I’d like to start this post with a big HAAAAAPPY BIRTHDAY for my dad!  We (my mom, dad, Laura and I) just got back from dinner at “Chez Francois”…what a treat!  It was delicious, of course, and Francois was there when we arrived.  I’m pretty sure he’s a legend in these parts, as he should be.  It was a wonderful evening, until Laura stood up to leave and knocked her chair on the ground.  Geesh…you just can’t take her anywhere!  hahahaha  No, what really happened was that her purse that was hanging on the chair was so heavy, the chair fell over when she got up.  I’m sure the guy behind her probably just assumed she was a little tipsy. 

When you look at the photos below, you’ll notice an orange flower.  Remember all that painting I was doing?  I finished it about a month ago, and I decided to give it to my dad for his birthday.  It seemed the perfect gift because today also marks one year since my relapse.  Dorothy calls it my “victory flower”, and I think it’s the perfect title considering the fact that it’s orange (the color of leukemia awareness), it’s a Seattle flower (Laura and I found it by Lake Union), and here we are a year out and I’m doing so well!  My dad was really excited to see it, and he’s contemplating the perfect spot to show it off.  Thank you so much for everything, Dorothy!!  You helped me make his birthday extra special.  I’m looking forward to starting a new painting tomorrow.

In many ways, it’s hard to imagine an entire year went by since my relapse.  Last year on June 3rd, I was terrified.  Not only was the cancer back, but treatment for it would most likely result in sterility, a seemingly unfair blow to attach to a cancer diagnosis.  I didn’t know whether I would make it to 2009, I was overwhelmed by the months ahead of me: a month-long hospital stay, multiple infusions, another catheter, chemo, shots, radiation, a modified diet, a transplant, relative seclusion, and daily doctor appointments.  Would it work?  Where would I have the transplant done?  How could I possibly get by without my friends and family (which of course includes my pups and Bella!) close?

Although many days brought challenges, time passed quickly, and I know each day I’m closer to healing fully.  It seems fitting that tonight ended in a big storm because last year at this time we also had some crazy weather.  I remember feeling like the whole world was ending given my diagnosis and the creepy color of the sky.  On the way home from the doctor’s office, my mom and I picked up Dairy Queen, and somehow it seemed to help, you know, the way a lollipop lessens the pain a child feels after a vaccination.  I watched the storm while I ate my blizzard and pondered the months ahead.  Somehow with the Dairy Queen, things didn’t seem so bad.  After all, I could still eat blizzards, right?  :)  It was time to focus on the little joys in life, and I downshifted my plans and my dreams, forcing myself to get into patient (as in “a person under a doctor’s care”, not “tolerant and understanding”) mode again.

I feel as though I’m slowly reclaiming my plans and thinking about my dreams, and it’s a wonderful place to be.  It’s far removed from sitting in my hospital room, crying over my reduced-sugar Frosted Flakes.  Do you remember that?  I mean, honestly…reduced sugar Frosted Flakes?  There’s just something inherently wrong with that.  But seriously, the healing continues and I sense that there’s a future bright with possibility.  Day by day, it’s the best way to handle things right now.

And each day brings new discoveries.  Switching gears now from my health to the strange creatures around my house…I was out with the pups the other night, and I was kneeling down, petting Bella before going in to bed.  I noticed an earthworm nearby, and I watched him make his way inch by inch over to the edge of the grass (thank goodness!!  At least he’s smart enough to get in the grass before the sun comes up and he dries up into the driveway!).  I was just admiring how he moved his head first, and then his body kind of rippled up behind him, a painfully slow process just to move a little ways.  Just then, a toad approached.  I watched in fascination as he attacked the poor little earthworm.  I ran inside to get my camera, but alas my flash wasn’t on!  Then Jameson walked over to smell the toad and the toad took off.  I tried to get you a picture, but you’ll just have to imagine it.  Poor little earthworm…he traveled all the way to the grass only to be bitten (and probably now he’s been eaten) by a toad.  Gross, sad and fascinating all at the same time!

OK, it’s getting very late, and I can’t stop yawning, so it’s off to bed for me!  Happy Birthday, Dad (although technically, now it’s Thursday )!!  It was a wonderful day.

Lots of love,

Julie