On the last day of May I am thinking about many things but foremost in my mind is the sheer exuberance of summer. Calgary doesn't have spring. We go from winter to summer and it is an overnight transformation. I wish I could invite you to my yard to see the crabapple trees in bloom. They are heartstoppingly beautiful. Every shade and hue of rose, plum and pink. And the yellow finches. The one you see here, perched on a branch of the weeping birch outside the dining room window. Today, this must be the most beautiful place to live. And I bet everyplace on earth has those days.
Today is, also, the day before my last herceptin.
March 31st, 2008 was my first chemotherapy and tomorrow June 1st, 2009 is the last time I go to the chemo lab for an infusion. I can hardly believe all of those months have passed and to think of what a long stretch lay ahead (or so it seemed) when I started out. I have much to be thankful for.
And today I also think of the irony that I get to celebrate my last treatment and others I know, along with many I don't know, will be told there is no treatment available for them. "It is all relative, dear Watson..."
Endings and beginnings. They meld into each other. And yet we do need to celebrate the little victories that come with our particular set of cards. Life and death pronounce itself daily. Maybe tomorrow I will buy myself a red balloon and get one for M too. Why don't we all get a red balloon and celebrate the reality that we are alive and breathing and life is good, in this moment. With love and thanks, Trudy

I am sending good thoughts to you tied with purple yellow and pink ribbons to a huge red balloon!
Posted by: leilani | May 31, 2009 at 12:03 PM
I have an image of you and your balloon, ribbons dancing, doing a flyby. Such a lovely picture. thanks
Posted by: Trudy Boyle | May 31, 2009 at 12:24 PM
Hi Trudy..I hope your last...yay!!!..last herceptin goes well...no bumps and bruises!!
You have been a most amazing Warrior on your journey!!
You are a really wonderful cheerleader for all your friends who are also on the journey "that no one wants to be on"!!!
Thanks from the bottom of my heart that you are on mine!!!
Gentle" YIPEE" hUgs
Carol
Do you know that song.."100 Red Balloons".Beautiful & Moving.
Posted by: Carol Westberg | June 01, 2009 at 10:14 AM