January 28 - Waiting Game

Saturday morning, venti starbucks bold coffee and cinnamon streusel coffee cake. Ready to embrace the day. The usual weekend fare for life in the working world: laundry, cleaning, grocery shopping. However, it’s absolutely balmy outside (2 C), so am looking forward to doing some yoga and then heading off for a market walk to get the shopping completed. My sister Sal is going to head downtown and join me. There’s no snow and the sun is actually shining! Having my weekends completely knocked out for six months on treatment has provided me with a unique appreciation for being able to accomplish routine tasks on Saturday and Sunday. I appreciate every weekend moment.

Tried to obtain my 6 month post treatment pcr test results yesterday, but nurse Sharon is off on a business trip, my specialist has moved to Singapore and the back-up staff were unable to locate my chart. Ah well, I do recognize that this is just how things go sometimes, particularly on a Friday. Will call next week once Sharon’s back. In terms of my hepatologist, was aware that he was leaving and, in some ways, this works out well. Had been considering transferring to the liver centre within the health care institute where I’m employed and will now do so for follow-up care. When first diagnosed, I was reluctant to be seen at my place of work, as I wanted to maintain confidentiality until figuring out my own head space around all of this. Now, much more secure in myself, it just doesn’t matter. Our institute is among the best hepatitis c service providers in North America and I’ll transfer to them. So for now, play the waiting game. I feel so darn great that the thought of relapse is, well, it’s terrible. Am trying hard not to go there, but actually getting the pcr results will sure take away some edge. Just want to know.

Has been a busy month. Two birthdays: our eldest son James turned 25 (wow!!) and my youngest sister Sally also celebrating. We had a party for each at our home on separate weekends, so it’s been lots of dinners, cakes and presents. All wonderful! Big news this month is that James has been accepted into a program he’d wanted at the University of Toronto. We are so proud of him. It’s my alma mater, so this is especially nice for me. My grandparents were also U of T alumni. Carry on the tradition James! Pictures this month, therefore, are of the University of Toronto (http://www.utoronto.ca/), originally founded in 1827, so an eclectic mix of architectural styles covering a multitude of downtown city blocks, running from Spadina Avenue to University Avenue in East-West dimension and from Bloor Street to College Street North-South. It is just slightly North of us and we frequently take advantage of its proximity to walk through the beautiful campus.

Music on the discman this month: Damian Marley, Sean Paul, Shakira (solo en Espanol por favor), Be Good Tanyas (thanks James), Postal Service (thanks Sarah), and still some Imogen Heap and Stars (Ageless Beauty gorgeous).

Am planning a few days away in February on a Caribbean or Mexican beach. Midwinter in Toronto, this is an absolute mental health necessity. Ron’s too busy to get away right now, but I may go with my sister, or friend, or maybe for 3-4 days on my own. Am getting excited just thinking of the ocean, the sand, the music and especially, the warmth.

Today is January 28th – my mother died quite some time ago – today is her birthday. I will light a candle. I’m thinking of you, mom.

Sue