Having cancer was not on my life "to do" list. However, as with many bad experiences there is a silver lining. Last year I applied for and was selected to take part in a fly-fishing workshop, Casting for Recovery. This four-day event was originally scheduled for October in Ontario. Unfortunately the H1N1 flu put a temporary hold on the event. Organizers were worried about women with compromised immune systems travelling and potentially becoming ill.
The good news is the event is rescheduled for February and will take place in Bermuda. I'll leave Halifax on February 11 and fly to Toronto where I'll meet the rest of the group. From there we'll fly to Bermuda, where we'll stay at the Elbow Beach Resort near Hamilton. I'll be home again on February 15.
Rob will have to spend Valentine's Day by himself, but as he so wittingly points out it isn't as though we do much on the holiday made up by candy and card companies.
I don't yet know what we'll be fishing or what other activies we may be doing. I'll get a complete package in the mail this week. Regardless, I'm looking forward to a brief mid-winter break.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Friday, January 1, 2010
Happy New Year
I've just come in from the cold where I watched neighbours battling for supremacy in what turned out to be a pretty decent display of fireworks. It punctuates the fact that this year has been like a fireworks display...parts of it fizzled and parts of it made my mouth drop open in awe.
2009 was supposed to be my year. I turned 40, I was doing well career-wise, our financial house was in pretty good order, we were planning a trip to Newfoundland, we had all sorts of ideas about lots of golfing and fishing, plus we were blessed with family and friends. It all came to a grinding halt in February, when three weeks after my birthday I was diagnosed with breast cancer.
I'm lucky...I'm still here to watch the fireworks almost a year later...and I revel in every puff of smoke and blaze of light across the sky. Even now, I rush from my computer because I've just heard the telltale pop of another rocket exploding.
I set my experience in the framework of the Hero's Journey, the structure which many popular movies and books use to move their plots. The journey was supported by mentors, teachers, friends and was fraught with challenges, tests and hardships along the way. The goal, to obtain, understand and use the elixir and return home a hero. So far so good.
We were lucky, and looking back I can see that. My cancer was probably caught at the right time (a little earlier might have been better, but a little later would have been worse). I was rushed through the hospital system and into the queue of people battling this disease from both sides. Many people are dismayed by our health care system -- the long wait times in emergency and difficulty accessing specialists (heck, difficulty accessing family doctors); but my experience was of a system which worked for me, when I really needed it.
I've just been randomly reading some of my posts from the past year (111 in all) and some of the comments written by those who followed my journey. I am blessed by the people who are in my life. Your thoughts, your prayers, your energy have all helped both me and Rob this year. Whether it was a card or a trinket, dinner or a movie, a blanket or a book, or simply a kind word -- many of you helped me as I wandered in the wilderness of illness.
Even this past week, during the busy holiday season I received cards from Lisa, Kathy W and Julie. Lisa included a Dairy Queen card in hers and instructions to treat myself to a Blizzard. This was in addition to more than twice the normal number of Christmas cards, with everyone wishing me the all the best and good health in 2010.
Among the cards was one from my aunt Joyce (my father's older sister). Included was a generous check and a note to say they normally donated to the Cancer Society but this year wanted to donate directly to someone affected by the disease. I was incredibly touched by this kind act. We are, however, lucky that this disease hardly impacted us financially. A few years ago that might not have been the case. We matched the contribution and sent it the Cancer Society. We've also started making a small monthly donation to the MS Society and I expect we'll do the same with the Arthritis Society (two diseases which have impacted the lives of people in our family).
I was also touched by the incredible kindness of Bonnie M. She's from my home church and has sent cards and trinkets several times this past year. One, an "angel" feather decorates my tree this year, and will for many more to come. She brought tears to my eyes Sunday when she presented me with a ragged tea cosy in the form of a droopy donkey (or lamb, we're not sure which). It belonged to my paternal grandmother and I played with it as a child. After she died, it was sold at the estate auction. I never thought to see it again, but on Sunday Bonnie handed me a tissue wrapped package, and there in its many layers was the donkey, its pale fur worn, its velvet base still soft and its head, as always, canted to one side. I will find a special place for it and it will bring a smile to my face for years to come. Thank you.
Thank you to all of you for your gestures both big and small. May 2010 bring you all health, happiness and prosperity. God bless you all.
2009 was supposed to be my year. I turned 40, I was doing well career-wise, our financial house was in pretty good order, we were planning a trip to Newfoundland, we had all sorts of ideas about lots of golfing and fishing, plus we were blessed with family and friends. It all came to a grinding halt in February, when three weeks after my birthday I was diagnosed with breast cancer.
I'm lucky...I'm still here to watch the fireworks almost a year later...and I revel in every puff of smoke and blaze of light across the sky. Even now, I rush from my computer because I've just heard the telltale pop of another rocket exploding.
I set my experience in the framework of the Hero's Journey, the structure which many popular movies and books use to move their plots. The journey was supported by mentors, teachers, friends and was fraught with challenges, tests and hardships along the way. The goal, to obtain, understand and use the elixir and return home a hero. So far so good.
We were lucky, and looking back I can see that. My cancer was probably caught at the right time (a little earlier might have been better, but a little later would have been worse). I was rushed through the hospital system and into the queue of people battling this disease from both sides. Many people are dismayed by our health care system -- the long wait times in emergency and difficulty accessing specialists (heck, difficulty accessing family doctors); but my experience was of a system which worked for me, when I really needed it.
I've just been randomly reading some of my posts from the past year (111 in all) and some of the comments written by those who followed my journey. I am blessed by the people who are in my life. Your thoughts, your prayers, your energy have all helped both me and Rob this year. Whether it was a card or a trinket, dinner or a movie, a blanket or a book, or simply a kind word -- many of you helped me as I wandered in the wilderness of illness.
Even this past week, during the busy holiday season I received cards from Lisa, Kathy W and Julie. Lisa included a Dairy Queen card in hers and instructions to treat myself to a Blizzard. This was in addition to more than twice the normal number of Christmas cards, with everyone wishing me the all the best and good health in 2010.
Among the cards was one from my aunt Joyce (my father's older sister). Included was a generous check and a note to say they normally donated to the Cancer Society but this year wanted to donate directly to someone affected by the disease. I was incredibly touched by this kind act. We are, however, lucky that this disease hardly impacted us financially. A few years ago that might not have been the case. We matched the contribution and sent it the Cancer Society. We've also started making a small monthly donation to the MS Society and I expect we'll do the same with the Arthritis Society (two diseases which have impacted the lives of people in our family).
I was also touched by the incredible kindness of Bonnie M. She's from my home church and has sent cards and trinkets several times this past year. One, an "angel" feather decorates my tree this year, and will for many more to come. She brought tears to my eyes Sunday when she presented me with a ragged tea cosy in the form of a droopy donkey (or lamb, we're not sure which). It belonged to my paternal grandmother and I played with it as a child. After she died, it was sold at the estate auction. I never thought to see it again, but on Sunday Bonnie handed me a tissue wrapped package, and there in its many layers was the donkey, its pale fur worn, its velvet base still soft and its head, as always, canted to one side. I will find a special place for it and it will bring a smile to my face for years to come. Thank you.
Thank you to all of you for your gestures both big and small. May 2010 bring you all health, happiness and prosperity. God bless you all.
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