Pentecost

Pentecostal flame

Tomorrow the western Christian Church celebrates the feast of Pentecost. The name indicates the fiftieth day following western Easter and is the official last day of the Easter season. 

The story is told in the Acts of the Apostles describing the coming of the Holy Spirit in flames of fire which lighted upon the heads of those gathered waiting for the next step in their lives.  This outpouring of the Spirit then energized the baby Christian Church to go out from its hiding place and begin proclaiming the Good News.

Today in the mail I received a card from a dear, dear friend and in it was a “flame” to remind me of tomorrow’s celebration. Although I wish we could be together to celebrate we’ll have to do it virtually as we did most of Lent and all of Eastertide. Locked up as we are we complain about not being able to gather as the church. In an earlier day and age we would be truly by ourselves. Modern technology at least allows us to participate with others. In some ways virtual worship can further amplify our aloneness. In other respects it is a lifesaver and a life-giver.  Each of us has our own opinion on the the virtues of virtual meetings. 

Savannah Merlot Sizzle

For myself, I find being able to worship with my own community and also to attend other services literally from one coast to another has made Sunday a somewhat more rich experience than previously. Perhaps my “attending” worship in several different places means that none of the services actually fulfills my spiritual quest. I’m not sure. I know this is what God is providing right now and I am thankful.

Savannah Merlot Sizzle

This is my first of two weeks “off” of chemotherapy. I did go in for labs on Tuesday and found out my sodium level has reached the heights of “normal.”  That makes me feel a lot better. I think I tried to do a little too much on Wednesday because the day ended with my being nauseated. I recovered to celebrate my  birthday on Thursday which was a blessed day with lots of contacts and good wishes. 

The chief helper in the office

I do believe that I’m finally finished with pots and the planting thereof. One of my searches each year is for a stunning geranium. I think geraniums are beautiful plants. The colors of some of the new hybrids are spectacular. They usually have to be sought out because they are out of the ordinary. This year’s find is “Savannah Merlot Sizzle” which I happened upon by accident strolling through one of the greenhouses. I think it is a winner and will brighten the garden all summer long.

June begins on Monday. I will start the day with CT scans. Hopefully they will bring some good news. 

Back and Forth, Back and Forth

That seems like what I’ve done this week, back and forth to the hospital, back and forth to the greenhouses and garden supply stores, just like a pendulum-back and forth.

But I’ve been out of the house every day! I think that is exciting in this time of shut-down.  This is my week for chemotherapy and this regimen requires that I go in each day for five days. Every day I got to motor to the hospital, go through the check in procedure, receive my wrist band and be questioned about why I’m there and get asked if I know where I am going.  There are times in my life when I’ve wondered where I am going, but I’ve got this whole routine down pat. 

I had labs again this week and will have on Tuesday to find out how my sodium is faring. I rehearsed the story last week about my slippery sodium slide.  Tuesday the test showed my sodium up about 10 units. It’s not normal yet but on the way.  Evidently the change in medication or the chemo working on the cancer is having some effect.  I’m looking for more good news Tuesday.

The story was told about the move of the Cancer Center to the Avera Speciality Hospital a few blogs ago. This week the buzz was about moving back to the Prairie Center, that beautiful facility built especially for treating cancer victims. On Friday afternoon the staff moved back “home” as they call it. They were so excited to go back it was almost like little ones around the Christmas tree.  I have been reminded at least five times this week that next week they will be back “home.”

The Speciality Hospital is a lovely building and is all glass on the exterior. When one gets to the rooms they utilized for infusions—surprise! There are no windows. Or if there are they are very narrow horizontal panes placed up near the ceiling so you couldn’t see out if you wanted to. It was a shock for me because I love the light. At the Prairie Center every infusion room has one wall of windows looking out over the lobby and through the south windows that stretch two stories high on the facade of the building.

To the gardening:  one day this week I embarked on the plant buying spree. I went to one out-door store that appears to have everything. They had a lot but only a little that drew my attention. Off to another in search of flowering kale. Nada. Off to another in search of papyrus.  Bingo! Also this store had far more interesting geraniums than the others. I came home with some things, but not enough. The next day I went to two more stores.  They each had a few things which gave me some hope for finishing this task. One of my Benedictine community stopped by with some plants for me having read about my dearth of planting last week. 

I know that my planters sometimes do not seem all that planned. Mother Nature has a tendency to take care of the mistakes of the earthlings who undertake horticulture.  I do however place the plants in what I think are their intended positions and ponder. Hmmm, will I like this in a month? There is the inevitable reshuffling until I’m finally ready to plant.  That finally happened at the end of the week.  

Today is, according to the forecasts, the last day without rain for several to come. As I arose I was determined to finish the pots on the deck today. As I looked I needed one more geranium. Off to the store for one more geranium. Done. Finished the pots. Now the hanging planter for which I had previously purchased the ivy geraniums was the last on the list. 

Firstly, where is it? If one doesn’t secret it away the birds delight in using the liner for nest material. It was found in the garage where it was stashed last autumn. Oh my, it really needs a new liner, they only do last a few years. Off to the store for trip number 2 to get the liner. Finally everything is ready to go. There’s not enough potting soil left. Off to the story to purchase needed item. Finally, task completed. The evidence is sprinkled through the blog. The pendulum finally stops!

Thanks for reading and for your thoughts and prayers.  I do feel your presence and know that your prayers are keeping me going.  In one of the readings from the Fathers of the Church this week the reference was to Psalm 27: “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom then shall I fear?” It struck me that the statement is correct and the question cannot be answered.  It’s a good phrase to keep in mind no matter the circumstances of one’s life. Have a good week.

Some Clouds, Some Sun

That’s been the week. Today rain was predicted, not just clouds, which we really do need.

Another rainy day pose.

Not much to report this week health-wise.  I went in for lab work on Monday. The doctor’s office called to report that my sodium had fallen into the “low” range. Drat! So the oncologist tells me to resume taking the antibiotic/supposed-to-help-maintain-sodium drug which he had suspended two weeks earlier. 

No complaints about taking the drug. It goes down easily, doesn’t leave an unpleasant aftertaste and from previous experience it does the job. Having paid virtually nothing for all the treatments, hospitalization, etc., since last August I shouldn’t complain about paying for a prescription. I have to pay because it is “off-label.” In other words the reason it’s prescribed for me is because it has been found to  help the low sodium condition. Because that is not the condition for which the Feds  have approved it no insurance will pay for it. Using the Good ℞ app which I downloaded at the advice of my health POA, I did find that the price varies by about $200 depending on the pharmacy from which one orders. And these stores are across the street from each other! Good call I’d say. It pays to shop around.

The yard and gardens are in pretty good shape. The rabbits, once again, are busy sampling the small, young hosta shoots poking up out of the ground. They do try out the leaves of the larger hostas but those are evidently not as tasty as and the tender young shoots. So that part of the garden is full of circular fences protecting the youngsters. It does take away the beauty of the garden. Actually it makes it rather ugly.  I will hope to be able to remove the fences once the leaves grow larger but that’s a dicey situation. I had one plant with large leaves that I felt was safe. I went out to the garden one day and it was gone.  Mr. or Mrs. Rabbit, as the case may be, had decimated the whole plant.  I had to look carefully to find the stubs.  One would think that there is enough to eat when everything is leafed out but evidently not. Several others have told me that rabbits never bother their hostas, only the deer. I don’t have the deer and I’ve seen the suspects devouring the plants. So I know who they are!

Deer in the city? Yes, we do have deer in the city.  A few blocks south of me there is an area called “the old orchard.” Obviously it was one earlier but since has been turned into a housing development. Nearly every commodius lot has one or more apple trees. 

I prefer the deck as in this previous year's photo.

Deer love apples. We have many deer in the city, so many that the city has the police assassinate several deer per year. All the dear deer have to do is run down the hillside to the river to get their water, plus the park provides pasture for more grazing. It’s a perfect until the homeowners notice what is going on and start complaining.  As my mother would say, “who was here first?” 

And this (ignore the hose). 

The clay pots have returned to the deck and are very ugly because they are empty. Soon I must go to the greenhouses and do some shopping and return home and plant.  I miss the flowers.

This week brought forth some nice notes and cards, some more food, phone calls and visits from friends. Every year the Avera Health Foundation sponsors a Race for the Cure.  One my friends from church ran the race in my honor this year. The race used to be for breast cancer patients but now is for all sufferers from the disease.  All of this assures me of the prayers that are going forth on my behalf continually.  I’m so grateful.  Thank you so very much.

The Merry Month of May

Years and years ago I first saw the movie Camelot. It may have been in Sioux Falls but I vaguely remember it as being someplace else. No matter. The number from that musical that sticks in my mind is “The Merry Month of May.” 

Whether this particular month May is merry or not is a matter of opinion. With the Corona virus continuing to spread throughout the nation and in South Dakota, particularly in this corner of the state, it seems to me to be rather foolish to be opening businesses, and in so doing encouraging people to be out and about and celebrating the merry month. I notice on the few occasions when I’m out that there are very few persons wearing masks (a proven deterrent to the spread of the virus), and many not observing social distancing. 

This “opening up” is not based on the fact that we have increased testing, or have conquered the virus, or have a vaccine, but on the statistics that say we will have enough hospital beds for those who contract the virus. One wonders if there is not another virus yet to be identified that has invaded the brains and destroyed any semblance of logical thinking. In other words it doesn’t make any difference how many more people get sick as long as we can provide beds for them.

The fitness center to which I belong has announced its reopening on Monday next. I will be asking to have my membership suspended for the time being. I do not feel comfortable being around others in close quarters. Those who are exercising will most likely not be wearing masks and the force with which they exhale will undoubtedly make the air there a dangerous thing to breathe, especially for someone with a mitigated immune system.

We’ve had a mix of weather. On the whole it has been much cooler than the previous week. So much cooler that I haven’t felt the urge to be out in the yard. I do notice that those volunteer yellow flowers are flourishing. Perhaps one should think about doing something about them. One of these days, I say. One of these days.

Some of the glass art on the wall of the lab waiting room

The week has gone well.  I had lab work on Monday and the report from the doctor was that everything looked good. Sodium is staying up in the normal range for which I, and in particular my brain, am most grateful. I guess my white count and platelets are still in the tolerable but could be better range, but that is what chemo does to your blood. I’ve felt well all week with no problems. Thanks be to God.

Several trips on Sunday afternoon to drop off cuttings of plants at friend’s houses got me out and around town. I also took a field trip on Wednesday to see some of the flowering trees before the predicted frost attacked them. I don’t believe it got quite as cold as the prognosticators had said but it was chilly enough to make the fireplace a nice, cozy thing to be around.

The Diary of Anne Frank has always been a very moving story for me. The privilege of visiting the building where the group hid was one of my highlights of Amsterdam.  A theater group from Minneapolis did a Zoom presentation of the play which was viewed on Thursday afternoon. It was interesting seeing the play without sets and with the characters speaking individually given the nature of Zoom.  I found myself concentrating more on each individual than I had before. A discussion with a friend on the following day brought out other things. It is helpful to be able to share thoughts with another, or several others, after some experiences.

One would think in the current situation time would weigh heavy. That’s not the case here. After a few weeks I was finally able to watch a piano recital by a talented young man with whom I’ve become acquainted through the Washington Pavilion.  He is the coordinator of the volunteers there, and is a superb pianist. He had to perform his master’s recital on YouTube because of the prohibitions against groups meeting. It’s amazing to see how rapidly his fingers fly over the keys.

Courtesy of Zoom I was able to attend a Benedictine meeting in Arizona. We also had our weekly meeting here on Tuesday evening.  I look forward to being able to see those who join us each week. 

How some members of the household prefer to spend a rainy afternoon.

I think that longing is expressed well in this quote from the daily posting from the Society of St. John the Evangelist, an Episcopal monastic community, on the Body of Christ.  “We cannot do it alone. This isn’t private religion. We regularly need to be with other followers of Jesus with whom to pray and praise and worship, to listen and speak, and to sit at table and eat.” -Br. Curtis Almquist.

The sitting at table and eating will have to wait for some time until the current pandemic is over. Technology allows us to do the rest. While it’s not as good as being present in person, it does help.

I have another week “off” before the next round of chemo. The only trip to the hospital will be for labs on Monday.

Keep up the prayers. Have a good week.

Spring and Summer all in one week!

It really has been a lovely week weather-wise.  Temperatures in the 50s and 60s and then, all of sudden 85! Needless to say with the warm weather things are growing.  It is such a hopeful sign to see the leaves coming out on the trees. The daffodils are finished. Other plants are growing. Some of the birds are back.

There is a birdhouse hanging above the lower level deck to which Sophia gives lot of attention this time of year. The little birds who use it are quite noisy. She considers the deck a part of her territory so the birds intruding are not particularly welcome, unless she could catch them, but she can’t. Too bad, Sophia, that screen door prevents you from fulfilling your essential catness. 

The yard is mostly cleaned up and ready to go for the season. A trip to the dump is upcoming on Monday which will relieve the garage of several bags of leaves, branches and other “stuff.”

My personal IT helper checking on the wires behind the computer.

This was my “on” week for chemotherapy.  I am being given hycamtin currently.  The first round was given orally so it had to go through my gastro-intestinal system. I had several problems with the nausea, dizziness (possibly caused by the chemo or the anti-nausea meds.  I fell several times and was really nervous about going up and down the stairs. This time the oncologist suggested we try taking the medication by IV. This has worked much better.  I’ve had no nausea and have felt fine.  It does involve going in five consecutive days for the infusion.  I’d rather do that than suffer the consequences of the taking it orally. The infusion is short, only thirty minutes after the medicine arrives so I’m usually in and out in 1.5 hours.

My lovely white curls are now all gone. That’s one of the side effects. That means seldom shaving (which is fine) and no time spent on dealing with the hair style!

I have a clothes washer once again which is a plus. It’s nice to have everything working. I like it when everything works.

On the first of May I found a May basket on my front porch.  What a nice gesture.  It’s been many years since I received a May basket.  And it’s filled with chocolate which makes it more special!

Our Benedictine group met again by Zoom on Tuesday evening. It was wonderful to have people from Arizona, British Columbia, Nova Scotia, Colorado, South Dakota and North Carolina all joining together.  That’s something that would not have happened months ago.  Necessity is not only the mother of invention but the creator of some unbelievable things!

Other than my daily trip to the Speciality Hospital, some yard work, reading, etc. that’s about it for what has been going on around here.  I at least get out of the house for the daily hospital trip and that is very pleasant I must say. I investigated different ways of getting there and returning so I’m doing some sight-seeing on the way to and fro.

Thanks for reading and for your comments. It’s good to know that the prayers are continual. They are my source of strength. I’m grateful.

If only I could get out!

April Showers

Daffodils in the front garden

There is a saying that April Showers bring May flowers.  Well, we are having April showers right now.  A thunderstorm was prognosticated, and it is currently in progress. I’d like to be out doing a little yard work (mighty little if we are to be honest). Spring is springing due to one day this week when the temp hit 80º Fahrenheit. It really has been pleasant all week.

The unbelievable creativity of the people of the world continues to provide lots of activities for all us who are confined to our homes for the most part.  I’ve enjoyed multiple church services from all over the globe.

Currently I’m watching the Metropolitan Opera Gala which features artists from all over performing solos, and the orchestra actually performing some numbers. If you are an opera lover and missed this is it will be available until Sunday evening at metopera.org.  It’s wonderful to see these artists singing from their homes all over the globe. What a treat!

My chief helper in the office!

A trip to the Speciality Hospital was made on Monday for my last injection to increase my white count. Then back again on Thursday for blood work to see if these injections did their job.  Yeah! My white count is up, my platelets are up and my sodium remains up! Good news. This being the case I will no doubt begin my next round of five infusions on Monday. This chemo seems to be working and we hope that receiving it by infusions some of the problems I had when I took it orally will be eliminated. Tune in next Saturday to find out!

It's really hard to get your drink in the sink and keep your feet dry!

Our Benedictine group had its first Zoom meeting on Tuesday evening. For the first time since the pandemic struck we were able to pray together and visit with each other.  Everyone was present so it was a very good time.  I visited our group in Tempe, AZ, on Thursday for their weekly Chapter Meeting. It was so good to see the Tempe friends again and meet, for the first time, our friends in Tucson. We’ve invited the community from Victoria, B.C. and other places to join us this Tuesday. It is such a blessing to be with our brothers and sisters even if it has to be electronically. It actually a miracle to be able to do this!

The time passes very quickly for me. Thankfully engaging in FaceTime calls and meetings as I have the chance brings the world to my home.  I don’t feel that I’m missing out on much by staying home as I am supposed to.

I hope your week has been good. I pray you are staying safe.  Thanks for your prayers and your concern for me and for our world. Thanks to all who provide for our instruction and enjoyment while we stay safe in our homes. 

Quite a wonderful week.

After our Easter Sunday blizzard/snowstorm (whatever you want to call it) the rest of the week showed marked improvement weatherize, at least. Believe it or not I’m sitting on the deck writing this on Saturday afternoon. It is lovely and warm (67º at the airport) and feels just delicious to be outside.

Due to one of the medications I’m taking I can’t sit in the sun but even the shady part of the deck is pleasant with only a zephyr of a breeze. I’m tempted to spend the rest of the afternoon out here since I’ve completed my tasks for the day and there is not a lot of zip left in me.  So far six bags of soup fixings have been cleaned, chopped and fitted in little bags and are in the freezer! It’s wonderful to have carrots, celery, and onion all ready to go anytime I feel the need to make a pot of soup.

Then ensued the cleaning out of half of the freezer to make room for this lot. Unrecognizable chunks of who-knows-what are now peacefully resting in the trash can awaiting their ultimate fate in the city sanitary waste facility. I’m sure whatever they are were wonderful at a point, but no longer appealing in their shriveled, desiccated and frost covered form.

The dumb waiter has been on the fritz for a few days. I called for repair but have yet to hear from the one who has promised to return my calls. As much as I harassed the architect when he planned a fireplace for my bedroom and a dumb waiter to haul wood. I certainly am happy at this state in my life to have the thing for transporting valuables from one level to the next when I’d like to have one hand on the stair rail. Then, one day it continued to the top of the shaft and remained there instead of descending to level where it was desired. As I pondered the situation, mostly while try to fall asleep an idea came which proved to be salutary and I completed the repairs myself this afternoon. It works beautifully and in complete compliance once again. 

Another home improvement has taken place just yesterday.  Three weeks ago when I was falling all over the place I determined I needed stair lifts if I were to continue living in this three level home. Stair lifts for those not familiar are those little chair things that run up and down the steps.  I contacted a company found courtesy of the internet who came at once measured the necessaries and provided a bid. Another company did likewise. I took the first and slightly cheaper bid and the installation was accomplished yesterday by the nicest, cleanest, and tidiest young man. Mission accomplished ready and waiting for the time I really need them. Sophia assisted in the installation by running and hiding. That young man had a really noisy drill!

New Speciality Hospital

Thursday was the day appointed for labs and a virtual appointment with the oncologist. Instead of the few blocks to the Prairie Center to take care of both tasks, one now goes to the brand new Specialty Hospital to  whence the whole cancer treatment center has been moved. The plan is to use the Prairie Center for COVID 19 patients (of which we have a few cases lest you haven’t noticed Sioux Falls notoriety). I’m pleased they have moved even if it’s a much longer trip for me. Not only is the hospital brand new, clean, and beautiful, but no COVID patients have been or will be treated there which will keep us away from the virus. 

I could tell things would be positive on the lab reports concerning my sodium level, and sure enough my reading is at the top of the normal scale. White count and platelets are low due to the chemotherapy and that is to be expected. The doctor has me going back to the hospital for three days for injections to improve my white count. There is nothing medicinal that can help the platelets. So my next round of chemo won’t be happening until the week of the 27th. I can deal with that option.

Why the sodium is such a big deal.  The oncologist determines whether the chemo is working or not by the sodium in my blood. This cancer feeds on it particularly. So the good sodium reading means the A) the cancer is being affected by the chemo and is being worked against, or B) the medication I’ve been taking to help my sodium level has worked very well, or C) both are taking place which is the ideal.  We won’t know for sure until the next round of scans. But take from me as the gospel truth, operating under very low sodium is not living, it’s just existing and waiting for the next undesirable thing to happen.

The new whirligig

What I can’t seem to deal with at the current moment is my hair falling out all over the house. The shower is a real horror story but there is continual shedding all day long. Sophia is shedding and I am shedding and currently creating a bigger mess than Sophia. Roomba eats up the leavings quite handily.  Most of the curls are gone. They will return, I’m sure.

The whole community is up in arms about the Smithfield situation. It is just awful and something should have been done about it much earlier. The workers have been complaining for some time about the lack of protection afforded them by the company.

In the meantime things are good here at home.  A few friends have stopped by for distance appropriate visits. Now it will be much easier to visit safely on the deck if the weather remains lovely.

Thanks for taking the time to read the blog.  Thanks for the thoughts and prayers. Last weekend and this week were very different for me. As our Presiding Bishop said in last Sunday’s homily, it is very different but it’s still Easter! Alleluia!