m a y . 2 0 2 4

 ahhh may!

may I continue to progress through chemo treatments, and ultimately full recovery! 

     but for now, I'm back at work, working up to 20 hours a week, so half-days, while the chemo isn't kicking my can :-)  my team was so happy to see/hear from me on my first day ... definitely felt the love. 

     after just the one chemo treatment I've already experienced hair loss, so I had my hair stylist give me a really short style that will make cleanup and loss much easier.  I also went to the wig shop recommended by my care team, and got myself a cute little pixie cut wig that matches my natural hair color from way back when I was 21!  not more than two weeks after my cute haircut, 95% of my hair had fallen out, so I borrowed Craig's clippers and mowed it short.  I bought a few turbans for quick trips out and about when I didn't want to mess with a wig.  hmm... wonder in what color and style it will grow back?!

  

First Saturday in May!  I'm Derby - 150th Derby - ready!!

  

     when the time arrived for the final race of the day, I donned my second chapeau (plus wig) and made a very light mint julep in my QEII 70th Jubilee glass with the 150 bourbon.  this year's winner was Mystik Dan who was technically a "long shot."  

     since I can drive myself to my treatments, I pack a go bag with all my needs.  they recommend ice mitts and booties to fend off neuropathy in hands and feet.  and since my hands are my livelihood, I'm all about that!  I decided to wear theme shirts too.  the second treatment was NASA related, and I queued up the audiobook Grateful American by Gary Sinise, one of my favorite actors in the movie Apollo 13. 

     mid-month we had a solar event that caused an aurora borealis!  Joyce took some pics from their location, and there were a bunch of beautiful shots all over FB.  I made a short video of some of the best ones.  I was in bed already, (necessary chemo recovery) so didn't get to see it live.

 

     two weeks after the first race, the second of the triple races was held on a rainy day in Maryland.  I donned my yellow bonnet and attached a bright flower - reminiscent of a Black Eyed Susan - and watched the Preakness.  sadly there will not be a Triple Crown winner this year.  but the bright spot was the horse was a beautiful gray, and not only was this the jockey's first Preakness, but also his first Preakness win!  

     Craig went on his annual week-long Boy's Trip to Palm Springs starting right after my second chemo infusion and Mothers Day.  luckily I am the awesome event planner that I am so I prepped all I would need to sustain myself during the absence, and survived handily all alone.  the pain was as crippling and agonizing as it had been the previous time, but at least I know it decreases, and I have a couple "good weeks" following the really bad week.  I get to see so many of the chemo patients with people in attendance with them, but there are us few who are there enduring it solo.  we are warriors! 

 

      at the end of the month my order for a second wig came in; I love this cute gray-blonde pixie a la Dames Judi and Helen.   then it was time for treatment #3, and I went with a 60s Flower Power theme - the Monkees, a turban giving me "flowers in my hair" and the audiobook Monkee Business. 

  

     then Craig had a business trip that coincided with the worst part of my recovery, but didn't give me enough notice to prep before I felt "run over."  instead I had to improvise, once again relying only on myself. 

 

     when I had turned the corner and was able to drive again, my coworker who asked me to narrate his training videos provided me a third opportunity!  while I didn't drive to the bay area this time - no way I could have done that - they set me up with a remote audio session at the Folsom campus, and I met the audio tech that lives up here.  he was just wonderful to work with, and at the end of the session he said, "you could read audiobooks!"  yup.  I think I would like to do that!