This past Sunday, I attended the National Cancer Survivor's Day Luncheon at St Anthony's Hospital in OKC, OK. This is the first year that I have attended, and it was very moving. It was so good to see other survivors ~ some of whom are back in treatment again - but survivors none the less. We were welcomed to the event by Dr Timothy Eldridge, a caring surgeon. The guest speaker was Louie Lepak, a six year survivor of pancreatic cancer. He gave a very emotional speech. He quoted from a book by Hamilton Jordan, who has written a memoir about his battles with three different types of cancer. One point he made, which was somewhat foreign to me, was that the diagnosis and treatment of cancer can at times be harder on the loved ones, than on the cancer patient him or herself. Someone asked me the other day if being a physician made my own battle with breast cancer easier than it might have been otherwise. My thoughts are that I did not have a very difficult time with my cancer diagnosis, surgical procedures and chemotherapy, but I think that was due not so much to my experience as a physician, but to my faith and the fact that My Comforter was with me every step of the way.I'm posting a picture of Louie Lepak at the podium. The second picture is of John, a wonderful cancer survivor that I have become friends with at support group meetings, his friend Lynn, his granddaughter A.... and me.
I love to travel. Recently, I went to Vancouver, BC for a conference. It is a lovely city. The people are so nice and hospitable. It will be a great venue for the next Olympics. I made new friends that I got lost with. I was able to see some of the city...and the rainforest is unbelievable. If I can figure it out, I will post a couple of pictures of the rainforest.
I made this boardbook the other day at a scrapbook store. I can't believe tomorrow will be Palm Sunday.I saw an interesting quote the other day: Angels, exist, but sometimes, since they don't have wings, we call them friends. I did not see who the author was.I went to a baby shower today. Babies are so beautiful. Life is so precious. It is so good to get to see friends you haven't seen in awhile.My cousin sent me some great quotes the other day for IVGLDSW Day. One was: Inside me lives a skinny woman crying to get out ~ but I can usually shut her up with cookies! (OK, I cleaned it up a little.) Another one that I thought was a hoot: If you can't be a good example, then you'll just have to be a horrible warning. ~Catherine~I love to scrapbook. I started a class today at a store in Edmond called Just4Keeps. (The same place I made the boardbook.) The class is about scapbooking about yourself. Those of us who are scrapbookers are usually taking all the pictures, and end up telling about our family and friends. I've noticed that I don't tend to be in any of the pictures. So the idea is to put in writing, or pictures and journaling, what is the essence of you ~ what you want your children and grandchildren to know about you. It has caused me to reflect a bit today. How well do many of us know ourselves? Are there things about ourselves that we are proud of, and what are we not so proud of? What/who do we love, enjoy? What makes us happy? What is the difference between joy and happiness? What would make you a success or a failure? in whose eyes? I know I love the snow (the light snow like we had here in Oklahoma last month). I love to walk. I love spring and I love the smell of rain.
I've been watching the olympics the past couple of weeks, and I think it is so interesting how the character of the athletes is revealed under the pressure of the games. I noticed that Sasha Cohen and Emily Hughes carried themselves with such grace. Even though they fell during their programs, they got right back up and continued from the point where they had fallen. There was a Chinese ice skater in the pairs competition last week who took a very hard fall, and then after a couple of minutes to collect herself, completed the program with some very difficult jumps, etc. By way of contrast, there was the Italian ice dancing pair who fell during competition, and then the female half of the pair glared mercilessly at her partner. They weren't even speaking while trying to practice for their next event. They did well in their next event, and it then looked like she had forgiven her partner. Talk about conditional acceptance! I think that is such a sad way to live. Life is just so much easier when you can forgive ~ yourself as well as those around you.
As I was reflecting today that now the snow has all melted, I realized how much I love the snow. It was so beautiful last weekend. Friday night I was at a Ladies Retreat called a "Gathering of Girlfriends" at the Cox Convention Center. There were between 650 and 700 ladies - talk about a room full of estrogen! I was so excited to get to hear Elizabeth George speak to us. Anyway, the snow/ice surprised us. I had not planned on spending the night, but decided not to drive home in the snow/ice ~ found three great friends who graciously let me sleep in their room at the Renaissance Hotel. But before going to the room to sleep, we had to indulge in the snacks planned for us by the wonderful retreat team ~ there were THREE chocolate fountains with strawberries, bananas and marshmallows to drown in the chocolate!This picture is actually from a snow from last month but I haven't downloaded my new pictures yet.
I've always liked this picture. I took it in 2004. It brings back good memories. I think the tree looks so majestic and proud. Its been there a long time, and it has to be supported now (you can see the support line if you look real hard) but it is hanging in there. Just like so many of us. Standing tall and strong.
I know that I have just an entirely too positive outlook on life, but that's how I like it. I discovered that I had breast cancer in October 2004. I had a mastectomy, followed by adjuvant chemotherapy with Adriamycin and Cytoxan, then 12 weeks of Taxol. It was not fun, but I'm here, alive and enjoying my life. We all make our choices ~ whether to have surgery, which procedure, whether to have chemotherapy. Your physicians can make recommendations, but then it is each person's responsibility to decide what their choice will be. We make our choices and we live with them. Sometimes things turn out like you want, and sometimes they don't. I think what shows your character is how you deal with it either way. So, if anyone is reading this, thank God you are alive, hug your husband or wife, and your kids and ~ Celebrate Life ~
On Friday, January 20, 2006, I went to a class led by Donna Downey at a scrapbook store named 7 Minutes Later. It's in Casady Square in OKC. In the class, we made Random Advice Journals. It was so much fun, it rocked!! (That's a Donna Downey -ism). She was a hoot. I also bought her book on decorative journals. She is so creative. I have been showing my Random Advice Journal to everyone who would look at it. I have decided that people who scrapbook are the friendliest people. I forgot my camera that night and these two pictures of Donna Downey were taken by Claudia or Corrine, the two very talented ladies at 7 Minutes Later. The picture on top is of Donna showing us how to put the drill bit in the hand held drill.
I'm not too sure about this blog thing. Actually, I was just reading Marcy's blog (the african queen) and wanted to post an answer, and somehow set up my own blog. What do people put on these anyway? Who is one's intended audience?...
