All was fine with the chemo last Tuesday … which was the 14th infusion; one more (4th) yet to go for this drug, taxotere. I get chemo every three weeks…. and it all began last May 7. It’s been a year!! Hard to believe. I’m so grateful that all has been tolerated well. The major drawback has been extreme weakness and lethargy. Sometimes difficult to get to the dining room, a distance when you’re weak.
This past Thursday I had an appointment with the retina specialist and learned that my macular degeneration remains mild and that my vision problems are related to very dry eyes. Need regular artificial tears many times a day. The chemo causes the cornea (should have a smooth surface) to develop lots of craters whose reflections make everything way too bright, distorted and so on. I may also need a new prescription. Thankfully Karen had planned to come out that day so was able to take me home; my eyes were super dilated and I could barely see.
My ‘low’ days usually begin on Friday after the Tuesday chemo….but I began to feel new side effects Thursday night … couldn’t breathe due to stuffed, swollen nostrils. Haven’t had this for decades! The second night I retrieved an old box of Breathe Right strips and managed to address the problem. Horrible memories of my allergies when the kids were small. I began to recognize what a panic I was in … yet all was resolved, thankfully.
Next I will confess how I shot myself in the foot on Saturday. I had decided to get a good night’s sleep Friday night so went to bed by 11 pm, but it backfired and I – the night owl – was awake by 6:30! Couldn’t go back to sleep either. So I decided that such a “wake-up call” was a call to play pickleball! So off I went. To say that I was in no shape to play is an understatement but of course, I played anyway! Huffing and puffing and wore myself out! Had some spinal pains as well, and even some abdominal irritation. Rats! So, I spent the rest of the day in the lazyboy…. sleeping! Stupidity. Live and learn. My ‘to-do’ list obviously took a back seat!
Since I continue to be asked about pickleball, I’ll insert a web link again so you can see it and appreciate my addiction. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2KNhIgOkXM This is a clip from a TV news show!
SHALEM: You may recall that I have been working on the republishing of my book SPIRIT WINDOWS with the Shalem Institute as well as an online day retreat called “Holy Interruptions.” It is now on the web and ready for you to check out. Just 3 weeks from next weekend. Registration is now open. Shalem has taken lots of time and talent to tape me and assemble the resources that I used. When I offered it as a live retreat/quiet day it was well received and hopefully you too will find it a supplement to your spiritual regimen for a day. Here is the info …. or go to shalem.org and scroll down. Forgive the self-promoting, but a number of you requested the info when it became available. 🙂
Holy Interruptions:
An Online Retreat Day with Ann Kulp
Would you benefit from taking a day to rejuvenate, recharge, and refocus? Join Shalem adjunct staff member Ann Kulp this April for an online retreat day: “Holy Interruptions.” Using material that Ann has utilized for retreat days for years, repurposed and adapted for an online setting, you will enjoy guided meditations, reflection questions, poetry, art and music. Let Ann help you learn to notice and embrace unexpected, holy moments that happen each day. Space is limited.
Dates: One day retreat which can be taken any of the three days the weekend of Fri, Apr 4 to Sun, Apr 6, 2014
Time: The course is comprised of two morning sessions and two afternoon sessions. You may access these whenever you wish during the three days of the retreat weekend, though the ideal approach is to set aside a single day.
Leader: Ann Kulp, D.Min., is a spiritual director who leads workshops and retreats.
Location: Shalem’s Contemplative-Living website.
Cost: $39 To register on our store, please click here
Tomorrow is the monthly gathering of my Shalem Circle, always a benefit to each of us as we carry one another in heart and soul through life’s assorted paths. It is also a day of memory: the anniversary of Paul’s death three years ago. The interim pastor who led the memorial service called and invited me to lunch “on the 10th.” What a thoughtful gesture; I truly appreciate being able to recollect and cherish memories of our ‘almost 50 years’ together. Paul’s presence has actually been drawing closer this past week too. I am reminded of a poem that a colleague from my D.Min. class sent me upon learning of Paul’s death. She is a poet and I was deeply moved….and still am.
AT THE CROSSING
At the Crossing
Love only seems to stop breathing
In that nanosecond
Where time and timeless splash
Into the overflowing stream.
We all are caught, gasp-
Pulled along by Love remembered
Newly awakened
Unencumbered
Free!
– Martha Bartholomew
By Hand Unseen, 2010
Thanks for this update, and also the pickle ball video! What fun! And no wonder you were out of breath!
That’s great news that one of your goals is being realized in the retreat. But I’ll be in L’ville then working on reorganizing the Syria-Lebanon Mission Network to try to deal more effectively with this long 3-year crisis they’ve been enduring.
At the time of marking another three-year period, we’re pleased to remember the good times — too few — that we enjoyed with you and Paul when we were able to be in the area. We give thanks and take comfort in the promise of resurrection reunion, as “At the Crossing” points to.
Beautiful poem – a lovely gift of comfort.
Forget the ‘to-do’ list and wow us with your PB playing. Looks like a great game! Namaste xoxSaraB
Good Morning, Ann,
Good mourning. Poetry really hits the spot.
Your strength and your writings are a witness. Thank you.
So good to hear from you, Ann! Thank you for keeping us informed. All in all, you seem to be doing remarkably well!!! May all blessings be yours!
See you this Friday for Peer Group.
Much love,
Maureen