Lately, I have this decidedly odd sensation of walking in my own footsteps.
In early March, 2017, I was diagnosed with a second round of the saliva gland cancer I'd dealt with in 2011. After probably more than a year of what I'd thought were annoying sinus headaches, the pain got worse and worse until it was far more than sinus pain and I went to the doctor. There'd been a small lump behind my ear, as well, but all symptoms were completely different than the previous occurrence.
So, in Mid-March, with the diagnosis hanging over my head and no decisions on exactly how to treat the tumor, I went off to Revelcon in Houston. Had a blast, despite the headaches. What's really weird is that the first time I'd gone to Revelcon was exactly six years earlier, before the first tumor surgery.
I did not attend Revelcon this year--I'd just been on the cruise, and am gearing up for Disneyland, so I had to do some work at the hospital! But that sensation of walking over the same days kept coming up because there were lots of emails and FB posts about Revelcon.
Last year, Easter was later, so I was literally preparing for surgery (an MRI at 6:45 am on Easter morning before church, so help me God, two days before surgery) on Easter. This year, I was knee deep in the Easter Vigil service on Saturday night: a two and a half hour service that is so complicated, it requires rehearsal! There were five priests from three different churches, five baptisms, nine readings (which does not count the priest who read the Gospel) and full choir singing--plus almost running out of bread for communion. All of which I'd planned to only attend as a worshipper but my priest Christopher claims I am his go-to person, and he'd simply assumed I was one of the participants (I am the one who schedules the altar people and my name was one the email because of that--not as he thought, because I was a participant). When I didn't attend the 10am rehearsal, he texted me to ask me to come to the 6pm rehearsal, cause we really did need to go over a few things. To which I replied, "I'm not a reader tonight." He said, "But I need you at the baptisms."
SIGH. We were at church for four hours, which did include a nice reception for the baptised ones--but I was exhausted, and there's only so much a chocolate cupcake and some carrot sticks can do at 10pm. I was told many stayed until after 11.
But Demelza and I were working the altar on Easter morning, so we went to bed. (any wonder Christopher wanted a mini vacation this week?). Easter service seemed a breeze after the night before! At least there were no headaches or early morning MRIs this year!
And now I'm getting ready to go to Disneyland again. This will literally be exactly one year later, unlike Revelcon and Easter which were on different weekends in '17 and '18. This year, I will not have to field doctors' calls in the car on the way down to the LA area (I was not driving, but did have two doctor conference calls last year during the 8 hour drive.) I feel so much lighter--free of pain, happy, and so very grateful that I have now lived a full year after the three surgeries. I still have a palsy on the right side of my face from a cut facial nerve, which I'd hoped like crazy would regrow after the surgery. The plastic surgeon even said she might be able to do a little repair on it. But you know, I don't care so much any more. I really don't want to have more surgery. I'm healthy, active, I work as a nurse and teach student nurses. I have friends and family--so I look less cute than once upon a time. I'm also 61 years old, so cute isn't all it's cracked up to be anymore.
On the one year anniversary (April 18th) of my first surgery (of three) I will have returned from Disney, all aglow of the happiest place on earth, and be taking Demelza to her horse back riding session. Alive and happy to be so.
Reading the latest Felix Francis book. He's similar to his father Dick but he ain't his father, and Pulse is not at all my favorite Francis novel. It is, however, the first ever (that I am aware of, and I've read every mystery the two men have written) with a female main character! So, I'd really like to enjoy it more, but I'm really not crazy about depressed Dr. Chris Rankin and her anorexia problems. Give me depressed Sid Halley and his love--ahem--partner, funny, lively Chico Barnes instead.
Watching new series: really like Deception about a magician who helps the FBI so they will aid him in finding the woman who caused his twin brother to be accused of murder and imprisoned. One of Cameron Black's, the magician, assistants is played by Lenora Critchlow who has been a favorite of mine since she played Annie the Ghost in Being Human.
Tried three episodes of Rise about a Pennsylvania school with an impoverished drama department putting on Spring Awakenings, which is a real Broadway production. Some interesting songs. But this ain't fun and teenage ansty like Glee with lots of covered pop songs, this is major drama with alcoholism, poverty, anger, sleeping around, and show tunes. A leetle too melodramatic for moi.
Seen one episode of Instinct with Alan Cummings. I was underwhelmed, but it was the pilot, so I will reserve judgement just yet. He's just a little too--a savant with perfect auditory recall, a professor AND a CIA agent. I did just discover, literally now when I looked him up on IMDB that we share the same birthdate--January 27--although he is eight years younger.
Scorpion has gotten too, too silly. I want to know if Happy and Toby are going to have a baby and then I may bail.
My turn at the TV now, so running off--what to watch, what to watch?