Beyond Day SixMy sometimes-daily blog of a photograph or two with a few words, celebrating all the days of life that flow through creation into perspiration, inspiration, reflection, sabbath, and resurrection. Potatoes with a Story
August was a wet month. On the very last day of the month, the remnants of Hurricane Ida dropped more than 3 3/4 inches on the Hideaway. August ended as it had begun with a day of rain on the 1st totaling 4 1/2 inches. More than 11 inches of rain for the month. Our neighbor, Mr. Do, stopped to talk while we were gardening the next day. His two dogs were missing. They get out of his fenced-in yard occasionally, but they never venture far. He asked Judy to check on the internet, and a short time later she saw the dogs picture on Next Door Neighbor. Someone had found the dogs on the road west of us. A quick reunion occurred as the finder returned the lost dogs. The next day, Mr. Do rang our doorbell and had a huge basket with potatoes, twice the amount in the photo above, to thank Judy for her help in finding the dogs. Because of the Afghan airlift that shared the news with Ida, I asked if Mr. Do had come to the US at the fall of Saigon. No, he had worked with the CIA for 10 years because he knew the Laotian, Thai, and Vietnamese. They taught him English. He, his wife, and one year-old son was flew out of the country about 6 weeks before the end of the war. He spent 15 minutes telling us of his experience in settling here and the challenges that he faced. Quite a story. My neighbors have stories of being refugees. My Kurdish neighbor, Gelil, spent three years in a tent with his family in a refugee camp in Turkey before they all were loaded into a truck for an all day journey to an airport. My Laotian neighbor escaped the communists by paddling across the Mekong River in the middle of the night during a driving rainstorm. I have received generosity and hospitality from each of them. My neighborhood is more like the real USA than any place I have ever lived. What a blessing it is to hear their stories about why they are Americans. The Meaning BehindI hate this sign because I don't like the words or the meaning behind the words. I am tempted to vandalism. Someday I will attack! I've thought about it entirely for too long because I know what I will do: Change the "D" to an "R" and the "E" to an "O" so that "DEAD" becomes "ROAD". and add an "S" to "END". Road Ends. Waller Road is a cul-de-sac just beyond our driveway. The road ends, there is no outlet, turn around. We don't live on a dead end! I'm having the same problem with my treatments now that I'm done. I'm not finished for I have more scans at the end of September and another appointment with my oncologist at which I presume I will receive an outline of my after-care. I know from previous conversations that I will meet with my oncologist every three months for the next two years, with additional scans. So I'm done, but I'm not done. And my wondering about words was even stimulated about the discussion in Sunday School about "pilgrimage". Who goes on a pilgrimage and for what purpose? Doesn't it have to be an intentional choice? Does there have to be a destination? My experience with my cancer was not a pilgrimage, although I may have grown spiritually. I'm just wondering. So
Still FlyingThis yellow tiger swallowtail was sampling blossom after blossom on the "Carol Sing" daylily clump that is blooming near one of the hummingbird feeders. The late afternoon sunlight illuminated the butterfly's wings as it fluttered from one flower to another. Of course, I had to get my camera. I noticed that this butterfly was not one of the fresh, perfect, newly hatched ones. This butterfly is mature. The color of the wings has faded. And the wings are thinner, more translucent. I suspect the days of this butterfly are numbered. But it hasn't quit. Neither shall I.
The Final TreatmentThe final radiation treatment is today! Five months ago to the day I had an endoscopy performed, oblivious that I had a stomach ulcer nor that I had Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma. This past week of radiation treatments has affected me with lots of fatigue, to a surprising degree. I have also noticed the need to have small meals because of the radiation to my stomach. But my hair is beginning to grow again. I have appointments in two weeks with my oncologist and my urologist. Hopefully, I will hear good news from each of these doctors. I am ready to focus on regaining strength and health. I so appreciate the encouragement and prayers of so many. This daylily's last bloom was Monday. It's called The Anniversary Pearl. I'm celebrating that this part of my journey is complete. And I will be thrilled when the radiation techs take all those target stickers off my body! I will not miss those. Now when can I get this infusion port removed?
At Any AgeMy tenth radiation treatment is late in the afternoon today, the only time that it wasn't scheduled in the morning. When I asked why, I learned that most of the day would be taken for the treatment of a child. Cancer is a challenge at any age, but it grieves me that it strikes children. The journey has been difficult for me but I have asked questions, done research, listened to others who went on the journey before me, and relied on family and friends for support and prayers. I have a lifetime of experience. Still, it has been scary at moments. The team that has been treating me will turn their attention today to a child who needs even more care and expertise. Blessings upon them. They exude confidence. They want to heal everyone. At any age.
StretchingAutumn Minaret used to be our last daylily to bloom during the season. And usually by that point I was weary of photographing the daylilies. But we have purchased additional daylilies that bloom late and we are still waiting on Carol Sing to begin blooming. Autumn Minaret is a Stout Award winner in 1951, the highest award for daylilies. It's been around a long time, almost as long as me! Hopefully, both of us will be blooming into the next decade or more! My ninth radiation treatment is today, 60% complete. Getting closer!
The scapes (bud stalks) are nearly five feet tall! I took one with a watercolor effect. I like them both. I too am stretching.
Tired of FatigueVeterans of radiation had told me that the fatigue effects of radiation built with the number of treatments. Yep, they are right. I didn't have a treatment today (Saturday), but I am definitely more fatigued today than I was earlier in the week and certainly from last Saturday. I'm nearing five months of cancer treatment and I am truly tired of fatigue. Seven more radiation treatments and then, hopefully, I'm done. I'm ready to rebuild strength and endurance. If it sounds like I want to turn back the clock, I do. I want to turn back the last two years. But that ain't the way it works. Truth is, treatment is about done. I see it on my calendar. I'm ready.
Tiger Swallowtail ButterfliesToday is my eighth radiation treatment, and they are "flying by." So how about some butterfly photos? This is one of the most common butterflies: Tiger Swallowtail. This is the male of the species.
Another view of its wings.
And surprise, this is the female version in its dark form. They were on opposite sides of the garden. Wonder if they will get together.
In Between NapsAnother sighting on the butterfly bush, this time by me. This is a Zebra Swallowtail butterfly.
I don't think these are as common as Tiger Swallowtails, large yellow marked butterflies. But the Audubon Guide notes that Zebra Swallowtails "are the most abundant regular North American representative of the kite swallowtails, named for their triangular wings and long sharp tails. Despite a large range, the zebra occurs only near pawpaw trees or its relatives." The host for Tiger Swallowtails are deciduous trees. We must have pawpaw trees in the nearby woods. "Picking up pawpaws, putting 'em in our pockets..." Catchy tune!
The Magic MachineThis magic machine is the Varian TrueBeam linear accelerator. Varian True Beam link for YouTube It sings to me. This photo is the scene when I enter the room. The white sheet covers my unique mold for my treatment. I lie down on my back, reaching my hands over my head and grasping the white vertical handles. The table raises and moves back into the center of the machine. The large head at the top delivers the beam of radiation and revolves around my body nearly 360 degrees. The square on the right rotates to the uppermost position at the beginning and the team uses the green laser to accurately position my body. The first revolution takes magnetic images that are sent to the radiation oncologist to assure that I am in the right position for treatment. The lymph nodes under my left arm are treated first. Then the team checks the magnetic images for the radiation of my stomach (empty for 4 hours). Upon approval of the doctor, the radiation is administered in the second half of the treatment. It all takes about 15 minutes. And during the second portion as the TrueBeam revolves around me with blinking lights and whirring noises, it sounds almost like it's singing. Not quite like the musical interlude that signals the end of the cycle of our washer and dryer in our home. But still, it sounds like faint singing. Probably hymns. Today is treatment #5. 1/3 of the way to the finish line!
|
