My Day of the Week

I love Sundays - it's always been my day of the week. The early morning tranquility, a comfortable day of solitude when I can do or not do. Even all the years I worked I loved Sundays - to putter, to nap, to read, to recharge. It's the same even now - a quiet day generally devoid of any plan or commitment. Just me and Annie - hanging out.

Last Sunday morning I grabbed my coffee and sat outside listening to the sound of the huge crashing waves and watching crazy surfers on the ocean in Tofino. Matter of fact I did that pretty much the 4 days I was there. Had a fabulous time communing with Mother Nature on the beach and in the trees. Discovered the fabulous 'Tofino Botanical Gardens' - the highlight of the trip for me. A network of paths and boardwalks thru flower and herb gardens, a duck pond, and into the forest, where clearings have been transformed into a series of pocket gardens and art installations. The rainforest itself is untouched and stunningly beautiful and inspirational. Other paths lead down to the the clear waters of the bay. If you ever get to Tofino I highly recommend a walk thru the gardens - it'll be good for whatever ails you or you can simply appreciate the amazing landscape we are blessed with here on the West Coast.

So Dr. Mills didn't quite get what she wanted!! But the good news is that my tumour markers are down AGAIN!! Even with not being able to manage full 2-week courses of treatment this Capacitibine is surely working for me. Dr. K. wants me to stay on it and I agree despite the side-effects. So we'll keep tweaking the dosage and the treatment schedule. By the time I start the chemo again this Thursday I will have had almost 3 weeks off and hopefully by then I will have healed completely. He's dropped the dosage again - to 2600 units per day so we'll see what this round brings - nothing I hope. If I still have problems then we'll work on the length of time I take it. Apparently this oral chemo can be a long-term solution for me if we can just get the side-effects to a manageable level. My quarterly tests are this week and based on the tumour marker tests we both feel very optimistic that they should be 'good' - won't know till I see him the last week of May but I'm not going get my knickers in a knot about it. Feeling positive!! And of course he had the most fabulous new tie on! I'm sure he does that just for me....

I came home to some shocking news - my friend Irene in Kelowna passed away. She had a stroke on Friday and passed Tuesday. An amazingly good & kind woman, in seemingly good health, jogged to/from work every day, awesome husband & children & grandchildren, the rock of her family. One never knows what any day will bring and the idea of living your life in the now has never been clearer to me than it is now. Gerry - my heart is broken for you and your family.

Started to put my deck together yesterday - always a big job! I may have to whine to one of my brothers for some help this year - any takers guys?? Vacuuming the winter away, moving things about, hauling up from the storage locker and then finally.... sipping a lovely little cocktail (complete with fruit and a little umbrella!) while lying on my chaise underneath my big ol' floppy hat enjoying the sunshine and heat... the vision that makes all the cleaning and hauling worthwhile!!

Stay well everyone.

Rest easy Irene - I will miss you
Rest easy Rita B.