Hello, Readers!
I apologize for being out of the loop the last few weeks. I have been busy living life! I am happy to report, over the moon in fact, that I have been feeling better than I have in the last three years and as such, have been away from my computer!
I don’t talk about it a lot, but since my cancer battle began, I have dealt with a lot of unpleasant side effects including (but not limited to) bone pain caused by cancer prevention medication, lung issues courtesy of radiation, limited range of motion on my right side, and early onset arthritis in my back and knees.
My pain had progressively gotten worse over time and reached an all-time high in June and July, exactly when I was trying to pack and unpack a house. It was terrible timing and a major emotional blow because I felt like I had beaten cancer but somehow, it was still winning—or at least reminding me that it is the gift that keeps giving. I was seriously wondering how I was going to handle the pain at age sixty-eight if forty-eight was so hard.
However, after multiple doctors’ appointments and advocating for myself, my pain is finally under control! Praise God! I received multiple injections, had my knee drained, and was put on an inhaler to help with my lung expansion.
I feel so good that I have been doing Pilates three to five times a week (I may be slightly addicted to the Pilates reformer bench), playing tennis as much as I can, walking my dog with a new zeal, and hanging out with my friends and family more often since I no longer need pain induced naps. I am even sleeping through the night without being awoken by aching body parts. I recently went on a girls’ weekend with lifelong college friends in Florida and spoke to a book club at Hay Street United Methodist Church in Fayetteville North Carolina about my first novel, The Matriarch.
It feels so good to be able to move my body again, to exercise, to raise my heart rate, to sleep, and to live without thinking about pain or cancer.
The best part is I can now play on the floor with my sweet grandson for hours, take him on day trips, and carry him without issue. This means more quality time and more opportunities for snuggles!
Take that cancer. I am the winner. I have a lot of life left, and I am living it up!
Don’t worry, my new ability to get out in the world without restriction doesn’t mean I am not dying to get back to writing! I’m not quitting my blog. I quite enjoy it, and TEASER – I’m working on my next novel. It won’t be ready for quite some time, but I am having a blast coming up with ideas. It will be very different than my last novel and will be a crime thriller chock full of suspense, intrigue, whodunnits, and a strong female character! Don’t worry, I’ll let you know when it is about to become a reality! Stay tuned.
Now that I have taken care of business and explained my recent absence from my blog, I wanted to take a few minutes to talk about one more exciting new development in my life.
My youngest child reached the milestone age of fifteen, making her eligible for her learner’s permit. I forgot how stressful it is to teach a teenager how to drive! I guess it’s kind of like having a baby in the way that you forget about the pain after a while and sign up for it again!
Nothing tests your patience or faith like teaching a new driver to merge, change lanes on a jampacked highway, turn left across multiple lanes of traffic without an arrow, or to understand the importance of not tailgating the log truck in front of us. I was recently reminded of a horrifying scene from the movie Final Destination 2 and it brought back old fears that I am assuredly projecting onto my daughter.
In all fairness to my daughter, she is doing an excellent job. She is very attentive, quickly mastered maintaining speed, which is difficult for many inexperienced drivers, and is functioning as my personal chauffeur. She is better than average and the moments of sheer panic, stomping my imaginary brake into the floorboard, and bracing for impact by squeezing the armrest on the passenger side door are few and far between. I can’t say they are nonexistent because I am admittedly just a spaz sometimes and she is still learning.
Over the past week, I have started to lighten up a little and she is now a regular on the interstate, even at rush hour. As I get more comfortable with her skills, I have found myself beginning to laugh at myself after I correct her on something because I have become aware of the over-passionate nature in which I do so.
I tend to very dramatically repeat phrases. Saying something once is apparently not enough for me. I am incapable of saying, “Slow down,” or “Brake.” I must say in a crescendo voice “Slow down, slow down, SLOW DOWN,” and “Brake, brake, BRAKE,” while clutching on for dear life. I find myself holding my breath unnecessarily and tend to be somewhat passive-aggressive with my comments which is not my normal personality. “Didn’t you see that guy?” is bad enough, but when I add, “His truck is probably the biggest vehicle I’ve seen on the road in thirty-plus years of driving,” is honestly taking it too far. I also summon phrases from my past life as a child of the eighties and say “punch it” more than I should, a flashback to a Toyota commercial featuring older women. It must be deeply rooted in my brain.
I know I will get through this stage of life and am honestly a little sad that my last baby is old enough to drive now. Time certainly goes by in a flash. I’m very thankful to be keenly aware of this phenomenon.
Despite my sometimes over-the-top dramatics, I’m enjoying all the one-on-one time with my daughter in the car where she is forced to listen to me. She is focusing on what I’m saying and when nothing harrowing is happening, we are talking about our days, our lives, and the plans for our tomorrows. She is completely undistracted by her phone since it is safely stowed.
I’m glad to be back in the fast lane with my improved health and am grateful that with my daughter behind the wheel, I am getting a little more quality time with her than usual. I know in just a few short months; she’ll have her real license and the time I spend with her will decrease. She will no longer need me to be in the car to drive to school, sports practices, or social events. So, for now, I will try to push down my passive-aggressive comments, loosen up on the armrest, and enjoy letting her drive me around!
Any tips for new drivers or funny stories about teaching someone to drive would be greatly appreciated! Please put them in the comments below!
Comments