Health, South Africa
Susan Colby
Accentuating the Positive

With the Russian madman causing mayhem in the world, I am really trying to maintain a positive outlook.

The war news is dominating and it’s difficult to avoid. But am very aware of how my mental health can affect my physical health, so I am attempting (and so far succeeding) to limit my news watching/viewing. I look at just enough to get a very superficial overview but even that is more than I want. I feel so sad for all the people affected by this megalomaniac!

Accentuating the Positive
Health, South Africa
Susan Colby
Chemo is Doing its Thing

Time flies by, even the chemo treatments. Yesterday was #5 of the planned 6. The results of my blood tests continue to be good. The cancer marker went from 301 to 187 this week. But not low enough to move on to the next stage. Dr. McCleave said they want to see it at around 30 which is quite a long way yet.

Chemo is Doing its Thing
Susan Colby
There’s Hot, and Then There’s HOT

When I came back to South Africa in 2019, I naturally gravitated to where I was born and grew up. And actually ended up in the what we used to call the village of Kloof. (It’s no longer a village!) Kloof is about 18 miles/29km from Durban and just on 1600ft/500km above sea level, giving the area a more moderate climate than Durban, usually being a good 10F less which was the case when I took Rodney to the park this afternoon. Plus less humid.

There’s Hot, and Then There’s HOT
Health, South Africa
Susan Colby
Chemo #4 Done, 2 to Go

The fourth treatment went as planned. Mick came with me so he was able to meet my doctor. It’s always good to have another set of ears in a consultation but this one was very straightforward because everything is going so well.

Chemo #4 Done, 2 to Go
South Africa
Susan Colby
A Massive Immune Booster

November 16 last year is the fateful day I got the definitive news that changed my life.

By then I ‘d been in hospital for 8 days going through tests and everything else that goes along with a cancer diagnosis. I’d just had laparoscopic surgery for a biopsy and the GYN/surgeon came to visit me after I had very gently been given the diagnosis. He’s a lovely man and from reading his bio, a pretty religious one as well. He said to me as he sat at my bedside, “Have you considered end of life?”

A Massive Immune Booster

birthdays

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Birthdays

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Dosusananas and Mardelle in the middle. Life changes and relationship issues aren't just for the young, they can, and do, happen at any age. So for Susan life is in the process of turning upside down, with her trying to release old behaviors and move her relationship on to a new level - but obviously with a lot of resistance. So for a while, I have a new roomie. Which is fun for me and I think, good for her while she figures things out.

But it is especially hard as it was her birthday we were celebrating last night! Well, this was last night and her birthday is today - so she woke up, alone (except for a kitty) not at home and not with her husband of more than 40 years.

But we made the best of it, as birthdays are always a reason to celebrate and that's what three grannies did last night. And although it wasn't a new adventure, it was a an experience! We went to our favorite little bistro, Alchemy, and I had my favorite tequila gimlet.

Lime in the tequila gimlet.

I don't know why I love tequila so much! But it does remind me of a certain party at an old Chinese restaurant in Newport Beach called The Stag. (I just googled it and it is still there, 40 years later!) We had been back from Tahiti a couple of year but when the Bali Hai Boys showed up, it was party time! Villi Vala, a wonderful old (even then) guitar player and singer was there and as usual, played the Tahitian music I love. Being young and agile as I was, hopped on the table and dance the tamure! Fueled by tequila!

Well, anyway...

Back to Granny Susu's adventurous life!

Secretive planning continues for my New Zealand trip. But in the meantime. it looks like I won't go sailing on San Francisco Bay in April. Partly due to financial constraints and partly because there is the opportunity of a lucrative position in the offing! Doing what I do best as a managing editor. So...

One thing I have learned is that I need to stay flexible (both physically and mentally!) so that is what I am doing!

Monday is my birthday and it is the start of a wonderful new year.