I saw Dr. R yesterday morning. Good visit. She said that I looked "glowingly healthy". Not sure about that; the glow might just have been from slogging through the latest dump of snow, sleet, icy rain and slush on the hike up from the street where the bus leaves me to the Cancer Center. It was cold out. At any rate, I'll take it! I asked her how long I needed to "worry" - really just a generic request for a longer term hand holding. She said for 5 years we need to be watched closely and even after that there is always a chance of recurrence. Of course, I already knew that. What was good about having her say it is that it reminds me not to take anything for granted. Of course, none of us should, ever. And if we have faced something like cancer or any serious disease or other health condition, we have it brought home to us. But I have been amazed, less than 1 year post treatment, how easily one slips back into daily routines, into frustrations with the minor hassles and glitches of daily living, with putting things off and getting back in the "I'll deal with that, I'll think about that, there will be time for that -- later." We - I - don't know how much "later" there is, so I had better be doing with my life exactly what I want to be doing with it right now.
Of course, practically speaking, that's difficult. As you reach your 60's, the world seems to be telling you to get ready to deal with retirement; will you have enough to live on for the next 15, 20, 30 years? You think, well, if there were really a chance I might only live 5 more years, I would do things differently. But you don't know; you can't know.
Anyway, a good visit with Dr. R. We set my CT scan - tax day, April 15 (well, used to be tax day; this year I hear we have until April 18 to pay taxes for some odd reason having to do with some sort of federal holiday falling on 4/15). I guess while I'll be nervous about that scan, once it is over, assuming it is clear, it will be a good milestone - one full year post-treatment, NED (no evidence of disease). One year down, four to go to make the 5 year marker year.
Lovely gangly Ella started Dog Obedience School. She was a good girl and a big hit. There were about 6 dogs. Ella outweighed the next largest by about 50%. We worked on "sit," "down" and "look" (look being getting the dog to look at you and pay attention). The instructors pulled Ella out a couple of times, along with another dog or 2, to use to show the class what they wanted. Ella knows "sit" and "down" pretty well, and they had us not feed the dogs breakfast that morning and bring really yummy special treats (we brought freeze dried chicken and beef liver treats... yum!) Although excited when we got there to see the other dogs, Ella soon focused intently on the treats. She was goofy. At one point when the teacher asked her to "Down"," she first lay down like an expert, and then flopped over on her side and then to her back, waving her legs and kind of grinning at the teacher. The whole class laughed. She is a goof ball. In another week or so we start "Heel" and "stay". Those will definitely be more challenging for Ella.
I spoke to my grandson on the phone the other night. He is so articulate. HE told me his school class - pre-school, he is 4 - is making "dinosaur prints". I miss him.
My daughter is finding her feet in Haiti. Big happenings this past week. She met Paul Farmer, founder of Partners in Health. She was there when Clinton made the speech about the year anniversary of the Haiti earthquake. And now Baby Doc Duvalier has showed up - not a good sign for Haiti, in my personal view. At any rate, she is well.
The new Congress is in session. Reminds me of dog fights.
More snow forecast for tomorrow and really cold temperatures for the weekend.
Peace. Peace. Peace.
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