With the Russian madman causing mayhem in the world, I am really trying to maintain a positive outlook.
The war news is dominating and it’s difficult to avoid. But am very aware of how my mental health can affect my physical health, so I am attempting (and so far succeeding) to limit my news watching/viewing. I look at just enough to get a very superficial overview but even that is more than I want. I feel so sad for all the people affected by this megalomaniac!
Time flies by, even the chemo treatments. Yesterday was #5 of the planned 6. The results of my blood tests continue to be good. The cancer marker went from 301 to 187 this week. But not low enough to move on to the next stage. Dr. McCleave said they want to see it at around 30 which is quite a long way yet.
When I came back to South Africa in 2019, I naturally gravitated to where I was born and grew up. And actually ended up in the what we used to call the village of Kloof. (It’s no longer a village!) Kloof is about 18 miles/29km from Durban and just on 1600ft/500km above sea level, giving the area a more moderate climate than Durban, usually being a good 10F less which was the case when I took Rodney to the park this afternoon. Plus less humid.
The fourth treatment went as planned. Mick came with me so he was able to meet my doctor. It’s always good to have another set of ears in a consultation but this one was very straightforward because everything is going so well.
November 16 last year is the fateful day I got the definitive news that changed my life.
By then I ‘d been in hospital for 8 days going through tests and everything else that goes along with a cancer diagnosis. I’d just had laparoscopic surgery for a biopsy and the GYN/surgeon came to visit me after I had very gently been given the diagnosis. He’s a lovely man and from reading his bio, a pretty religious one as well. He said to me as he sat at my bedside, “Have you considered end of life?”
Made my flight reservations today and I feel really good about the decision to head back to South Africa. I really don’t do well in limbo, and having made several other decisions in the last week, I was able to decide on my departure date and start getting things set up here - to get things set up there!
That long flight was worth it! Second shot done and I feel so relieved!
And it was so easy! I had to change the location for this shot as I am in Newport Beach, kitty sitting and didn’t want to have to drive down to Laguna Niguel where I had the first one. As I used the same pharmacy chain, they had my info. I responded to the alerts sent to remind me the day before, then half an hour ahead and then to “Click Here to Check In.” With California “opening up” tomorrow, I feel like I got my shots just in time!
I have been making a list of all the pros and cons of different scenarios, the good, the bad and the ugly! They include San Diego, South Africa, Port Townsend, in various configurations. And how I can make them work. I have to look at all different aspects, including community, costs, transportation, security, location, weather, internet, and even political conditions.
It was quite a mission, but the drive was great. I had forgotten how beautiful the blue highways are in this part of the world. I am usually on a mission and go on the freeways, but the idea of driving I5 was daunting, as I hate all the huge trucks. So taking the less-traveled roads was well-worth the extra couple of hours.
I think I my route is determined! After a lot of going back and forth, mainly in my mind, but some on logistics, I’ll leave here in San Diego at the end of this coming week.
A year or so ago when Betsy and Barry set a date for their wedding, I knew I needed to be there. So I planned around the date to make sure I was in the area. Last weekend, the deal was done! Now I face a double edged sword, as I plan to leave family and friends here to go back to family and friends in South Africa.
