HAPPY NEW YEAR’S DAY, everyone! Hope your evening and day were splendid and happy, and that you too are looking forward to the months ahead.

I thought this was kind of a cute article, especially the part about “Auld Lang Syne”…I’ve always been a mumbler when it comes to singing along to that song….”Should auld/old? acquaintance be forgot and mmm..mmmm..mmmm…..mmmmmm….mmmmmm…Should…” and on and on. It’s one of those songs that makes you a little emotional even though you can’t quite understand it. Perhaps it’s the circumstances of it all: out with the old, in with the new; gathering with friends and family, and the message of the song itself which (according to the article) is about old friends reuiniting. Isn’t that the greatest feeling? Getting in touch with an old friend? Anyway, here’s the article–some sarcasm, some funny stuff, I enjoyed it so I wanted to pass it along: http://www.nationalledger.com/artman/publish/article_272624370.shtml .

We woke up this am and relaxed a bit (I didn’t have any appointments today)–you know, drinking coffee, eating pumpkin bread, sitting around together (which is comforting, even if we’re all focused on something different). Laura fixed my hair and Katie, my dad and I headed out to the Pacific Science Center to see the Lucy exhibition. Ronnie, wasn’t it Lucy we learned about with the skull project in Mr. Hill’s class? Anyway, we were all excited about it, but when we arrived, it was full!! I think every family in Seattle thought New Year’s Day was THE day to educate their child about science so they flooded the place! Needless to say, we decided it wasn’t a place for me to be hanging out. Although it was quite chilly out, we wandered around down by the Space Needle, and walked back home, taking in everything we could along the way. I’ve ridden in the car along those streets so often, but they’re not part of “Julie and Carol’s Way”, so you miss little things here and there. I think all in all, my dad and I (he walked “Julie and Carol’s Way” with me earlier in the day) walked about 4 or 4.5 miles. Not bad, huh? I love getting out there and walking, and it’s a good thing ’cause I’ve gained about 10 pounds or so in the past couple weeks.

Although that worries me, I feel like things (just like you said tonight, Lori) will naturally go back to order once we get home. I won’t be going out to eat as often or eating pumpkin bread every day, a hot chocolate whenever I have the whim, cookies, candies, chocolates that people have sent (although I’ve enjoyed them!). I see my nutritionist tomorrow, and I can’t wait to see her face when she reads my food journal for this week…which reminds me. I forgot to put in the part about “Pudgy Bunny”, although technically you don’t eat those marshmallows. There are LOTS of pictures immortalizing our game. Mom and Dad refused to play–can you believe it?!!! Katie was the big winner with 8!!!!!!!!! I think I had five or six and Laura had six, I think. I looked up some info about the game in case no one has ever played it…it’s pretty funny, but when I read about it, it said 2 children have died from this game! I certainly understand the possibility for blockage of the airways, but I had no idea! Here’s the info if you want to read about it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chubby_Bunny. No one was harmed in tonight’s game and we consider ourselves professionals. If you choose to play this game, do so with adults present. OK, that’s my little warning about THAT!

It’s 12:18 AM and I’m getting sleepy, so I guess I’ll sign off. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. I guess I don’t have too many deep thoughts to share with you tonight. Katie leaves tomorrow, so I’m sad about that, but knowing I’ll see her in two weeks certainly makes me feel a lot better! Also, Laura and my dad are sticking around for a few more days which is great. I’m still discouraged and disappointed when I look in the mirror a lot of the time, but I’m working hard on convincing myself this is not forever. I will be able to pluck and wax and my cheeks won’t always be puffy. Honestly, I feel like I sound so selfish worrying about this, because I am lucky in so many other ways, but what 31-year-old single girl wants extra hair on her face and cheeks that looks like she’s playing “Pudgy bunny” even when she’s not? Plus, my eyes are looking tired again….maybe it’s the steroid taper. I need to adopt the attitude of one of my neighbors’ caretakers…she said, at least you have eyebrows (she said it in a nice way ), and my nurse complimented my eyelashes. Duh, Julie. Look around the clinic at everyone else. Things could be much worse…that’s where the perspective comes in, and I’m glad for it, but for that moment in front of the mirror when I’m studying every little flaw, I admit I’m a little glad I can shed a couple tears too because I’m pretty sure it just means I’m human.

So I will keep doing what I’m doing, stepping out on the town with a few more facial hairs and the classic steroid moonface, as well as some pounds added to my belly, knowing it’s not for forever, but realizing that at this moment, yes, I do look like a cancer patient. But at least I have my hair!! And I have Laura’s cells! And I have an incredible network of friends and family to get me through this! When you look at it that way, it makes me seem like the luckiest gal in the world.

Enjoy the photos…sending my love from Seattle,

Julie