows the tumor as having decreased in size,  again.  When first diagnosed, the sarcoma was approximately 7cm by 7cm.  Now it’s a bit more than 4cm by 4 cm.  And  with that said, here’s Will trying his hazmat suit on for size.  He and David and I are taking every precaution to catch nothing at the airport in hopes of safeguarding me as surgery lies directly ahead ...

I hope you, too, are taking every precautionary measure to be safe and stay well ... Ohhmmm

RESUSCITATION OF BROTHER/SISTERHOOD

Though it feels like preaching to the choir whenever I publish a post suggesting that C-19 does not fool around, upon learning something new, the teacher in me feels need to share cautionary measures with you—

THE GUARDIAN
“Nick Cordero: Broadway star dies aged 41 of coronavirus complications”
“The Tony award-nominated Broadway actor Nick Cordero, who starred in hit musicals including Waitress, A Bronx Tale and Bullets Over Broadway, has died in Los Angeles from severe medical complications after contracting coronavirus. He was 41.”

“Cordero died on Sunday at Cedars-Sinai hospital after spending more than 90 days in the hospital, according to his wife, Amanda Kloots.”

“Cordero entered the emergency room on 30 March and had a succession of health setbacks including mini-strokes, blood clots, sepsis infections, a tracheostomy and a temporary pacemaker implant. He had been on a ventilator and unconscious and had his right leg amputated. A double lung transplant was being explored.”

Sadly—Cordero endured and died alone.
Please place stubbornness aside.
If you wear a mask so that others may live a healthy life
And if others wear a mask so that you may live a healthy life then
Together, we may participate in shortening the time it takes to
Resuscitate the concept of Brother/Sisterhood, and
As our just reward for kindnesses flowing naturally, back and forth
You and I may find ourselves lengthening each other’s lives
And what, I ask, could feel better during trying times than
Partaking in a simple plan that demands no more than
Placing stubbornness aside and masking up

THE DAY WILL DAWN WHEN THE UNMASKED HANG THEIR HEADS IN SHAME

I hear the word craziness, concerning the Covid crises, time and again.  During this prolonged time of quarantine, I hear myself using that very word whenever my mind wanders beyond my front door.   And it makes me crazy to know that much of this craziness will subside once people, who have lost their minds, change their minds about wearing masks—as if thousands upon thousands of deaths is not consequence enough to open closed mindsets to accepting reality, right now.

You see, I believe that he and she who remain unmasked will eventually come face to face with this deeper truth—the day will dawn when your eyes will open to the fact that you were accountable for prolonging this pandemic killer, unnecessarily, and here’s why I believe so many of those partying people will hang their unmasked heads in shame—given time—the truth wins out in the end ...

THE DAY AFTER THE FOURTH

Lest the serious nature of yesterday’s post leaves you thinking me morose on The Fourth of July, that was not the case for most of the day.  Once I’d vented, rather than frustration, nostalgia fit my mood to a tee.

You see, one of our neighbors had organized several neighbors, all garbed in R W and B, to participate in a socially distanced walking parade at 9am, hoping to beat the intensity of the heat.  

Much to our surprise, Will and I found a calling card left by the paraders at our front door, letting us know that our friends realized how much our spirits had longed to celebrate by parading with them.  This calling card proved to be a very special balloon, filled not with air but with love of dear friends who live near by ... and once its presence spoke clearly of love to me, I teared up

I hope your Fourth of July was peaceful—as for me, I waxed nostalgic for years past when we’d enjoyed sitting by the side of the road, eagerly awaiting the morning parade, up north in Pinewood where home made floats were happily created by families in their driveways, followed by BBQ at our cabin, after which we’d enjoy the local carnival until darkness fell, when we were seen gathered on blankets spread over the golf course, surrounded by family and friends of all ages, our eyes raised above the tall pines, star gazing, then marveling at the wondrous fireworks’ display lighting the night sky with sparkling tributes to our heartfelt devotion to The USA—filling my head with wonderful memories of bygone days—and as today’s train of thought feels ready for posting—please—wherever you’re quarantining throughout this wide, wide world of ours—be safe, stay well, create reasons for laughter, and treat everyone you meet with heartfelt kindness, every day.  🙋🏻‍♀️❤️🌻Annie

*EXTREME MEASURES—THOUGHTS ON INDEPENDENCE DAY

“Lately I’ve been thinking of extreme remedies. For extreme problems we need extreme remedies. That’s the phrase.”  “ ‘Extreme”

Excerpt From

The Feast of Love. By Charles Baxter

There are no extreme remedies to be found in the Constitution of The United States spotlighting emergency need to rid our nation of demented leadership, because the founding fathers could not fathom a populous that would elect a moron to hold The Presidency hostage for a period of four years; however, since the unfathomable has happened, it is incumbent upon Democrats, elected to public office specifically to protect the rights of the people, to brainstorm together with Biden at the helm until a surefire plan to win a solid majority of congressional seats—as well as the office of The Presidency—in the upcoming election is at hand.

Though I know that what I’m about to suggest goes beyond common sense, the fact that my spirit has aired the desperation felt by my soul eases my mind during this extended time of quarantine when intelligence hopes to save our loved ones from being amongst thousands upon thousands, who have already succumbed to trump’s despicable, moronic refusal to lead our nation toward recovery by wearing a mask.

If desperate times call for desperate measures then in lieu of ousting trump, now, what hardships will we find our great nation facing six months down the road if change for the better remains stalemated upon the whim of a soulless, hard hearted, underhanded megalomaniac whose lack of leadership continues to take us from bad to worse, pretty much unrestrained?

Perhaps Biden, supported by Democratic governors, has need to brainstorm a platform that may unify our nation’s sanity in some way that makes sense, being that blue states are saving men, women and children from dying, whereas governors in red states are cowering, heads bowed to trump, while people, who’ve lost their minds, are partying it up before besieging exhausted emergency room staff to work overtime to save their lives—or their grandparents’ lives—from C-19.

And as to livelihoods, which have succumbed or feel threatened to succumb to mask-less-ness, don’t even get me started on the lunacy of the imbecile, whose presence desecrates The Oval Office, every day—trump has to go—not in slo-mo but rather in fast forward ... and if what I’m saying suggests over throwing our government, well, I truly believe that all of my venting expresses exactly what most people feel.

Nuff said.  For now.  Why?  Because other pressing matters occupy my mind, and my need to restore inner peace proves greater than my need to vent frustration concerning those whose lack of common decency has been laid bare ...

Sent from my iPad

ONCE AGAIN, HOPE KEEPS MY SPIRIT AFLOAT—SO, WHAT’S GOING ON?

In all honesty, I’m not sure how restless my day will prove to be—last night, we received word that a dear friend was diagnosed with a brain tumor (only months after she’d undergone surgery—in Houston—for breast cancer), and then, this morning, our niece, Beth, called to say that her cousin, Eric, died after battling lymphoma for the last two years of his young life, and shortly after that, tightly coiled anxiety, suppressed deep inside me, uncorked.   So—

Before the dark side could swallow my spirit whole, I took my oncologist’s PA’s suggestion to heart and swallowed an Ativan, which she’d recently reminded me had been prescribed specifically to help me to move through circumstances empowered to trigger a melt down exactly like this one could become.  So—

Rather than watching my spirit sink too low, knowing that (resultant of this current spike in the Covid crises), my friend faces surgery in the hospital without family or friends holding her hand, I’ve chosen to float above anxiety, which tends to emerge once my questioning nature unleashes ‘what if’s’ that prove beyond my control.  So—

Since our friend’s second cancer surgery is today, Will and I are awaiting news, which we hope will confirm her surgeon’s prognosis concerning this second tumor being so small that they’ll go in and get it all.  So—

Though every post penned cannot reflect super human strengths coming to my aid when fear is in need of being placed in restraints, I can offer you sound reason to hold hands with hope, which plays a huge part in keeping my spirit afloat ...

👩🏻🌈🌻Annie