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

hot shots java

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A Little Adventure

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laluna.jpg

laluna My friend Susan said I have to take the Granny part off my name because of a little incident, we experienced today coming home from a coffee break in town. This is what she wrote on Facebook:

"Driving us home today from an outing Poulsbo, Susan had a very close call at Termination Point. Susan exhibited such amazing driving skills. Some guy pulled out right in front of us and with no time to pick a different course, Susan punched it just enough that he went behind us. I fully expected an impact. There was a semi coming toward us on 104 and we would have been shoved into its path had the other driver hit us. Still shaking but really glad it was she who was driving. I am not sure if I could have pulled that off. Thanks, Susan! I think you need to pull the name "Granny" off of anything you are involved with. You are far from what most folks think of when they hear "Granny". Thanks from me and my husband, kiddos and grand-kids!"

It happened very fast and I really didn't think - just reacted! I know Susan was more shook up than I was. I'm just glad her little Honda Fit had the get up and go I needed to blast us out of the way!

But it's also good to know my reactions are still good - despite being a granny!

Our little adventure into Poulsbo was otherwise very pleasant, with a stroll along the main street and coffee at Hot Shots cafe. Poulsbo is a great little town to visit. It has a population of about 10,000 and has a very Scandinavian flavor. The streets are lined with Danish and Norwegian-style buildings and you can get the best pastries at the bakeries.

There are also a lot of art galleries and Gallery Walk is the second Saturday of each month, so I have "calendared" it for the next one in 10 days. Should be a fun outing. I've been to the Port Townsend Gallery Walk (on the first Saturday of each month) but never gone to Poulsbo's.

The town is right on Liberty Bay and the marina is large and a popular place for boaters in the summer. In the winter, the docks are fairly empty but it is one of the few places that still has boat houses.

Poulsbo is also easily accessible from Seattle. You can come across on the ferry from Seattle to Bainbridge Island, then just a short 20 minute drive, over Agate Pass to town. Or the ferry to Bremerton and then up Hwy 3 about 20 minutes. Or... you can drive around through Tacoma, over the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, through Gig Harbor. About an hour and half depending on traffic.

Today, I talked to my sister in New Zealand on Skype. It was really hard not to say anything! And she doesn't have a clue, so we are doing a good job keeping the secret!.