Constants

Happy one year anniversary!

Lumpectomy done. check.

As you can see I was loved and supported by my lovely family.

Cindy came to the hospital and was there for me and Patrick.

The above picture is from the day after my surgery.  You can see I was feeling just fine.

For me surgery is no big deal. 

Wound care (bad care)

Chemo side effects.

ER visits.

Big deal.

I did have great results from my surgery so for that I am very grateful.

(Clear margins and no cancer in lymph nodes)

But most of all I think of all my loved ones.

My constants.

And I feel so very thankful and blessed.

Love you. Mean it.

Donna Elsie

*******

Still Here

been scared and battered.

My hopes the wind done scattered.

Snow has friz me,

Sun has baked me,

Looks like between 'em they done

Tried to make me

Stop laughin', stop lovin', stop livin'--

But I don't care!

I'm still here! 

~Langston Hughes

 

hair growth after chemo. month eight

 

I once ran a brush through my hair and I couldn't believe it!

This is what my hair looked like. And while I love Prue and think she looks great...

she is 84 after all.

I'm not ready to look 20 years older than I am.

Chemo curls are VERY common.

They go every which way.

I bought a product called Love ur Curls.

This helps my hair not be so bouffant.

Just making a record here.

I imagine next month to be about the same.

We shall see.

My son Patrick said,

"How often do you get to grow a totally new hair style?"

My son, who is not an encourager in general, really encouraged me.

So there you have month eight, chemo grow out.

A few more days and I will celebrate the lumpectomy anniversary.

What a year.  What a year.

Encourage one another,

Donna

November comes

 November

The stripped and shapely

Maple grieves

The ghosts of her

Departed leaves.

The ground is hard,

As hard as stone.

The year is old,

The birds have flown.

And yet the world,

In its distress,

Displays a certain 

Loveiness--

The beauty of 

The bone.  Tall God

Must see our souls

This way, and nod.

Give thanks: we do,

Each in his place

Around the table

During grace.

 by John Updike

I find this poem to be so beautiful and surprisingly profound for a children's poem.

Don't You?

***

Indian Summer came and went. 

The gusty winds finally blew the leaves from the trees.  

The Spring training, that had begun so long ago had ended, and summer ball had taken its place,

and a fall, and Shohei Ohtani had won a World Series.

Congrats Dodgers

Congrats Shohei.

Thanks for a wonderful season!

Encourage one another,

Donna

HT:Harper Lee