Joan on the Road

Everything is moving along pretty well for us but it sure seems hectic. Jim's ribs are slowly healing, but still painful. We saw the radiology doctor who will be doing the RFA procedure and got a good desription of what will happen. If all goes well it will be outpatient surgery so we'll get a hotel room and stay by the hospital overnight...too long a trip home after a day in hospital. Surgery is scheduled for next Friday, December 11.

I passed another one year check up with my oncologist. I'm so glad I chose her to help me through the treatments. I asked her how the Health Care issues would affect her and she said she feared for her ability to continue in practice. Jim's oncologist said no matter what happens "we're here to treat patients and that's what we'll do." Both of them are adamently against the current health care proposals.

I had a real hankering to do some baking so I bought all the ingredients for Toll House Choco Chip cookies. Oh My! there is nothing like the smell of the cookie baking and the melt in your mouth flavor of the chips. I made a 5 dozen batch and am baking them 8 at a time. So we have our two cookie and tea evening ceremony.

It's also been a very sad time because my Auntie Alice in AZ died after a year long struggle with cancer. I was not able to be with her but did have many long chats over the past year. It has been a tough year for her family as they helped and cared for her. Alice was a fun person and a great Mom. I have many fond memories of her.

The last few days I've been on the phone a lot with my sister in Florida who is in hospital with gall stones and pancreatitis. Very ill, very painful. She doesn't have much family there who are able to help her...she's pretty much struggling on her own. We know well how hard that is. I've been trying to research stuff for her and give advice. She's not sure what the treatment will be as there are some complications. Jeez, I wish I could be teleported there.

Sometimes I think the old days may have been better, when families stuck together around the old farm, able to help in emergencies. But then I think of all the adventures we'd miss. Right now, I'm thankful to be here in SoCal with my family close by. But I also wish I could be near my sister and my Mom and Dad. Hmmm...no solution on that today.

Now...I'm off to do the laundry.