November 11, 2006
Just two days ago, all of Sanctuary was bathed in 70 degree weather, and insects were hanging in the sunlight – doubtless called forth by the warm temperatures, but once activated, not knowing how to go on. Flies that had frantically tried to come indoors before the frosts were now clamoring to get back out. This interlude was brief, and now seasonal weather has returned, coming with nights in the 20’s and a leaden sky that had us muttering, “Winter” into our coat collars. All of those same insects have either expired or returned to dormancy, and the land is still and resting once more. We have two pear trees that are giving us the final gift of bright red and yellow colors; their singular show takes the breath away whenever we round the corner of the driveway. When their leaves are gone, Sanctuary settles in to brown and gray hues and we join the people of the neighborhood in stringing up Christmas lights around all sorts of plants, trees, bushes and fences in order to brighten things up a bit.
Somewhere in the last days I was able to move from the posture of whining about having to go through chemotherapy to one of immense gratitude for the therapy’s existence without which I wouldn’t have the option of a future. With the success of Vidaza for a number of people, there has been some movement toward more research in dealing with MDS, and in one of the latest articles on the subject, the writer stated that Vidaza is at the beginning level of what may be developed. The definition of the illness has moved from a singular perception as a precursor of leukemia to a broader classification of a malignancy of the bone marrow, with its many levels of severity and treatment needs. I am presently in the daily shot of Neupogen phase which is needed to bring my white blood cell count back up again after the chemotherapy hit. This part is finished on the 19th, and then the happy songs start up again.
Alphie has been doing well since his stint at school. He has his “beastie” moments, but we have the tools to deal with them, and so far, we are doing well. I was walking him off leash through the pasture and forest yesterday when he spied our neighbor working on his water pump. Alphie took off at a fast clip and immediately leaped up on Joel with all the joy of seeing a wonderful animated toy. As I came running up I said, “Oh dear, I’m so sorry. . . he really does behave when he’s on the leash!” Joel’s dry reply, “Don’t we all” still has me smiling.