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

Back to work!
Finishing the piece for the (no name) Art Group which is supporting Philabundance this year. I have never felt as fulfilled doing my artwork as when I worked with this group in 2007, painting a memory portrait for a lovely girl named Tabitha at the El Shedai foster home in Uganda. Thanks to Sherry for all the work she’s done and continues to do, organizing it all, drumming up support, and also contributing her own work. I love being part of this team and helping others through my art. I think it’s important to think about the bigger picture, especially at times when I feel too self-absorbed. I know my cancer diagnosis is a legitimate reason to focus on myself right now, but if I am feeling well enough, physically and mentally to do artwork anyway, then I’m so happy to be able to do it for this kind of cause. It really is something I want to continue throughout my life!

Please go here for more information: (no name) Art Group

I will post some snaps of the process once everything is completed.

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

There is no video, but this way you can hear the whole song. I heard it for the first time today on wxpn. So pretty! I bought it on iTunes for 99 cents.

O La Pago Yo O La Paga Ella (Marino Pérez)

Either I’ll Pay or She’ll Have to Pay

Me voy a beber
Dos o tres botellas
O la pago yo o la paga ella
O la pago yo o la paga ella

Oye, cantinero
Traiga otra botella
Oye, cantinero
Traiga otra botella
O la pago yo o la paga ella
O la pago yo o la paga ella

La mujer que tengo
Eso parte el alma
La mujer que tengo
Eso parte el alma
Su boquita sabe, mamá
A melado de cana
Su boquita sabe, mami
A melado de cana

Me voy a beber
Dos o tres botellas
O la pago yo o la paga ella
O la pago yo o la paga ella

Cuando yo amanezco
Con ganas de beber
Cuando yo amanezco
Con ganas de beber
Pido una botella
Llamo a mi mujer
Pido una botella, mami
Llamo a mi mujer

Mamacita linda
No seas tan rechula
Mamacita linda
No seas tan rechula
Que me estás matando mamá
Con tu sabrosura
Que me estás matando
Con tu sabrosura

Me voy a beber
Dos o tres botellas
O la pago yo o la paga ella
O la pago yo o la paga ella

Cuando ella me dice,
“Pide lo que quiera”
Cuando ella me dice,
“Pide lo que quiera”
Seguimos bebiendo
La semana entera
Seguimos bebiendo, mami
La semana entera

La mujer que tengo
Eso parte el alma
La mujer que tengo
Eso parte el alma
Su boquita sabe, mamá
A melao de cana
Su boquita sabe, mami
A melao de cana

Me voy a beber
Dos o tres botellas
O la pago yo o la paga ella
O la pago yo o la paga ella

(Guitarra…)

Me voy a beber
Dos o tres botellas
O la pago yo o la paga ella
O la pago yo o la paga ella

Mamacita linda
No seas tan rechula
Mamacita linda
No seas tan rechula
Que me estás matando, mamá
Con tu sabrosura
Que me estás matando, mami
Con tu sabrosura

Cuando yo amanezco
Con ganas de beber
Cuando yo amanezco
Con ganas de beber
Pido una botella, mami
Llamo a mi mujer
Pido una botella, mamá
Llamo a mi mujer

Me voy a beber
Dos o tres botellas
O la pago yo o la paga ella
O la pago yo o la paga ella

Me voy a beber
Dos o tres botellas
O la pago yo…

————————————

English translation:

I’m going to go drink
Two or three bottles
Either I’ll pay or she’ll have to pay
Either I’ll pay or she’ll have to pay

Hey, barman
Bring me another bottle
Hey, barman
Bring me another bottle
Either I’ll pay or she’ll have to pay
Either I’ll pay or she’ll have to pay

The woman I have
It breaks my heart
The woman I have
It breaks my heart
Her little mouth tastes, mamá
Like sugar cane syrup
Her little mouth tastes, mami
Like sugar cane syrup.

I’m going to go drink
Two or three bottles
Either I’ll pay or she’ll have to pay
Either I’ll pay or she’ll have to pay

When I wake up
With a desire to drink
When I wake up
With a desire to drink
I ask for a bottle
I call my woman
I ask for a bottle, mami
I call my woman

Beautiful little momma
Don’t be so sweet
Beautiful little momma
Don’t be so sweet
Because you’re killing me, mamá
With your tastiness
You’re killing me
With your tastiness

I’m going to go drink
Two or three bottles
Either I’ll pay or she’ll have to pay
Either I’ll pay or she’ll have to pay

When she tells me,
“Ask for whatever you want”
When she tells me,
“Ask for whatever you want”
We keep drinking
All week long
We keep drinking, mami
All week long

The woman I have
It breaks my heart
The woman I have
It breaks my heart
Her little mouth tastes, mamá
Like sugar cane syrup
Her little mouth tastes, mami
Like sugar cane syrup

I’m going to go drink
Two or three bottles
Either I’ll pay or she’ll have to pay
Either I’ll pay or she’ll have to pay

(Guitar…)

I’m going to go drink
Two or three bottles
Either I’ll pay or she’ll have to pay
Either I’ll pay or she’ll have to pay

Beautiful little momma
Don’t be so sweet
Beautiful little momma
Don’t be so sweet
Because you’re killing me, mamá
With your tastiness
You’re killing me
With your tastiness

When I wake up
With a desire to drink
When I wake up
With a desire to drink
I ask for a bottle, mami
I call my woman
I ask for a bottle, mamá
I call my woman

I’m going to go drink
Two or three bottles
Either I’ll pay or she’ll have to pay
Either I’ll pay or she’ll have to pay

I’m going to go drink
Two or three bottles
Either I’ll pay…