Flight into Health

One good thing about Arkansas in the winter is the sky. Buddy and I just took our evening walk down the road, Walking west, the sky at 5:00 is all fire and flame through the trees. Then walking back east, the full moon is out in a clear dusky sky, hanging majestically over a band of violet, which turns to turquoise as it falls to the horizon. Oh my, what colors.

Sunset in Arkansas

The other good thing about Arkansas is the winter birds. Sitting in my morning chair looking out to the lake, I saw that the yellow-bellied sapsucker has returned and is poking up and down the trees. The nuthatches are also back and chasing the chickadees from the feeder. The chickadees have snacked unmolested all summer, but no more. The nuthatches are such bullies. They even harass the cardinals and sparrows. My Christmas cactus, which sits in front of me on the hassock, is in full glorious bloom. The blossoms are fuchsia and 3-4 inches long.


The lake is down 9 feet this winter (allegedly to do some repairs on the dam) so the channel is not as wide, and there is some 15 feet of rocky shore line below the sea walls. On nice days (that means above 60) I like to walk along the shore looking for treasures.

After a very challenging summer and fall, I have had a little flight into health, I think, feeling quite well the last few weeks. I am taking oral chemo (Xeloda), four pills a day, for a week every other week.

So, on Tuesday, I'll drive to Dallas and on Thursday, Tim will drive with me across the border at Loredo and across the mountains to the coast. We will be loaded to the top, including the roof, and with Buddy squeezed into the back seat. 

All I have to do in order to stay in Mexico is to arrange couriers to bring me the drug every month. The drug is covered by Part B Medicare, so they will only send me one month’s supply at a time.  So far, I am set up for visitors to bring me pills for January, February, and maybe March. If I still feel well, I will stay through part of April as well. My doctor is all about my quality of life, so I have his complete support on this.

I have lost most of my hair, and Buddy just had his summer/Mexico haircut.

Before (both of us with hair)


After

Thank you to all who have already sent me Christmas messages and other blessings.  I'm sorry to tell you that this will have to serve as my Christmas message, as you will get no other. 

I wish for you the most peaceful, joyful, loving holiday season ever, full of blessings. And I will be thinking of you all with so much love.

Ana