Day of Infamy

Aagh!!!  It's the last day of January already!  Can you believe it? One month down in the year 2014!  How are your New Year's resolutions coming along? OR have you long since abandoned those weeks ago?  I suppose if I did MAKE resolutions they would be the same every year. Eat better. Lose weight. Exercise. Those sound like good resolutions to me!

For the last 21 days I've been participating in a fast that our church does at the beginning of the year, so I think I'm off to a good start when it comes to eating better and losing weight.  As far as the exercise goes, I try to walk daily.  That's not super rigorous exercise, but I like to do it.  I actually look forward to my walks. I take a path through our neighborhood along a designated wetland area. I often see people walking or jogging with earbuds listening to some sort of device, but I don't listen to music when I walk. That's a time I usually talk to God and I don't want to be distracted with music just in case He wants to say something back to me. I told my husband that God must be a man because He usually doesn't say a whole lot. . . But I know He's there and He's a good listener.  As a matter of fact if you ever feel like no one wants to listen to you, go for a walk and ask God to go with you.  He'll always go and He'll always listen.  It's perfect!  And sometimes I do get a word or two, but usually its a calm and a peacefulness.

. . . Anyway, it has been a little over a year that I received my cancer diagnosis. Last January, my sister, Jan came all the way from Ecuador (where she lives with her husband serving as missionaries) to spend several days with me when I had my surgical biopsy.  We had fun that week.  We laughed.  We played Scrabble.  She bought me a Scrabble dictionary.  (I didn't know there was such a thing.) She cleaned out my pantry.  Ok, I will be the first to admit, I don't like to clean.  I know, it seems like there are so many A-types out there, but that's not me. . . ( I digress). . . So Jan was pulling things out of my pantry with dates from 2 or 3 years ago.  Instead of being embarrassed about it, I just laughed!  And then we tried to see what was the oldest can or box of something that was in there.  I think 2006 was the oldest. Remember, last year was 2013!  You gotta laugh, right?  Thank God for sisters!

My biopsy was on a Monday, January 15.  Jan flew out on the following Monday, January 22, the same day as my follow-up doctor's appointment.  Scott was working in Philadelphia then, so he flew out that morning also. My doctor's appointment was at 10 am. My two other sisters from Santa Cruz said they wanted to come up and go to the doctor with me when he told me the "good news." (The good news being a clean bill of health. My sister Anita optimistically spoke those words, but I knew it could go either way.)  So I met my sisters, Anita and Bev at my doctor's office that morning.  Oh, am I so glad they were there!  Once again, thank God for sisters! When I heard those words, "You have cancer," I went into shock.  I didn't cry.  If anything, I laughed or smiled or smirked or something. (Why do we do those sorts of things at inappropriate times?)

Yep, January 22, 2013. That's my day that will go down in infamy!

Just about a year ago (2013).  Before "My Day of Infamy!"

Me, currantly, 01/31/14.
Selfie!

01/24/14
I've got curl!

01/24/14

01/19/14

01/12/14

Hair Update
Yes, I have unveiled my hair!  I decided it was time to take off the hat and scarf and let my hair blow in the wind! Early in January, I even had a little cut off the back of my neck and had to get a little color to cover up the grey. And it is growing in curly!  I have never had curly hair.  I have never had short hair.  But I've got em both now!

Before my haircut and color on Jan 8, 2014.

After my haircut and color, Jan 11, 2014.

(No, these are not mug shots!)

Pam