9 Moons Ago

Well, Saturday night was a good time. Went to Knickers Pub with Kathy and met up with a bunch of friends to celebrate Tim E’s birthday. Had a nice chat with Jake, who shouted me a drink (Thanks, mate!) and partied with Amy, Bonny, Colin, Jen, Brian, Felicia, and Tim’s various cousins. Had some hard cider and stopped myself at three because I’m not used to drinking like I used to.. fun night!

Progress on the painting for the wine label is going well. I’ll be mailing everything off to Philly tomorrow.

And the news on the health front is good. The genetic test result came back negative, so I do not carry the gene mutation that signals an increased chance of any more cancer returning. So now I can set a date for the left breast mastectomy when I go in for my next appointment in early September. One step at a time, but after I recover there will be treatments at the oncologist in Hanover. I am feeling fit, both physically and emotionally. Taking walks every day, cutting out soda, drinking more water and eating lots of fruits and veggies from the local fruit farm. Thanks to all who have written/called and want to visit sometime. I’ll be sure to be in touch! And I’m looking forward to a dinner out with my Mother and a good neighborhood friend, who we haven’t talked to in forever, sometime soon!

Then there was the sad news of my Uncle Donny, who had been in the hospital after several strokes, unexpectedly passing away. The family is getting together for a service this Saturday. I wrote a bit about him on my flickr stream. The pictures can be viewed once you click on the link I posted below, and scroll through a little while, till you see black and white pictures from the 50s of three little guys in bow ties. He was such a funny person, and will be missed greatly, especially by his brothers who were always pretty close.

There was a scare Wednesday, too, when my dad was admitted to the hospital after he became clammy and unresponsive at work. They did an ekg and heart catheterization, but found nothing wrong. Stress could have been a part of it, and possibly some unhealthy eating the night before. But they gave him some different meds and he took a couple days off work. He was doing really well today, getting around fine, and he took me out to lunch.

So, there were ups and downs this week, but I’ve been having fun planning what kind of hairstyle I want and playing vinyl records of Rodgers & Hammerstein musicals, especially one of my favorites, Oklaholma. Been scanning old family photos and taking pictures for flickr, writing once more in my paper journal and planning ideas for the near and distant future that will not be told until I have a grasp on them myself. But it’s all looking rosy right now. I’ll write something more interesting or fun next time. Tonight it was the general “Catch-up” to keep everyone informed and up-to-date. To view any of those recent flickr photos, just click on the right hand flickr icon with multiple pictures, or go here:

amy’s flickr photostream

Tomorrow (Friday August 27) is Blaine’s second Birthday! Cannot believe how he has grown. We’ll party next week. He’s my special buddy. Of course, I love Isaac to pieces, and all the cute and wonderful things he does (big first grader! yay!) but Blaine and I just always had a special bond. I miss him and I just saw him a few days ago! Pretty soon I’ll post some pictures of the boys on flickr, too, from the other night. Bathtime fun! Wheee!

Speaking of which, I’m off to relax in the bath.. couldn’t tell you the last time I did that. I miss that big old tub from Wonga Park, and how I’d have a whole set up with the window looking into the garden, and a cool drink, maybe a book that never got read and Norah Jones crooning away…

But that was a lifetime ago… and there is plenty here to make it a different retreat, just as relaxing!
And I’m quite ready for it!

Till next time,
Much love, Amy

What an intense day. I have just enough energy to give a general update tonight, and will go into a little more detail next time.

Kathy and I hied off to Hershey this morning to sit and listen to an intense cram session all about the benefits and concerns about being tested for a genetic mutation which signals an increased risk for passing cancer along in the family. I’m primarily being tested to help me make the best decision about what kind of surgery I will need next. At any rate, it will most likely be a mastectomy on the left side, but if I do have this gene anomaly, I may consider a bi-lateral mastectomy. I want to do the least drastic thing, but also do enough to protect my health. One good thing is that if I get even just the single mastectomy, it will eliminate the need for radiation. Chemo is on the cards, though. I will have reconstructive surgery at some point, too. I heard from a few people who have had or know people who have had that done and it’s all positive and encouraging,

There was so much more discussed, but it was clear to both Kathy and I, and afterwards I did some paperwork, a family health history chart and had blood drawn. They will call be in to review the results in 2 to 4 weeks.

I normally don’t like to talk so much about physical illness, but this is a big thing and I am aware that you who bother to stop in truly want to know what’s been going on.
Mentally, emotionally.. just fine! Pretty effing fantastic, actually.

After the session, which was shorter than initially planned, due to the luck of someone canceling their appointment, we headed to Chocolate world, in the absolute crazy madness that is the rest-of-the-country and other-parts-of-the-world on Summer vacation. Living right near the place our whole lives, and going there often, especially off-season, we forget that Hershey is bigger than South Central Pennsylvania. But we waded through the sweaty sea of delighted and tired families, and found what we needed. We bought gifts for Mumsy, Dad and Kathy’s family. Kathy got her reeces pieces and I got some dark chocolate.

We went out to eat and shared a crab dip soft pretzel and I had a cup of french onion soup. Mmm.

Kathy and I napped/rested as soon as we were home, and later had a nice dinner with Mom while watching a couple of particularly hilarious episodes of the Office, one of which we hadn’t seen before.
I’m about ready to tumble into bed now. Thanks, all you lovely lot, for your notes, emails and comments. If you are reading this and I know you, in person, or through correspondence…I am most definitely thinking of you, too!
All My Love,
Amy

You Might Consider Reading This Book:
“The Road From Coorain” by Jill Ker Conway

Even though I started reading it in the mid 90s, and started more than once, because it is quite dry in places (similar to my experience w/ reading Out of Africa ), and before living in Australia was even a concept in my mind, I’ve finally finished Jill Ker Conway’s “clear-sighted memoir of growing up Australian”, “The Road From Coorain”, and oh the reward of exhilaration & emotion of finishing it! It taught me about a part of Australia that I knew nothing about and pleasantly reminded me of all that I did. I came back to finish this book knowing so much of the vernacular that, astutely, was not always explained, and the usual Aussie expressions and how they would sound rolling off the tongue, whether “properly”, bordering on an English accent, or broad and common, or with the dialect of an experienced self-described “blackfellah” from the bush. I could see the land and the people. I knew the heartache and narrowing tunnel of a long drought. The same class system and expectations of what it means to be Australian are still visible, decades later. It is beautifully crafted, even though there are a few places that I had to push through. There is warmth, wit, and tragedy. And oh, I cried!
But, I have to tell you, I consider this book to be one of the most rewarding I’ve ever read, not only for it’s content and beautifully crafted passages, rich with imagery, but also because of the last sentence. Perhaps it is because I have been there, because I am emotionally invested, and that I feel a connection with the spirit in which it is written, but I believe it contains the best last sentence of a book that I’ve ever read. I’ve never felt that way before, even with any of my favorite books. Finishing this memoir was a long-anticipated achievement and an emotionally rewarding trip. This isn’t necessarily among my top 5 reads, but if not, it’s hovering near there. And no matter what you’ve experienced of Australia, if anything, it will take you on a journey of the human dramas, loves, losses, excitements, unexpected twists, hopes and triumphs we all experience in a lifetime.

WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

Switching gears…

As for my health, still feeling sore and tender from the surgery. The antibiotics are slowly clearing up the infection and I’m making plans to get tested, in Hershey, to see if I carry a “cancer gene”. This will help me make a decision on how drastic my next surgery will be, perhaps help my siblings, should they want to know if there is a possibility that they carry it, and just help with research in general, so that somewhere down the line, it might help save more lives. I will be seeing an oncologist, in Hanover, for a first appointment on August 5. The plan is, that while I undergo chemo and radiation treatments, I will live most of the time with my Sister and her family, so that she can drive me to and from appointments, and so that, during the day, I will be with someone. She lives in Hanover, which is a 40 minute drive from Dallastown. I can’t thank her enough for all that she has already done for me, over and above what I would ask of anyone. Kathy has provided countless rides, anticipated my needs before I knew them myself, has done research on my behalf and has not treated me any differently, which is a relief. We still give each other a hard time, and still act silly, or bitch about what’s bothering us and I doubt she knows just how much it means to me to have her in my life. And, right behind her are tons of family and friends, and I really, truly, could not have made it this far without your love.
xo Amy

Yesterday was a mix of good family stuff & not-so-good medical. Blahhh. Stuff. At least 1 more surgery needed, decisions need to be made. They found precancerous cells during the operation to remove the cancer.. Add infection (OUCH) and a jammed finger (which has been hurting like crazy) to the mix. Will update everyone after Monday when I see the Dr. again. Good things: air conditioning, British comedies, Watermelon Italian Ice, Grape Soda and.. Watermelon. Which I’m off to fetch presently. As my Sister put it, so perfectly, “Cancer can kiss my ass!”