9 Moons Ago

Just a brief entry to express my enormous gratitude to my family and friends who have helped make this whole week, before my surgery tomorrow morning, less stressful and so much fun! Thanks for the overwhelming support I’ve gotten from everyone, since my diagnosis of breast cancer in early June, while we are at it!

I’ve been getting emails, letters, flowers, cards and phone calls from all over. To those of you who’ve written or tried to contact me in the past months, I have been sketchy with staying in touch, but I am thinking of you for sure, and glad for your continued thoughts and prayers. There will be plenty of time for me to use my new stationery in November! He he.

This past Sunday, I thought my Mother and Dad & I were going out to eat with my Sister and her boys at a favorite restaurant. When we got there, I saw Kathy inside right away, standing up and holding Blaine, and then I noticed EVERYONE. They shouted “Surprise!” and I definitely was surprised! Two tables full of family and friends, almost 30 people all wearing pink in some way or another, with candy, balloons, gifts and a cake!
Thought it was great when my Uncle Barry came over and said, “Well, I’m wearing red, which is related to pink” and he pointed out the “Oklahoma” logo across the front, saying “I also wore Oklahoma, because you’re going to be O.K.!”
I received cards, some lovely journals, a beautiful drawing from my cousin’s daughters, Lexie and Abby, the softest cozy pink socks and a box of gummy bears, which I shared with the kids till their food was ready. Other friends who couldn’t be there helped in planning it, and because it was short notice and a small place, not everyone was invited, but we’ll have to have another party, down the line!

I was not expecting this in the least! You got me good, guys! Such a big thanks to my Sister, who thought of it and organized everything, as a spur of the moment thought just a week beforehand! Our crew took up two thirds of the small dining room!

As for the surgery, I’ve only been anxious in the last couple of day, but mostly have been distracted with all the emails, letters, cards and visits from the people who make my life wonderful! Thank you ALL, near and far, for such incredible fun, joy and love!

So, yep, tomorrow at 6am I’ll be in the hospital, but knowing just how many people are supporting me (multiply the number from my party, oh, about ten thousand or so! :-D) will make things that much easier! And, as I told my Mother, couldn’t have planned a better month for this, October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Some pictures from the party, taken by family and friends:

Thanks everybody! Lots and lots of love, Amy

Of Radish Tops on a Plate

There you are
4 buttons of purple-y red and pinky-white
Little disks of salad enhancement
Feathery green remnants on top
So simple, yet
Enough to make a meal just that
much hotter.
Like when I took your hand in mine
and you thought I was about to be sweet
But I slid your fingers
between my own just-washed, but not dried
gentle fingertips, and opened my
pretty mouth.
And popped you in, sucking a little with a shy smile.
It was unexpected
And a little bit, just a little bit, naughty.
Your hands are one of my favorite delicacies.
(I never did hear you object to such
playfulness.)
So, after that came a more spicy advance,
And that salad never did get made properly.
We ate greens with radishes anyway.
And I threw in black olives for good measure.
You threw in the dish towel and succumbed to my wicked game.
Thank God for that.

A. M. Lehr June 2008

In my early college years at Moore College of Art and Design, I subsisted, along with all the other freshman and sophomores in my dorm, on the most unhealthy diet of breakfast cereal and ice cream. There were a few dishes on the menu that we dared to try, in order to gain our meager allowance of nutrients and roughage. These ones we ate were the dishes that did NOT contain every recycled vegetable from the last week’s entire menu. I’ve never been offered squash, green beans, lima beans and corn in so many different dishes in a consecutive four day period before, or since.

One way we got some nutrition, besides all those bananas in the ice cream sundaes, was through juice. My favorite was cranberry juice. This was not a weak, pale cousin to cranberry juice. It was not a blend, nor a cocktail. It was 100% nice and tart cranberry juice..or close enough to 100%!

Wandering the store aisles these days, I read the apple juice and sugar content in the cranberry juice bottles and sigh and replace them back to the shelf. I am not sure why there doesn’t seem to be anything more potent than 20% cranberry …unless it’s just because I’ve been in Australia too long and Australian people get a whole different kind of “American” food product over here… but that’s another story…

So I had a flash of inspiration, and I will share my new recipe with you..for those too lazy or poor to make juice from 100% cranberry.

One bag of store-bought ice, because it makes it easy in the summer, when you can go through ice quite quickly:
Add enough ice to the glass to give you some water, so you are being a bit healthy.
Juice of your choice. (Or cordial for your Aussies)
And lemonade, can be carbonated or not. I make it strawberry lemonade: Whatever kind of light refreshing beverage you like, basically.
The secret ingredient: a handful of frozen cranberries.
A straw.

By the time you finish your drink, your cranberries have thawed and are ready to munch on..and some have filled up with juice, others are a bit icy. I find it nice. Especially because I like it TART!

Mmm..The box of cranberries can last you quite a while too. Mine lasted for two weeks. I’m ready for one more box, but I may let it wait, because I’m only here for ONE WEEK and then it’s off to Pennsylvania with me to come home to my loving family and friends…and start up a new chapter in my life. And share in the beautiful ever-expanding life of my family.

I feel quite fulfilled and also expectant. I will be sharing more of the goodness I am finding in my life, despite the rough patches, in the coming months.
Much love to all of you who have helped and encouraged me on this path!
Life is getting good again. I am well on my way to being well again.
xo Amy

Things are going well with both Cameron and myself, but since I might not post anything else till November, here’s an early “Halloween Postcard” from me to you! Trick or Treat!