April 1: A Very Important Date

Ten years ago today, I retired from my 30+ year career as an administrative assistant. My husband, John, loves to tell people we retired on the same day. And we did!

Port Canaveral, Florida

I can’t believe it’s been ten years since our retirement! It’s gone by so quickly. I want to look back on those ten years and reflect on all that’s happened. My first thought is how grateful we are that we made it to retirement AND have enjoyed it thoroughly for these many years. There are so many people we know whose lives were cut short and they never were able to enjoy a retirement. I am thinking particularly of my younger brother and middle sister, and John’s youngest brother. God has blessed us abundantly to enjoy these retirement years and my heart hurts for those family members who are gone too soon.

There was great celebration in our home when we retired, and we had made plans long before the momentous day. We researched the type of RV we wanted and even rented an RV for a “practice trip.” We purchased our RV about a year and a half in advance and took a few trial trips. We were ready!

Our intention was to take off in the RV as soon as our retirement funds were safely invested with our financial planner, and head to Alaska. But as many of my readers already know, cancer changed our plans. John was diagnosed with lymphoma and the maps and guidebooks for Alaska sat idle while he endured chemo.

When he rang the bell in the infusion center after completing the recommended course, we thought that would be the end and we could at last get on the road. But then the doctor informed us that John needed two YEARS of maintenance treatments before he could be labeled as fully in “remission.” Although we were temporarily stunned by this news, we didn’t let it fully stop us from having some retirement fun.

We simply continued planning some shorter trips, making sure they were in between infusion sessions. We were blessed to be able to take several trips to Florida, exploring the Everglades area on one trip, and traversing the Gulf coast on another. Maine was our destination on another adventure, and we drove through beautiful farmlands, avoiding the large cities, hugged the coast viewing the gorgeous bays and idyllic towns, and camped in the Acadia National Park at Schoodic Peninsula.

When our youngest son moved to Minnesota, we took the RV to visit him, parking on the street in front of his apartment. We continued up to Duluth, around the Great Lakes, across part of Canada, and enjoyed both sides of Niagara Falls. As we headed home, we meandered through the Finger Lakes of New York, enjoying the wineries and climbing into the depths of Watkins Glen.

I ordered maps of the old Route 66, and we took an RV trip out west with the intention of seeing some of the National Parks in Utah, as well as visiting the tourist attractions along Route 66. We made it as far as Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado, where we started experiencing problems with the RV air system. We returned to Gallup, New Mexico for a repair, then decided to cut the trip a little short, and start the journey home. The last part of that trip was still very enjoyable as we made our way on and off the interstate to see Route 66 attractions, stopped in St. Louis to visit former co-workers, cut across to Kentucky to visit The Ark Encounter, then down to Chattanooga to visit our oldest son and family. A great trip!

Our travels these past years have included a gift trip from our oldest son to Las Vegas to see Barry Manilow in concert, flying to Chicago and taking the train to Glacier National Park, as well as driving trips to Florida, a visit to the German-influenced town of Helen, Georgia, and many short camping trips to our favorite beachside spots at Huntington Beach State Park and Jekyll Island, Georgia.

Travel has been a great highlight of these retirement years, but we have also enjoyed many great times right at home. We have been blessed to witness the weddings of three of our granddaughters, and welcome three sweet great-grandchildren. I was thrilled that I could help babysit my first great-grandchild in her first year of life and was preparing to do the same for the second one when COVID interrupted. I am now looking forward to helping care for great-grandchild number 3 when his mom returns to work.

One of my retirement goals was to attend a ladies Bible study and I was excited to be invited to Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) and have enjoyed several years of intense weekly study beginning in September and going through the following May of each year. I’ve learned so much about the book of Romans, Revelation, John, and the prophets in the Old Testament. It’s been a great time of fellowship with my assigned group as well as hearing wonderful lectures in each study.

Another goal was to join a book club and I wanted to participate in regular exercise. I’m gaining strength and endurance from my weekly aerobic and weightlifting exercises and have read great books I’d never think of reading unless suggested in my book club. John and I also lead a weekly Bible study at our church, where I also lead the Prayer Team and help edit our monthly newsletter.

John is the parking lot greeter at church and behind-the-scenes maintenance man. John also keeps very busy with home projects and helping anyone with a building need. He calls himself a “professional piddler.”

And one of the most important happenings for me in these years since retirement is that I have rekindled my love for writing. I decided to get serious about getting published by attending my first writers conference where I also won first place in their writing contest in the devotion category. My attendance at the conference was like a “magic pass” to introduce myself to publishers and I’ve had several articles and devotions published in various online publications.

I also joined the national American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) group and was introduced to a local chapter of ACFW — South Carolina Lowcountry Chapter. I currently serve the chapter as the secretary, helped proofread their first anthology called “Charleston Light” and have a story featured in their second anthology called “A Holy City Christmas.” The experience has taken me WAY out of my comfort zone as I’ve had to appear at book signings, and speak at an author’s event. SCARY!!! My purpose for joining ACFW was to learn fiction writing and I’m having a great time meeting other authors, reading their work, hearing gifted speakers, attending conferences and retreats, and enjoying a tiny slice of the author life. John has been such a great supporter of my writing and remains my biggest fan.

My retirement life has also awakened my love of being creative. I continue to love crochet, making blankets and beanies for new babies, participating with my church prayer shawl ministry, and teaching others to love working with yarn.

I also decided I wanted to learn watercolor painting and have taken a few classes, as well as teaching myself with YouTube videos. It’s great for relieving stress and I get such joy from creating something beautiful.

My brother, sister, and cousin gifted me with a trip to EPCOT in Florida for my 70th birthday! It was a great way to celebrate a milestone birthday.

I’ve been very blessed to experience 10 years of retirement life and am looking forward to many more rewarding and productive years, as God allows.

And the last reason that April 1 is such an important date to me is that a life-long dream is about to be realized on that date THIS YEAR! I’ve submitted several stories in the past to Chicken Soup for the Soul and had one “almost” success when I was notified my story had been selected, but didn’t make the final cut.

I kept trying and FINALLY one of my stories will be published April 1 in “Chicken Soup for the Soul: What I Learned From My Dog.” It’s a great story about when our son and daughter-in-law, Patrick and Amy Lee, gifted us with a new dog; a dog which brought great comfort to John when he was enduring chemo.

I thank God for my retirement life!

L-R: Five generations, COVID voting, John’s a survivor, great-grandma duty

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Planes, Trains, Automobiles … Plus 2 Boats and a Bus!

Twin Falls at Two Medicine Lake, Glacier National Park

Celebrating our wedding anniversary is always a great time to travel, so for our 33rd year together we planned a trip to Glacier National Park in Montana. The tourist season starts winding down in mid-September, so we selected the week of Labor Day, to avoid the large tourist crowds and still be able to visit all areas of the park.

It was always our dream to visit the US National Parks in our RV, but for this trip we decided to let someone else do the driving! I made our arrangements through Amtrak Vacations and it was awesome. All I had to do was make our flight reservations and decide what we would do before and after boarding the train.

We flew to Chicago, spent the night in a hotel in the theatre district, boarded Amtrak the next afternoon for the 30-hour ride to East Glacier, spent 3 nights in the Glacier Lodge, then back on the train another 30 hours, flying home from Chicago the next day; 8 days of glorious adventure!

Since it had been 4 or 5 years since we’d flown or taken such a big trip, there was quite a bit of planning. I knew we would have to provide our own transport from airport to hotel to train station, so my kids helped by teaching me about Uber. We also had to re-examine the TSA rules for our flight to be sure we were in compliance. We planned to take only carry-on luggage, so I was dismayed when I learned the hiking poles I’d purchased would not pass through security.

No worries! I decided to check one suitcase there and back, so I could take the poles (they had a sharp metal tip under the removable rubber tip for ice hiking) along with any other contraband (John’s pocket knife, and all our train snacks.) It had been so long since we’d been to Charleston’s airport, that I didn’t even know about the different parking areas. We tried to take advantage of the economy lot but it was completely full.

Checking our one piece of luggage was easy, but I learned too late that I could have avoided the line by checking our bag at the kiosk. Getting through security was stressful, with the requirements to take off shoes, put electronics in a separate bin, and have liquid toiletries in a separate bag. But we did it and successfully repacked our bags and headed to the gate. We were early enough to sit down and enjoy a light lunch, since our flight was scheduled for lunchtime.

Our flight was uneventful and we enjoyed airplane snacks, as well as the goodies we brought with us. I was nervous about arriving at O’Hare in Chicago and finding the right place to call for an Uber, but it only took asking a couple airport staff members and we were in the right spot. Another passenger helped me with the Uber app and we were on our way. What was supposed to be a 45-minute ride to the hotel turned out to be an hour and 15 minutes due to traffic and road construction.

First lines are important!

We arrived at our hotel about 2 pm and were able to check in early, and were amazed at the view from our 19th floor window. We quickly put our luggage away and went back out on the streets to sightsee. The American Writer’s Museum was only about 1/2 a mile from the hotel and we found it easily and enjoyed the exhibits. My favorite part was a display of how important a “first line” is in a book, and several well-known writers were featured with their example of an intriguing first line.

We were surprised that temps were in the high 90s, and it was pretty hot walking on the city sidewalks. We went to the marina area, walked alongside Milleneum Park and caught a glimpse of “The Bean,” then down to the Riverwalk area on the Chicago River. I also enjoyed seeing the old company headquarters for Amoco, the former Standard Oil Building, now called Aon Center. It brought back great memories of attending meetings and training classes in that building.

We headed back to our hotel (only getting turned around a few times) and showered and rested our hot feet before our dinner reservation at the Berghoff German Restaurant. Established in 1898, the Berghoff is one of the oldest family-run businesses in the nation. The food was excellent! We were too tired to walk around the city anymore, and since our day began at 5:00 am, plus the hour time difference, we went to sleep early and had a very restful night.

Tour boat with Trump Tower in background

On Sunday, Sept. 3, we ate an early breakfast at the hotel then headed to the Chicago River to take the Architectural Boat Tour. The 1-1/2 hour tour included a guide who shared history of the city, the river, and the buildings. It was fantastic! We were sitting in the very front of the open bow of the boat and had a great view, and an occasional breeze to cool us off. My favorite historical fact was learning that all the beaches along Lake Michigan are public; their philosophy is that no one “owns” the waterfront. It’s open to all. I’ve always felt this way about the ocean too and was glad to see a city that did not allow resorts or homeowners to block access to the lake. It was such a great tour and I’m so glad we had the time to do it.

We made it back to the hotel in plenty of time to shower and re-pack our luggage, then called for an Uber to Union Station. I had researched the roomette layout on the train and learned the Empire Builder was a little different than the sleeper cars we have previously reserved on the east coast trains. It was much smaller and there was no storage area for luggage. So I loaded up our backpacks with toiletries, medicine, snacks and a change of clothes we would need on the train, and planned to store our suitcases on the downstairs level of our car.

I was proud of myself for successfully arranging another Uber ride, and it was a quick and easy ride (even with city traffic) and we made our way to the Metropolitan Lounge, where sleeper car passengers can wait and take advantage of free drinks and snacks. We had planned to buy lunch at Union Station, since our train wasn’t departing until 3 pm, but the food in the lounge was more than enough. While in the lounge, I walked around to stretch my legs and enjoyed the views from the windows into the historic station, and out on the street. We saw a couple wedding parties getting their pictures taken outside the station.

Another perk of waiting in the lounge was having a train attendant guide us all to our boarding area. We walked through the station and down a ramp into a basement-like area where all the trains were waiting. We easily stored our two suitcases on the bottom of our car, and climbed the narrow stairs to the upper level to our room.

While in line for boarding we met a couple who were originally from Taiwan, now living in Boston. It was their first train trip and we enjoyed giving them some tips and helping them settle in their room, which was right across from ours. We were surprised to learn their last name was “Lee” too! After settling into our room, and making our dinner reservations, we headed to the Observation Car. John enjoyed a beer while we watched the scenery as we departed Chicago and headed to Milwaukee.

We were given 6 pm dinner reservations in the dining car, and enjoyed sitting with our new friends and learning about their lives. We usually get two different meals so we can share with each other. The food on the train was surprisingly very good and we shared chicken, steak, shrimp rolls, salad, chocolate mousse and cheesecake, along with a glass of Rose and Riesling.

Maneuvering between cars on a moving train

Once back in our rooms we took turns going downstairs to use the shower. It was a very nice setup, with linens and soap provided. Our car shared one bathroom upstairs and there were two extra bathrooms downstairs near the family bedroom. Our car attendant put our beds down while we were showering, and I was so grateful she was able to find an extra pillow for me! There was lots of laughter while John tried to maneuver into the narrow top bunk. I was grateful he was a gentleman and gave me the bottom bunk. I told him his years of working on a submarine paid off, since he was used to sleeping flat on his back with very little head room above him.

John loves a beautiful sunrise, and was up early the next morning to see the sun come up from the Observation Car. We headed to the dining car at 6:30 am and enjoyed delicious scrambled eggs, french toast with sausage and bacon, juice and coffee. I enjoyed a shower after breakfast and felt very refreshed. We had a one-hour stop in Minot, North Dakota, and were able to get off the train and walk around the station area. Because it was Labor Day, the nearby stores and the library were closed. I did find a rack of books in the train station and grabbed an extra book for the trip. I had my Kindle app loaded with books so was not lacking anything to read!

When we went to the dining car for lunch, we were dismayed to see that the scenery had changed to a dense fog. We thought it was just rainy and cloudy, but our friends told us they had seen a weather alert on their phone and it was actually smoke from the Canadian fires. We started worrying our time in Glacier might also be affected by the smoke, and the resulting poor air quality. For lunch we shared a cheeseburger, large salad, and brownies. We were drowsy from lunch and went back to our room to nap, and watch the Big Sky Country view of Montana from our window. I loved seeing wild horses running, the farms and ranches.

We were given early dining car reservations for dinner since we were arriving in East Glacier at 7:45 pm. We said goodbye to our neighbors who were going on to Seattle, then on to San Francisco to visit a grandchild.

The East Glacier Amtrak station was gorgeous, and we gasped when we saw the view of the Glacier Lodge behind it. It was drizzly rain when we arrived and we were just setting out to take the short walk (209 steps, as advertised on the Lodge website) when a cute, red vehicle showed up to give us a ride right to the door. The driver was a college student from Ohio, who worked the May-September schedule every year. We met many other employees — retirees, as well as local residents, and college students from around the world — who came back every year to work. I was fascinated with the concept. They lived in dorm-like buildings and ate in the employee cafeteria. The Lodge completely closes down for the winter on September 24, and re-opens in May of the next year.

Glacier Lodge Lobby

Our room was delightful and after warm showers and unpacking, we went right to bed. After the cramped roomette on the train, our spacious room and two queen beds felt wonderful. The buffet breakfast and coffee in the Lodge dining room the next day fully revived us from the long train trip. We sat on a sunny porch and it felt so good; 46 degrees that morning but warming up to 65 degrees later. No sign of the smoke from Canadian fires! We took a walk along the Lodge driveway, then sat in the lobby to charge our devices, and so I could catch up on journaling. Very little cell-service for our phones, and wi-fi was spotty, but I was able to post a pic of the beautiful lobby on Facebook and would wait until we got home to share the rest of the photos.

Our shuttle bus picked us up precisely at 12:15 pm for the ride to Two Medicine Lake for our boat tour. We were layered for possible cooler temps or rain, wore our hiking boots and brought our new hiking poles. The tour included a hike to a waterfall so we were ready! The drive to the lake was beautiful and we arrived just in time for boarding. Our guide, another college student, was knowledgeable and funny, and he was very focused on giving us safety instructions, including the proper way to use bear spray. I was a little nervous about bears, but felt comfortable sticking with our group. We docked on the other side of the lake and hiked the 2-mile round trip trail to Twin Falls. The trail was not too strenuous for a novice hiker like me, and I did fine climbing over a fallen tree, and navigating two narrow wood bridges. The falls were beautiful! While waiting for our return boat, we sat down to eat some snacks and immediately encountered some bold chipmunks trying to get our food.

When we returned to the Lodge that evening we enjoyed dinner in the dining room and there was so much food! It was my first time eating huckleberry (ice cream for me, and John had cheesecake with sauce) and we learned they grow well in the area. The Lodge sources all their vegetables from farms owned by the Hutterites, a religious group similar to Amish/Mennonites.

Our tour the next day was scheduled to depart at 7:45 am, so we were up early for coffee and breakfast. Sun Tours is owned and operated by Blackfeet Indians, and our guide, Jack Gladstone, was also a local celebrity musician. In addition to giving us history of the park, the local reservation, and the Blackfeet Indians, he wove in family stories and played his guitar and sang. We made several stops at scenic overlooks, and saw a herd of buffalo. A very nice bus tour along the “Going to the Sun” Road, as well as some small towns adjacent to the park.

Our return train on Sept 7 was 1-1/2 hours late but we were comfortable waiting in the Lodge lobby, charging our devices for the long train ride. The return trip was relaxing, the dining car meals were delicious, and we enjoyed talking to the other passengers during meals. We had no problem catching an Uber back to our hotel when we arrived in Chicago.

Our room on top level

It was nearly dark by the time we checked in and settled in our room the evening of Sept 8, but we easily navigated the way to grab a quick meal of pad Thai. We decided to be brave and take the elevated train from our hotel to the airport, and we took the time to find the station and bought our tickets ahead of time; only $2.50 each! When we woke up we discovered our flight was 2 hours delayed, which gave us time for a leisurely breakfast before checking out and heading to the Blue Line station. The train was right on time, taking only 45 minutes even with the 18 stops to the airport, and was clean, safe and efficient.

Home, Sweet, Home about 5 pm on Sept 9, and our recliners felt so good. We were thankful that our kids took care of our dogs, the trip was delightful, and we made more great travel memories to celebrate our anniversary! God blessed us with wonderful experiences, great weather, and excellent travel!!

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Sunrise from front porch of Glacier Lodge

Florida Winter

Sunset on Flagler Beach

Florida is simply a gorgeous state, and not just for the reason most tourists visit — the beach, Disney, sunny weather. For me, traveling to Florida takes me back to my very earliest childhood memory, living in Gotha, Florida, near Windermere. We lived for a year or so in a small rented house along a dirt road near a lake. I remember orange trees in the yard and lots of scrubby palmettos.

We were delighted with the old-Florida, back road scenery and small towns that looked like time stood still. Traveling by RV and getting off the interstate made this vacation even more wonderful.

Evans High School Class of ’71

The main purpose of this winter time trip was to attend a bonfire with members of my high school class of 1971. My friend and classmate owns a farm in Howey-in-the-Hills and generously hosts this annual get-together. I’ve been blessed to attend a few times, and even brought my Mom to one of the gatherings.

We decided to add on to this high school reunion trip by moving to a few state parks across Florida. That plan was harder than I thought, because so many snowbirds and new RV users are filling up the parks! But after a few stressful days of looking and checking, I found some availability and planned a 12-day trip.

After leaving Howey-in-the-Hills, where we spent the night in our RV, parked at my friend’s farm, we drove to Chiefland, FL and spent two days at Manatee Springs State Park. It was very cold, by Florida standards, and we hoped to see some manatees huddling around the warm springs. Unfortunately, the only manatee we saw was the concrete statue!

Manatee Springs

While at Manatee, we were able to visit with my former boss and BP plant manager and his wife, who have retired in Ocala. It was great to catch up and show them our retirement life! We walked some great trails alongside sinkholes, seeing more of those huge palmettos, and rode our bikes down to the springs. Dogs weren’t allowed on the boardwalk, so we left Maddie in the RV for short periods.

We left Chiefland via highway 27, then cut across the center of Florida on highway 316 heading toward the Ocala National Forest. We passed countless beautiful horse and cattle farms! You can really get a feel for what Florida was like in the early days when you travel through small towns on secondary roads. We had two separate sites reserved at Salt Springs Recreation Area; I could not get 2 days in the same campsite so we had to unhook and move. Not really a problem, and it’s a beautiful park. We got a huge surprise when we met someone who had a Barth RV that was a year older than ours! It was great meeting Sam and Iris and seeing all the work they did on their RV. We also watched a SpaceX rocket launch from our campsite; a beautiful orange glow in the night sky! We were able to finally spot some manatees just beyond the spring area, as well as some huge blue crabs.

“Mickey Mouse” ears

When we left Salt Springs, we headed toward a park I’ve wanted to stay in for a long time, but never could get a reservation! Gamble Rogers State Park at Flagler Beach was just as beautiful as I’d heard and we were blessed to get a campsite, even though it was only for one night. I was disappointed that our site was on the intercoastal portion of the park instead of the beach, but after walking through both sides, I felt the riverside was the best location. The beach sites were crowded and would be a tight fit for our big RV. We enjoyed walking on the beach and seeing the orangish-colored sand, that contains coquina rock. I had to take a photo of the only “mouse ears” we saw this trip!

John’s brother and sister-in-law, who live in St. Augustine, met us at our campsite and we enjoyed a few hours with them. We told them we had heard there was a Buc-ee’s convenience store in their town and planned to stop and check it out when we headed home. They agreed to meet us there!

Tomoka Palmettos

We continued down A1A toward Ormond Beach, and across on highway 40 to our next stop; Tomoka State Park. We found a Publix grocery store and stopped to replenish a few supplies and couldn’t resist buying some of their deli chicken. We usually cook all our meals in the RV, so it was a huge treat to buy something already cooked! Tomoka is located alongside the intercoastal and the campsites were a little tight, very wooded and private. It was cold, windy, rainy and we spent one day hanging out completely inside except for occasional dog walks. I was glad we had grilled an extra steak the previous day so that could be our dinner. Not fun trying to grill outside in the wind! Maddie enjoyed her nighttime walks, since she sniffed out several armadillos.

Leaving Tomoka, we headed west on highway 40 to I-95 and continued to the World of Golf exit where a new Buc-ee’s was located. John’s brother and sister-in-law met us, and took us back to see their new home, then walked around Buc-ee’s. What a crazy place! We had to try their chopped brisket and chicken salad sandwiches, as well as cinnamon roasted pecans. Yum!

1989 RVs side-by-side

We ended our trip at one of our favorite places; Jekyll Island Park! We love that island and always like to daydream about having a house there and seeing the beautiful views every day. We had another sunny day finally, and it felt so good to thaw out in the sun. Florida is definitely warmer than most states in wintertime, but this trip was much colder than a normal Florida winter.

We were surprised to see an RV the same age as ours right next to us on Jekyll; a 1989 Wanderlodge on a Bluebird chassis. It was beautiful!

South Carolina Frost

God gave us much favor and protection on this trip, and a supernatural sense of well-being. We felt thankful that we have good health and are able to enjoy such a trip. Even with the cool temperatures we experienced this trip, Florida is a great place for winter travel. I should not have complained about the weather, because when we got home, we had record lows (18 degrees) and a morning of snow!

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Happy Mother’s Day!

The story goes something like this:  A dark-haired, green-eyed beauty from a Tennessee dairy farm moves to Jacksonville, Florida and starts work at a local Krystal restaurant.  An upstate-New York, city-raised sailor boy comes in for a hamburger and catches the eye of the beauty. Eloise (my Mom) giggles quietly when Bob the sailor (my Dad) keeps coming back for more … and more … of those tasty Krystal burgers.

Bob calls home after a few too many celebratory beers, to tell his family he’s getting married.  “What’s her name?” they ask.  “Oozie” (her nickname) he tells them, and the phone connection crackles all the way from Jacksonville Naval Air Station to New York, and what they hear him say is Susie!  Letters addressed “Dear Bob & Sue” came regularly to their apartment, and my Mom never had the heart to tell them her name was NOT Sue.

Very soon they welcomed their first baby (me!) and Robert Junior followed 10 months later.  My Mom raised five lively children and maintained both her beauty and great sense of humor throughout.  This Mother’s Day will occur just a few weeks before she also celebrates her 86th birthday.

Mom lives on her own, drives a spiffy little Toyota, cooks delicious meals and enjoys the Hallmark Channel.  She feeds a bunch of wild alley cats, tends her outdoor flowers and indoor orchids, and learns a little Spanish from her neighbors.  Family pictures line her living room wall and she picks out a few and remembers the stories.

A favorite picture features 7 children in a row — her brothers and sisters, plus baby Kay not pictured — who were raised by her granny and grandpa while her mother worked as a welder at shipyards during the war.  She remembers her brother driving the dairy truck, his head barely visible above the steering wheel; waking up in a freezing cold bedroom in the farmhouse, and dressing in front of the cook stove in the kitchen to get warm; and a lovable dog named Tip.

 

She gazes at the photos of her middle daughter who left this world far too early.  Her vivid memories give her some comfort; Kelly was a wonderful Mom and Grandma and she left behind a large grieving family.

 

Mom laughs at the photo of all of us kids lined up on the floor in front of her chair, while we brushed each other’s hair.  It reminds her of all the crazy and fun times we had: Driving us all to school in the big blue bomb, which miraculously passed inspection each year — renting rooms to boarders — beach vacations — graduations — weddings — Tom’s plays — Kasey sneaking out the window — Chip playing his trumpet — Robin moving far away.

 

I am so thankful, Mom, that I can still pick up the phone to call you and still come home to visit. Thanks for always being there for me and for all us kids. Thanks for the encouragement and the love. You showed us all what motherhood was all about and there could be no better role model.  Thanks for loving my children and grandchildren. And I am so excited that we will soon be celebrating your very first Great-GREAT Grandchild!

Happy Mother’s Day, Mom!  And I wish you many, many more mother’s days to come!

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Catch-up – Trip to Maine

Even though we were stunned to find out John would have to continue antibody treatments every 8 weeks for two years after chemo was complete, we have still been able to enjoy some great trips. I am WAY behind with reporting our last few trips and hope to catch-up as well as provide a health update.

Beautiful house and bay at Schoodic Peninsula, near Winter Harbor, Maine

John is feeling great and has had no problem tolerating the 8-week infusions of Rituxan, the antibody proven to ensure a long-lasting remission from Lymphoma. There have been no side effects and his energy level is as high as normal. The port continues to be a blessing — no more needle sticks!!

The 8-week interval treatments have allowed us to do whatever we want and we eagerly planned our first L-O-N-G trip since retirement. We selected the end of September for our trip to Maine, and made reservations to stay in the Acadia National Park at Schoodic Peninsula. There is camping available at the National Park near Bar Harbor, but those sites could not accommodate our large RV, and the tunnels were too low.

Schoodic Peninsula is relatively new but the secret is already out! We were lucky to get a reservation for a week at the end of the tourist season, even though we would have to move to another site within the campground after the first few days.

We charted our route between South Carolina and Maine, looking at routes that would take us AWAY from the bigger cities and clogged traffic. We chose to take I-81, a truck route,  then join I-84 in Pennsylvania and eventually head toward I-95 above Boston.

After 4 days of packing up the RV with more food, clothes and supplies than we would ever need, we headed out. John’s prayer over breakfast was something like this:  “Lord, You did not allow us to take our planned trip to Alaska, but You are letting me go to Maine.  Thank you, Lord!”

We got up very early the morning of September 17 – we were just too excited to sleep – and left the house about 7:45 am. Our route was highway 52 all the way to Mt. Airy, North Carolina. We enjoyed the beautiful rural home sites, businesses and cotton fields on the back road and encountered interesting sights. In Scranton, South Carolina we laughed at a church sign that said, “Be Friends With Jesus – Use Faith Book.” The welcome sign announced Coward, South Carolina – A Quiet Peaceful Place. And a billboard in Society Hill, SC advertised “Renting our corn hopper is corn-venient!”  (Corny, I know!) Ansonville, NC informed us that the movie “The Color Purple” was filmed there. We stopped for the night at Mayberry RV Park near Mt. Airy and relaxed outside with a glass of wine until rain showers ran us in.

1st Night Campground near Mt. Airy, NC

Since this is the first time we had taken such a long trip, we methodically mapped out our route and planned our stops every 200-250 miles. We wanted to take our time and allow for stopping when something interested us and to be able to settle in for the night early enough to enjoy a bike ride or simply exploring the park. In the days before leaving, I researched campgrounds and obtained reservations for each night. I was able to find adequate RV parks every night except in one area near Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania and our plan then was to find a nearby Wal-Mart.

Large cross seen from the road at Strasburg, VA

We were back on the road the next morning shortly before 9 am, and crossed the Virginia border about 45 minutes later. Almost immediately we experienced our first incline and enjoyed beautiful valley views as we climbed, ears popping from the elevation. It is hard to believe there could be a decline in Christianity in our country, after seeing so many crosses and “JESUS SAVES” signs along the way.

 

We stopped for lunch at Natural Bridge in Virginia which is a privately-owned property which plans to re-open as a State Park at the end of the month. It was once owned by Thomas Jefferson and also featured caverns to explore. Our stop that night was in the beautiful town of Edinburgh, VA. Our tiny RV park featured a creek behind our site where John tried to fish, and we were an easy walk away from a scenic downtown area with interesting shops, such as a fly-fishing shop owned since 1962 by author and photographer Harry Murray.

About an hour after leaving Edinburgh, VA we crossed into “Wild and Wonderful” West Virginia, then 30 minutes later we entered Maryland for only a few miles before reaching the Pennsylvania border.  It was there that I saw one of the most amazing sights of the trip! On the right side of the interstate we saw a beautiful grassy hill, and sitting on top were two groups of Amish teenagers — boys and girls in separate circles – with their lunch pails, Amish clothing, hats and bonnets.  I didn’t even have time to grab my camera to capture the lovely sight but it is forever imprinted in my brain.

We were fortunate to find a Wal-Mart in Wilkes-Barre that would allow overnight parking, and took advantage of nearby restaurants for dinner and breakfast as well as stocking up more supplies at Wal-Mart. We woke up to see about 16 large trucks parked around us as well as several other campers.

The next morning, we successfully merged from I-81 onto I-84 and were amazed at how very little traffic there was. We started seeing beautiful leaf color change as we entered New York and paid our first toll at the bridge over the Hudson River. When we came through Connecticut we noticed signs warning of “crossing traffic” instead of what we are more familiar with — “merging traffic.” We found a small private RV park and enjoyed the first cool weather since leaving home — it was 53 degrees the next morning.

Day #5 of our trip ended in Freeport, Maine. Before checking into our campsite we decided to park in the downtown shopping area to walk around the stores. We found an LL Bean outlet and a Corelle store and bought a few bargains. We also noticed an Amtrak station near where we parked the RV and decided to check it out on our way back home for a possible side trip to Boston.

We really enjoyed the delightful Cedar Haven RV Park at Freeport. The owners thought of everything possible that a camper could want! I was glad to be able to do laundry, buy marshmallows at the camp store, and we enjoyed a big fire that evening. On my morning walk I saw chipmunks playing, something we don’t see in the south.

Our personalized sign was placed at every campsite

Originally we’d planned to get off the interstate and travel to the Bar Harbor area by the coastal road, but since it began raining pretty hard we stayed on I-95 until we were above Ellsworth. The drive south was very beautiful and I could imagine how the stately evergreens would have looked covered with snow. The drive into Ellsworth was treacherous because the road bed was completely torn out for about 1/4 mile and we had to bump along on a rocky and muddy surface. I am sure they were trying to hurry the road project along before the first snow.

We had no problem picking up our rental car even in the pouring down rain, and then replenished a few supplies at Wal-Mart before heading to Winter Harbor. The 30-mile drive along Route 1 was rural and very beautiful and we gasped several times as we came around a bend and caught sight of some harbor views. Coming into Winter Harbor we came to a stop before turning left to our campsite and the whole bay was spread out before us, glistening a deep blue with colorful boats and lobster floats to catch our eye.

We checked into site #32 at Acadia National Park at Schoodic Peninsula, and after setting up we jumped in our rental car and drove the park loop, stopping to gasp at the beautiful bay and making plans to come back to see it all in the morning. The rain finally slowed down to a drizzle but the temps started dropping. It was 40 degrees when we woke up the next morning!

Acadia National Park at Schoodic Peninsula; campsites were roomy, graveled and private

It was great to have the car and be able to drive an hour to Bar Harbor and park with ease. We underestimated how cold we would feel walking along the harbor in the brisk wind! After getting some lunch we warmed up a bit and walked some of the streets before heading to the National Park. The park loops offered beautiful views, and we were surprised with a huge rainbow on Cadillac Mountain. The Sandy Beach was an interesting study in different landforms — craggy rocks, evergreens trees, sand, blue water, and a grassy meadow. One brave soul actually swam.

Beautiful rainbow over Bar Harbor from atop Cadillac Mountain

We decided to go back to Bar Harbor the next day to explore more of the town, and this time we took the ferry from Winter Harbor. The trip was gorgeous and we saw porpoise, seals, a bald eagle, and lots of seagulls. There was a huge cruise boat in the harbor and the streets were packed with passengers. We shared a delicious seafood lunch of fried haddock, shrimp, scallops and clams. The ferry trip back was a little rough since the wind had picked up but we made it without incident.

John enjoying a Tim Horton’s coffee in Canada

On Day #10 rain was predicted so we decided to drive to Canada; only about 100 miles away. We also had to move our RV to another site for the rest of our stay. We left it at the Ranger’s Station since we were leaving well before checkout time and already checked in to the new site (#33) for our return. The drive was scenic and we stopped at the historic site at St. Croix and read the history of its first French inhabitants who barely made it through the first winter; the few survivors learned their lesson and moved on to Port Royal. We had no problem crossing the border into Canada and asked the guard for a lunch recommendation. We walked around the little border town of St. Stephen, ate in a diner, enjoyed a Tim Horton’s coffee, and toured the Ganong Chocolate Factory.

 

Winter Harbor library

Lee Art Glass in Winter Harbor

Lunch at Corea Wharf

On our last full day in the park we decided to explore the surrounding town of Winter Harbor and eat lunch at a tiny dockside restaurant in Corea. We had already tried a few lobster dishes which were wonderful but wanted to try something less touristy. I enjoyed the library in town and we found a couple artisan shops as well as a glass shop which also operated in Mt. Dora, Florida (their winter home); the owner’s last name was also “Lee.” We experienced our first grilled cheese and lobster sandwich as well as delicious chowder filled with haddock. The yummy meal was topped off with blueberry pie and ice cream.

Amazed by all the items handmade by prisoners and very reasonably priced

On Day #12 we emptied our tanks, checked out of our campsite and headed toward Ellsworth to turn in the rental. One last stop at Wal-Mart to replenish and then we headed along Route 1 hugging the coast of Maine all the way to Cedar Haven RV Park in Freeport. We enjoyed the beautiful towns along the coast and especially liked Camden. We ate a delicious lunch at The Sea Dog Brewing Company; seafood pie (similar to Shepherd’s Pie) filled with a chowder of haddock, crab, shrimp, potatoes and peas, and topped with hot mashed potatoes. We licked the bowl! We were surprised to see a sign near Rockland advertising a Maine State Prison showroom and had to stop and check it out. The shop was full of expertly crafted woodwork, furniture, boats, and even a hand-made motorcycle in the window.

Beautiful harbors all along the coast of Maine

The harbor views all along the southern coast of Maine were so very beautiful and we took our time as we reached the end, sad to leave this beautiful state. In Freeport we checked on the possibility of taking Amtrak into Boston for a day-trip but the return trip was sold-out. Rain was predicted and it probably would have been a bit miserable walking around so we weren’t too sad about missing out.

We had not made RV park reservations for the return trip and since it was rainy most of the way, we opted to search for Wal-Marts whenever we felt ready to stop. It worked out great and we even learned how to search for truck stops where we could fill our holding tanks and dump our waste tanks for a small fee. Staying free at Wal-Mart had its own price, since we usually ate dinner out and took opportunities to shop. I found a Goodwill store in Pennsylvania that had the best selection of used books I’ve ever seen in one of their stores; very well-organized. I loaded up! John probably would have rather spent the $$ for an RV park!

Beautiful farms all along I-81 in Pennsylvania and Virginia

 

Seeing the beautiful farm lands, hills and valleys on the trip back home was just as lovely as the trip up. I have always been one to opt for the back roads when traveling, but have to admit this section of interstate was quite scenic.

It felt good to finally get home, but we only had a day or so to relax before we had to evacuate northwest, away from the path of Hurricane Matthew! That was an adventure in itself, since we ended up spending another two nights in a Wal-Mart parking lot in Sumter, SC.

What a wonderful trip! The RV performed perfectly, the weather and scenery were beautiful, and this trip rates right up there as one of the best we’ve ever enjoyed.

∴

 

 

 

Almost Back to Normal!

It has been six months since John’s last CT scan confirmed that he was officially in remission, and we have been so busy getting back to normal that I have not published update posts!  And Praise God, things ARE almost back to normal!

John just had a repeat CT scan as a follow-up and all is good.  He is feeling great, but as insurance our doctor has recommended maintenance treatments continue every 8 weeks for the next two years.  Fortunately these treatments do not have any ill effects.  He is given an infusion of Rituxan, which is an antibody that attacks any stray cancer cells, and it takes about an hour and a half to administer, not counting the time it takes for labs to be drawn and the doctor visit.  The schedule keeps us close to home, but we are still able to take some short RV trips.

Robin poses in front of a display at the Plant City, Florida Strawberry Festival. We enjoyed delicious strawberry shortcake, watched livestock shows, heard country music concerts, and strolled through miles of craft displays.  A great time!

The highlight of our most recent trip was attending the annual Strawberry Festival in Plant City, Florida!  I had heard about this awesome event from friends and always wanted to go, so it worked out perfectly in between treatments to spend a few days at the start of this event.  We began our trip along the panhandle of Florida, heading toward the Gulf Coast.

My niece lives near Pensacola, and we hoped to stay nearby to see her and give her a baby gift; she’s expecting her first child in July.  After spending our first night in a State Park in between Jacksonville and Tallahassee, we headed for a campground near Avalon Beach, and met with Anna and Steve that night when they got home from work.  We had planned to go next to Ft. Pickens State Park, a beautiful beach front campground at the tip of the Gulf Islands National Seashore.  But a severe thunderstorm was predicted and the park was evacuated due to high winds and possible sand drifts which could close the exit road. We stayed put, and endured a very scary 30-minutes or so, hunkered down in the hallway of the RV and waiting for a tornado to pass nearby.  Lots of praying in that RV park that night!!!

Thank God there was no damage in our area, although when we drove through Pensacola the next day we saw a demolished apartment complex, roof damage and trees down along the highway. We spent several hours at the Naval Air Museum and it was wonderful!  We were very impressed with how clean and well-kept it was, and enjoyed looking at the history of air flight and searching for the aircraft carriers our Dad’s had served when they were in the Navy.

Other than the reservations we had made in Plant City, we decided to be completely spontaneous with the itinerary for this trip; something very stressful for a “planner-type” person like myself!  Although it is a comfort to know where you are going to stay each night, we didn’t want to reserve ahead and limit any time we might want to spend along the way.  In hindsight, this type of travel is just too stressful for us, and we have decided that planning out a trip, and reserving campsites well ahead of time is the way to go.

Our plan was to meander along highway 98, enjoying the beautiful white-sand beaches along the Gulf Coast of Florida, stopping to see the sights along the way and settling in at a campsite early each afternoon.  Although it was late February, there were early Spring Break travelers competing for space, and most parks were filled with “snowbirds” from up north.  Florida State Parks have a policy of allowing “walk-up” campers on a first-come/first-served basis, and each time we called for availability and were told they had a few sites open, the park would be completely full by the time we arrived.  We actually spent our first time “Wal-Mart camping” because of this difficulty, which turned out to be just fine.

We were able to visit some of the beautiful beaches and State Parks along the route, and found camping for the night in commercial parks without a whole lot of trouble.  We spent time in Crystal River, watching the manatees swimming in the Springs, before heading inland to my Mom’s house in Kissimmee.

We had a great visit with family before heading on to Plant City for the Strawberry Festival.  These trips are such wonderful morale boosters for us; we don’t even think about cancer while we are on a trip, and are enjoying the beautiful world that God has given us, and spending time with each other.

It was a great two weeks and we look forward to many more RV opportunities, now that life is almost back to normal!

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Thinking Back — Looking Ahead

2015 was an up and down year to say the least and I want to sum it all up and share what’s ahead.

The first 3 months of 2015 were a blur of activity as we finished out our careers at BP Chemical and prepared to take that huge step of retirement. We were very busy right up to the last day of work, preparing to turn over all the aspects of our jobs, and getting the RV ready for our big cross-country trip to Alaska.

Our co-workers and managers gave us a wonderful farewell party that we shared jointly, and we were blown away by the gifts and tributes. BP is truly a fine place of employment and we miss all our friends very much and are grateful that through our excellent company benefits we were able to retire at such a young age.

After our April 1 retirement, we took a two-week RV trip to Florida and along the way enjoyed some excellent Georgia State Parks, beautiful back roads and the clear water and white beach sand of Florida’s Gulf Coast. We stayed near the memorable town of Sopchoppy, Florida and learned about their annual “Worm Grunt Festival” — unbelievable!  The last part of the trip was spent with my Florida family and was sadly the last time we were able to visit with my sister Kelly before lung cancer shortened her life.

We returned home in early May to finish out the paperwork to transfer our retirement funds, and were preparing for another quick trip to Florida to spend Mother’s Day with my Mom, when John began experiencing a cramp in his side.  He decided to check it out with the doctor before we got on the road and thus began our new journey — battling Non-Hodgkins Follicular Lymphoma.

 

John’s last chemo session the end of October.  Praise God!

Although we were bummed that we would not be taking our Alaska trip as planned, our Lord was definitely with us all the way as we experienced the new world of chemotherapy treatment.  Blessedly John did not experience the terrible affects that most cancer patients endure and he sailed through the treatments without much effort.

We were also thankful that John was healthy enough to take a short RV trip in between nearly every treatment.  We stayed at Myrtle Beach State park, Buck Hall Recreation Area, Huntington Beach State Park and toured the Outer Banks, from top to bottom.

John taking his LAST preventive medication after chemo round #6!

The highlight of our travel was returning to Hunting Island State Park, where we fondly remember renting a cabin about 14 years ago and spending Thanksgiving with our family.  We drove the RV on this return trip and rented a car in Beaufort so we could both get around the campground and tour the local area during our week. The RV did great, although we lost a side mirror traversing the narrow bridge onto the island.  And it was very sad to hike through the forest near the Nature Center and walk out onto the eroded beach where those wonderful cabins once stood!

John in front of the last standing cabin on the eroded beach at Hunting Island State Park; one of the many camping trips we were able to take while he was undergoing chemo.

We also celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary by returning to the Outer Banks and camping in three of the state parks along the shore.  This was “no hookup” camping but the weather was cool and rainy, so the A/C and electricity were not needed.  The bikes allowed us to explore Ocracoke, and we were able to drive the RV to visit every one of the lighthouses.  A beautiful trip!

After John’s final chemo, he was scheduled for a CT scan in early December to determine his status.  Our doctor confirmed that John’s cancer was now in remission, but recommended a maintenance regimen that begins this week.  Since John’s veins are pretty damaged from the chemo, we have opted to have an infusion port surgically implanted and the first treatment will begin January 7.

An infusion of Rituxan (an antibody) every 8 weeks for two years is the recommended plan, but we will have CT scans along the way to determine any needed change to the plan.  We were again a bit disappointed that Alaska is again on hold, but will continue to plan some short RV trips that will make us truly feel retired and free to explore our great country.  We have discovered that these trips help us to “leave cancer at home” and give us a great feeling of normalcy.

In reflection, the cancer diagnosis definitely brought us to a temporary halt but we have not allowed it to overly inhibit our lives.  We were told that having the attitude that we are “living with cancer” rather than “suffering with cancer” would encourage us and that is definitely the truth. Attitude is everything!  John has been a real trooper through it all.

We could not have made it through this journey without the strength from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and the many thoughts, prayers, kind deeds, cards and calls from our many friends and family.  We are astounded at the prayers that have sustained us — everyone from a little guy named Jacob who remembered John in his nightly prayers, to John’s sister Carolyn who involved all her biker and church friends and neighbors in prayer, to our loving Pastor Bill and wife Susan, and many others in between.

I would not wish a cancer experience on any one, but I must say our lives have been greatly enriched by this trial and we have a different outlook and a humbled attitude because of it.  We have lost too many to this awful disease just this year (our friend Andy, my sister Kelly, my step-father Harry) but we have also witnessed many stories of healing and triumph.

We’re ready for whatever 2016 brings us and are thankful for each full and rich day we are given.

Happy New Year!

In Christ’s Name:  John & Robin Lee

“Exodus 15:26 – I am the Lord who heals you.”

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Like a Good Neighbor

The current message series at our church (www.seacoast.org) is “Like a Good Neighbor” and our Pastor asked us to remember a time when we moved into a new place and met our neighbors.  I was reminded of moving from my home state of Florida, all the way to Northern California as a new bride 44 years ago.  We pulled in front of our new apartment (old renovated Army barracks) and began to unload the car.

A neighbor came out of his apartment and we introduced ourselves and told him we were from Florida.  He immediately told me not to think I could go around knocking on anyone’s door and asking to borrow a cup of sugar … he said Californian’s were different and did not welcome friendly neighborly overtures.  I wondered what kind of place I had landed in and felt anything but welcomed to my new home.

Fortunately my experience in a new neighborhood was eventually very positive, and I found my niche in a good church and formed many lasting friendships. Being a military dependent far from home could have been a hardship, but my church family embraced us, included us in their holiday events and filled the gap of our missing family.

When thinking about what a good neighbor means, I am reminded of those long ago days away from home, but also recall a recent experience coming home in the RV from our anniversary trip to the Outer Banks.

We like to take the back roads on our RV journeys, and enjoy the slower pace, scenic views and the small towns we go through.  Just outside of Andrews, South Carolina, and right after passing through Kingstree and Hemingway, we heard a loud explosion. John could see something sticking out of the left side of the motor home, and we immediately pulled over into the parking lot of a church. After a quick investigation, John found the inside rear driver side tire had blown, and the pressure of the blowout had also ripped off the house battery compartment door.

John sent me walking down the road to see if I could retrieve the missing door, while he duct-taped the siding that was sticking out.  As I was walking in the tall grass, looking for pieces and parts, a truck pulled up beside me.  A man and his young daughter told me they found our battery compartment door and I got in and rode back to our RV.  The man had been getting ready to go hunting with his daughter and had just handed her their guns to put in the truck when he heard the explosion. His first frantic thought was that a gun had fired, and he said his heart just about stopped!  Looking up he was relieved to see his daughter was just fine, then saw our compartment door flying through the air and landing in his yard.  We were so thankful that the door did not hit a passing motorist or someone on the side of the road!

We were very grateful to get the compartment door back, and the good samaritan stayed around for a few minutes to look at the damage and see how else he could help.  While we were calling our Good Sam Club Roadside Assistance service, another resident stopped by to see how he could help.  He tried to call a friend of his who worked for a nearby tire company to see if he had an inexpensive spare we could use just to get us home.  It turned out that his friend’s spare was not the right size, but this neighbor checked on us several times while we were waiting for the tire serviceman.

Several people stopped by the church and again asked if we needed anything, and two gentlemen even offered to unlock the church and let us wait inside.  A young lady and her 3 children stopped, said they were going to do some errands and would check on us on the way back home, and they did.

We waited 4-1/2 hours for the arrival and installation of the new tire, and I lost count of the many “good neighbors” who checked on us, offered us food or drink, and the use of their homes or yards to park.  I was also surprised at the people who did NOT stop … not a single policeman, and the neighbors on either side of the church came and went several times while we were waiting and never spoke.

Our daughter-in-law offered to come pick us up (we were less than an hour from home) when another problem with the RV resulted in having to stay there overnight, but we felt quite safe and welcomed, backed up next to the Black River Free Will Baptist Church. Their electronic sign flashed the message from Matthew 22:37-39, reminding us to “love God with all our heart, soul and mind, and to love our neighbors.”  We certainly saw this scripture in action, on the side of the road that night.

Five Down … One More To Go!!

John has successfully completed chemo round #5 and we are down to the wire, with one more session to go October 28/29/30!  God has been SO very good to us!

Each session it has been tougher and tougher for the infusion nurse to find a good vein to start the chemo IV.  At this point in John’s treatment, he regrets not getting a port, which would have been a guaranteed site for the chemo infusion each month. But there were other problems associated with a port so in hindsight maybe we have traded one set of problems for another.

John had to suffer through 5 needle sticks on day one, and 6 needle sticks on day two, in order to find a workable vein. Needless to say, the constant sticks increased his anxiety level and he was quite troubled by the time the nurses achieved success.  When they brought in the floor “expert” for the final attempt, John looked at her and sadly said, “Everyone else has failed and I hope you can get it.”  She responded with a big smile and then said, “Greater is He that is in me, than he that is in the world” (I John 4:4), which demonstrated that her confidence was in the Lord working in her, and not in herself. And that confidence worked, because not only did she succeed in grabbing a good vein, the needle stick did not even hurt! Praise God!

We will definitely be looking for Nurse Dorothy when we go back for our final chemo session the end of this month.  It will be a very happy day when we ring that bell in the infusion center, signaling John’s final treatment!

Another nagging issue these last two months has been constant itching and a rash along John’s shoulders, neck, hairline and back.  Nothing has eased his symptoms and the doctor is quite baffled at what could be a chemo reaction this late in the game.  We have purchased numerous products to help — Benadryl tables and cream, Cortisone creams, and even tried a medication meant to treat chiggers and other insect bites.  Nothing has helped.  But an interesting note … the minute the chemo infusion started, the itching went away and the rash started to disappear.  Hm-m-m-m!  We are now armed with a new prescription medication in case the itching returns this month.

The highlight of this month’s treatment has been the great news about John’s CT scan results.  There has been an 85% reduction in the mass of lymph nodes next to his appendix, which is the site of his cancer.  We were extremely thrilled with that good news and the doctor was very pleased too and told us the remaining treatments will completely reduce those lymph nodes.  It certainly makes it all worthwhile to see the positive results of the hardships endured through chemotherapy.

Another piece of good news involves John’s white blood cell count.  Chemo targets cancer cells but it also kills some good stuff too, especially the white blood cells that are the backbone of the body’s immune system.  Each month on treatment day #3 John receives a shot of a drug called Neulasta, which forces his body to make more white blood cells.  Each month when he has blood drawn prior to treatment, his lab results confirm whether treatment can proceed — if the white blood cell count has not recovered sufficiently, then chemo must be delayed.  We have witnessed a few patients who were sent home, or else received a blood transfusion instead of chemo because of their low numbers.  John is very blessed that this has not happened to him.  Although there has been a steady dip in his blood count, those numbers are now creeping back up, showing that the combination of his own body fighting back and the Neulasta injection has done the job to protect his immune system.

On the down side, the upper respiratory infection John had back in July never completely cleared up, and he has had to take another Z-pack of antibiotics to try and knock it out.  Fortunately he never got a fever, but it was recommended that he start the antibiotics anyway to get rid of the infection.

We are encouraged that this hard time in our lives will soon be behind us.  As with any hardship, it has strengthened our faith in God, our appreciation of good health, compassion for those who battle illness, and thankfulness for family and friends who have supported us.  To God be the glory, great things HE has done.  Thank you!  Stay tuned for news of John’s final chemo session the end of October!

Before ….

Before May 8, 2015 … before the “C” word entered our home … we did not have a clue.  Sure we had friends, family or acquaintances who battled cancer.  We prayed often for those around us who had been diagnosed.  But we really did not know what it meant to experience cancer until our own personal story.

John has just completed round 4 of his 6-session chemo protocol and it seems as though the effects are hitting earlier and lasting a little longer each time.  The week after session #3 was especially harsh because John could not shake the upper respiratory infection he’d had the month before, even after two rounds of antibiotics.  We had scheduled a CT scan to assess his progress, but had to cancel it because he was too sick.  Instead we spent about 6 hours at the clinic, receiving an IV bag of fluids, some anti-anxiety meds, chest x-ray and other tests to determine if there was anything wrong.  The day afterward he turned the corner so completely and felt so well that it was hard to believe he’d felt so terrible just 24 hours before.

We never found out exactly what was wrong but we believe it was a combination of being dehydrated, a little run down from the infection, depressed and anxious, and possibly a reaction to an antibiotic that he can no longer tolerate. Whatever it was, we are very grateful he recovered completely and was in great shape before session #4.

The CT scan has been re-scheduled for September 28, right before session #5, so hopefully we will have a good picture of how John is progressing and how much the lymph nodes have decreased in size.  He is currently feeling great, with much more energy than last week.  We often talk about how hard it would be if he was not able to return to full strength each month.  We certainly cannot imagine undergoing chemotherapy when the body is so weakened and sick.

Here’s where our experience shifts to gratitude for what he has NOT had to endure. What we are witnessing when we go to the infusion center each month confirms how blessed we really are. We see many patients sitting alone during their infusions, arriving in wheelchairs, by ambulance or pulling an oxygen tank.  Many have no hair and some are so sick that they are given private rooms rather than sit in the open suite of treatment chairs.

We are so very humbled and grateful that John’s experience has been a good one.  We elected NOT to have a port … a permanent IV site, usually in the chest, where the chemo is administered each time … so he does have to put up with getting an IV started each time (and sometimes multiple sticks when they can’t find a vein) and that can be uncomfortable.  The picture with this post shows a warm compress on his arm where the first IV site “blew” out.  But other than those mild issues, John does quite well with each session.  He has never had to sit alone (I have to turn my back when they insert the needle, or I get up and organize their messy book rack — see it in the background?), he drives us to the clinic, and often home afterward, and he usually feels pretty good until about day 3 through day 10.  We are blessed for sure!

Yes, we know a little bit about experiencing cancer at this point in our journey.  But more importantly we know what we have NOT had to endure, and for that we are thankful!  Praise God!!