Approaching the holidays I want to express my gratitude to everyone who is participating in this process, in whatever form that is taking. I continue to feel quite well and I am very optimistic that I am on the mend on many levels. I continue to go full-blast on my strategies. At this point I have no symptoms and in general I sense that everything will be OK.
The strangest part of the whole situation for me is the feeling of flying blind and having to trust my perceptions. It is not practical to keep going in for more medical tests, for several reasons. Every itch, cough and tingle triggers hyper-vigilance: “Is that it?”
The hardest part right now is time management. Preparations and performance of strategies take time and it is hard to fit it all together.
I am starting to receive inquiries from other people experiencing serious cancer and I am eager to serve this new-to-me community in any way that I can.
We did an Open House at the school on Saturday Nov. 27 and about 60 people attended. After refreshments and social time Anna gave a brief Tibetan Bowls concert and then I talked about the situation and answered questions. It felt good and appropriate to have face-to-face contact to supplement all the emails that have been happening all fall. We will be doing something like this again, tentatively scheduled for Feb. 13, 2011.
I so appreciate the support of that I experience every day. I am nourished and encouraged by the expressions of well-wishes that keep coming to me. My days are eased by logistical help such as assistance with food and research. Financial donations are making it possible for us to make ends meet in a time of decreased income and increased expenses.
In sum, “Thank You” to those who happen upon these pages, and please accept my best wishes for a great solstice holiday season. I will not be able to send out cards individually but I want you to know how I value your presence in my life in this time of complexity.