Thursday, April 28

Quote of the Day:  Never regret.  It it’s good, it’s wonderful.  It it’s bad, it’s experience.  Victoria Holt

Exercise Log:  Walked Millcreek Canyon w/ Patti.  It was cold and windy starting out and then got more and more warm, sunny and beautiful!  The canyon is starting to emerge from winter- buds on the trees, the water is filling the banks and moving swiftly.  We went 4.05 miles, stairmaster 3.00 (+.52)

Yesterday, Sue B. and Ann Benton made sure I wasn’t alone so we went to dinner at Market Street, Cass Buehner Cowley joined us.  As a side note, my nephew, Nick Harvey, works there and was so cute, came over and talked to us and then said:  “You’ll get through this, you’re a strong woman and I love you.”  My friends were so impressed that he would say that.  He really is such a sweet boy!  We then went to see Water for Elephants.  I had to tell them to stop treating me differently- Ann kept trying to give me the front seat of the car, can’t wait until they make me sit in back!  I get a similar reaction from store clerks who see my hat or scarf and can tell I don’t have hair and they talk with a sweeter voice.

Today was a great day.  I got to go to lunch with my new relatives!  I met Jami, Chris (half-aunts), Linda and my Dad for lunch.  Jami brought me this book called Dr. Susan Love’s Breast Book which she found invaluable during her treatment and darling bracelet that says “I am strong”.  Jami and I have such similar breast cancer stories- well, we do share the BRCA 1 mutation but she also found she carried the gene while doing treatment and then did surgery after radiation.  So helpful for me to know what my route most likely will be.  I still haven’t met with my oncologist and probably won’t this next treatment.  Also will talk with surgeon.  We definitely all look like we have come from the same gene pool.   We talked about our common ancestor, their father and my grandfather Jim, and I was touched that they were robbed of time with their father.  If you’re just joining the blog, he passed away when Chris was 12 and Jami 1.  My Dad told us that Jim was charismatic.  We all wish we could have had the chance to know him.

Chris also brought me a gift that goes with a story told by Jami.  It will for now on be known as the Dragonfly Story and I will never be able to look at a dragonfly the same way. First of all, I need to preface story by telling you that Chris and Jami are very close and supportive of each other.  When Jami was going through chemo, there was a time when Chris couldn’t be there and so Chris started to see objects of dragonflies and didn’t really understand why but started to send them to Jami.  There was one particular day when Jami was really down and discouraged and was driving home on the freeway, feeling like her faith was being challenged, and she saw a dragonfly go right in front of her window.  She said that it was so odd to see one on the freeway and also to come right in front of her vision.   We all were so touched by the story.  It was a sign to her that she would be healed, that all would be better.  I love that Jami said she hadn’t lost her faith, and I get it, it’s easy to get so discouraged with this set of circumstances, but then something is sent in your path to sustain you in faith.  I hope I told the story correctly- Jami and Chris- I’m all about correction, let me know.  It’s such a great story, I don’t want to do it wrong!

So Chris and Jami gave me this beautiful pewter Dragonfly dish!

From left to right:  Chris, Joanie, Linda, Jami, Boyd