TIME AND TIME AGAIN..

A long hiatus, dear readers!

I worked Thursday and Friday - have found that side effects are few this go round. I am so very fortunate so far!! Amazing what medicine has been able to do to minimize side effects. I am taking days to protect my immune system -at least 10 per month - this time has been a kind pf 'prep for retirement' exercise. Here I have all this time to write and draw and paint - and find I don't use the time to greatest advantage!

Working life has so conditioned me to focus on work tasks - to use up time. While I love my work, feel rewarded by involvement in supporting opportunity, learning and education, I find it hard to use this time to explore parts of myself I have hungered to seek out. In the last week, I have begun to allow myself more time for those things I have wanted to do for so long.

Time. How we yearn for it yet squander it. I think these days about valuing every minute, appreciating the fullness of experience. I have spent many hours in our recliner, looking at a side window on the yard. I have for the first time noticed how the view changes through the day, how light paints the colors and and shadows in such varieties and differences. I am seeing the world, now that I have the time.

So back to work in the coming week, determined to consciously value my days! As always, your responses and thoughts energize me! I'll be writing this week more about health care and research: my friend Linda Dziobek, a leader in the state cancer coalition, is providing me with lots of info and ways to be active!! Stay tuned! ApopSal

SURVIVAL OF WITTIEST

So I'm reading this fascinating book - The Beak of the Finch - about Darwin's theory of natural selection and survival of the fittest. I've decided that being born with this half full positive attitude has selected me to survive this new adventure.

Now, I won't be having birth kids to pass this on to, but I am determined to be living proof of how being positive and thinking future helps me survive. And I am hoping to pass this on to each of you - naturally selected - as my legacy.

I must say, I like the cartoon animal with squiggly horns - I would have chosen her to survive for sure.

The great thing about the message in the Finch book is the focus on the ongoing process and the variability of life and survival. According to the researchers in the book who have documented proof of the selection process, even the most minute variation makes a difference to survival. I am strongly convinced that in the human species, it's not just genetic physical selection and survival, but psychological/ attitude selection as well. Darwin called this 'cultural selection'. And I select at least 20 more years! Sal

TWO DOWN!!

Greetings followers! Had my second infusion Tuesday - so far so good. Am lucky that there are minimal side effects - so keep on keeping on.

Have been doing some interesting exploration about cancer research and funding. No surprise of course that most is subsidized by Big Pharma - seems that many alternative treatments can't find trial funding. Even the National Cancer Institute is primarily linked to Big Pharma. How we are controlled by big money! Of course, the stalled health care reform threatens care for so many - I'm writing lots of e mails to DC, for what it's worth. And of course, insurance companies push costs out of sight! In RI, insurance costs going up as the big money guys scoop up their bonuses.

I do try to find diversions as well: I'm reading a wonderful novel - "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" - a reminder of the viciousness of the Third Reich and the creativity of those trying to survive. Creative survival is a theme for me of late...

I am exploring all sorts of hear gear - all suggestions welcome... The possibilities are endless! Check in soon! xSal

SCROLL DOWN PLEASE!!

OOPS! Sorry - please scroll down for comments on the last post - cutting room floor - didn't edit enough! Sorry dear readers! Hairless herself

The cutting room floor

So dear readers, I began the week by cutting down my tresses to the 1/4 inch mark, but the molting continued, so I decided to GO ALL THE WAY (middle school health teachers, turn the other way) down to the clear pate.







Bro in law Don was already shaved in support, but needed a final touch up. Don, wife Trish and daughter (our beloved niece) Madelin came over for the shearing. Beth was determined to get to the bottom of things (or as it were, the top of things) and completed the shearing






With dedicated concentration, complete with Barbasol, the final fuzz came off, and - Lo and Behold, I was shorn.






The act of shearing does put one in a meditative state... I thought about the possibilities of joining a buddist nun order >>>




But quickly decided that it is not for me.


I move forward into the wonderful world of halleluya hats and stupendous scarves - or just celebration with friends and family!

Nothing like a new adventure in fashion!! xSal

Hair today...

Hair today - gone tomorrow! Had my hair buzzed today - not bald yet, but close. The tresses are indeed disappearing daily, so I decided to go shorty. It's a strange feeling, this shedding. I've had short hair for years now, but I am quite used to a minimal head o hair.

Indeed it's a reminder of the process I am experiencing - chemicals invading my spaces. But as the hair goes, I think shrink and look forward to hats. I've already received a few gems - and of course I am a scarf gal, so I'll begin learning the various ways to tie!

A reminder too, not to get attached! Of course there are other possibilities:

A new gardening project! I always did love green.

Think of the possibilities. Flowers in spring. Holly and ivy. Ragweed for those special occassions.

So when I see any of my loyal followers next - who knows what will be on top! Adventures adventures. Thanks for listening. xsal

Port of Call

Now here's the port I would rather be experiencing: Dinan France, on the coast - ah dreaming and planning! Went this a.m. to have the 'port' put in for easier chemo. Amazing that modern medicine can threat a line to your veins for easy entry. The procedure was easy - now I only have to 'hook up' each time - no more IV's.

Otherwise, hating to miss work - another day of 'rest' - but enjoying the afternoon sun at my window, and the ever increasing leaves on our fig tree - 'figgee' by name. Even the hibiscus in the hallway is sprouting shiny new leaves. Time to peruse seed catalogs and plan for summer. xSal