Day 39 So close

 

We are all so close to being released from the tight grip of the Blizzard of Oz. As I drove from Houston to Gunter today, the snow all around was so white and bright, I had to put my sunglasses on - and there was no sun. My goal was to drive during the daylight hours and whoop whoop goal accomplished. I made it around 3:30 pm to Gunter, and the highway (I45) was surprisingly good, unless you exited the highway. Then, you best watch yo self. The side roads were icy and slick. Gas stations were out of gas, or they had gas, but you could not go inside, and every other scenario you could imagine. I stopped once and found gas, but no bathrooms as the Love's I stopped at was closed inside. Luckily, there was a street nearby that looked safe and deserted where I would walk Sugar and Maybe so that they could potty. I may or may not have done so myself.

Circling Back

As I document David's journey through his radiation and chemo treatments for SNUC, we have felt most every emotion one could feel. I remember being so excited about coming to MDA for this opportunity. Moving into the apartment, although temporary, was new and different. Watching MDA perform their magic is like watching an Olympic rowing team compete, as each department at MDA is in complete unison in working together to get every patient taken care of. This week doesn't count, as mother nature had her own plan, and I know MDA is doing their very best through it, as are we all.

We would say, "Oh, this isn't so bad" and have now made it all the way to "This sucks". I mean, is cancer treatment really all that great? I suppose everyone's experience is different, but with 1 week left (always subject to change) David is feeling fatigued, nauseous, has very little appetite, and his mouth, nose (sinuses) and throat are all reeling from the pounding. David's psyche is another area that is constantly challenged. This kind of thing requires an insurmountable amount of mental strength. What I can tell you is that if you ask David how he's doing, he'll tell you he's fine. He's good. He's staying All In, and seeing it through like a boss. And I'm right there with you saying, Yes, you are fine, my love.

Before I left Houston this morning, David was loaded up with his fav food/drinks which he refuses most of the time. He literally has to force himself to eat. We talked about the smoothies already, not a fan. Talk about refusing....anyway, he has the things to nourish his body and even when I'm there it's a constant issue to try and "talk him into" having something. The good news is that the Enterprise opened back up this morning and I'd made a reservation the other day online, so that worked out nicely. He has a car and can travel to MDA and any food place that might be open (which are about zero right now). 

According to his schedule, he's still slotted for radiation on Sat, Sun, M, T and W. Chemo is Tuesday. If this in fact stays like this, he'll complete it all Wednesday. I don't want to get our hopes up at this point, as Houston (like all cities) are trying to recover from this snownami. What I do know for sure is that David would love to be ringing the bell on Wed. You know me, I'll keep you posted.

Audible

Since Monday there has been no WiFi at the apartment in Houston. There has been no ability to work, watch TV or things of that nature. We do have our phones, and I can tell you Audible is my thing. I finished listening to Barack Obama read The Promised Land. I listened and completed the book, Educated by Tara Westover. I cannot even begin to explain this book, but I'll try. It's a hard read and a hard listen. It's about a family living in the mountains of Idaho, always preparing for the end of the world. It has everything from mental illness, domestic abuse, and basically about a family living in the mountains who do not believe in schooling, vaccinations, health care, medications or anything society has to offer (because that would be brainwashing - oh the irony of that). It's shocking and eye-opening, it's sad and confusing, and it's a book I won't ever forget. Esp the last sentence of the book: "You could call this selfhood many things. Transformation. Metamorphosis. Falsity. Betrayal. I call it an education". Chills, my friends. 

I finished Radical Optimism by Beatrice Bruteau. I listened to Brene Brown's podcast(s), "Unlocking Us". I really do think she's my favorite author, with a second place for Glennon Doyle. I did go back and listen to parts of Untamed again, picking my favorite parts out for emphasis, thanks Glennon. Did I mention no WiFi? 

Closed due to technical difficulties 

Home Sweet Gunter

As I drove down the gravel drive, the donkeys are in the front pasture to my left. There's hay there for them, and they are literally romping and playing, chasing each other and hee-hawing. They are so happy. I roll down the window, and I just know they know it's me. I yell to them out the window, "Hi Mama and Papa!" and they run around like a dog with the zoomies. I stop the car midway down the gravel drive and hop out. I have treats ready for them. That's my first order of business. That, and coming back down to their pasture to cut/axe out a place in the pond for them to drink from. I see where there was a small area left, and will help them get even more water. Later.

I head to the house and find Winston, Levi and Whisper waiting with tails in the air wagging. I have treats for you all too. I love on them all, and my heart is full. I check my Little Girl chicken area. Yep, still 8 there. I go into the barn and the big girl chickens are all doing great. I lost one older girl to this storm. Her name was Peaches, and we'd had her for at least 4 years and she was an adult when we got her. She could not withstand the storm. Miss you girl. 

I unload the truck, put some water on the stove to boil, I give the chickens some water and I start putting things away. Before long, it's feeding time, and off I go back out to the barn. I cannot believe how wonderful everyone is doing! They have survived Snowtorious B.I.G.

The electricity is on, the WiFi is up, everyone is happy and doing well, and it's time to investigate plumbing. I find the north facing outside faucet still frozen, and when it unthaws, I imagine I'll need to turn the water off until a plumber can come. I'll be boiling more water and showering tonight.

That's odd

There's prints of some sort all around in the back pasture. Weird. I'll need to investigate that further tomorrow. There's currently no animal of ours housed back there. Something has been marching around in this snowcano out back.

I've got more things to do around here, but for now, all else will wait until tomorrow. I hope your Thursday has been wonderful, and that you too are beginning to see the end of this Frankenstorm. 

Bring on the sun,

C