This is definitely not what I had in mind.

Back in the Fall of 2019, I decided to embark on a quest to do something new every month in the year leading up to my 60th birthday. It was a great idea, and one that I’ve been committed to sticking with now that the birthday is five months behind me.

But in the midst of all the new, it just happened that not all the “new” experiences where what I’d planned. There was Covid, with all that entails. Who would have ever thought I would need a mask to leave my home? No, a global pandemic certainly wasn’t on my list. But thanks to the vaccine and time, things are getting better. This year I’ve been able to participate in a paint class, take a interior design seminar, and plant a little herb garden in a flexible planter.

I’ve also been diagnosed with breast cancer. Not what I had in mind when I said I wanted something new.

So let’s talk positives first: there is a 98% success rate with the treatment protocol we’ve chosen, so I’m positive all will be well in the end. Equally good, I get to keep my boobies! I’ve had them since I was nine years old, so I’m pretty attached to them at this point; very happy about that. The hair won’t stay with me, but luckily that’s a renewable resource. Hair grows back; boobies don’t. Ha!

For those who are curious, I have triple positive invasive ductile carcinoma. We caught it exceptionally early — only 6mm in size — despite the aggressive nature of the cancer. The mass was found during a routine mammogram, one I likely would have postponed until fall except my regular physician is also battling breast cancer, and it made me remember it had been almost two years since the last boob squishing. So very glad I got the exam when I did! This would have been a very different story if I’d waited another six months.

Oddly enough, while I’m not looking forward to the treatment, I’m very much at peace that this will all turn out well. A lumpectomy, chemo, radiation, and hormone therapy sounds daunting, but it’s a small price to pay to be around to enjoy my retirement. As much as I possibly can, I plan to continue my life as normal this next year, but travel will be limited for a while. Just another good reason to plan an epic journey when this is all behind me!

Over the next month I’ll get the lumpectomy and have a port inserted. I also plan to get a very short and sassy haircut so the hair loss won’t be such a mess. I may set up a raffle to guess what color and texture my hair will be when it returns! That could be fun. At my age, I’m betting the days of non-gray hair are over and that it will come back gray and — I hope — with a little more body. We’ll see. If I don’t like it, there’s a plethora of hair dye options. Not sure if I’m going to bother with scarves or hats or wigs during the bald stage; south Mississippi is brutally hot and humid in the summer, and I’m leaning toward investing in sunscreen for my head instead.

I’m also seriously considering a tattoo at the end of chemo to commemorate the event. Thinking of getting a Celtic heart in pink! The worst part is my doc tells me this particular type of chemo doesn’t usually make you lose weight. That is so unfair! I mean, if I have to have cancer, I should at least get to lose some weight in the process. I was counting on that chemo 25 at least. Ha!

So, dear readers, I will update you all from time to time via this blog, and would appreciate any and all recommendations of funny books to read or podcasts to listen to during my time in the chemo chair each week. We have a great library at work, and I’m currently reading the Sookie Stackhouse series. Very cute, but I read quickly so it won’t last long. No dysfunctional family stories, though! I don’t want to read anything that’s going to make me weepy or introspective. I just want to laugh.

Finally, if you are so inclined I would be most appreciative of any and all prayers, warm thoughts, and good wishes. Having been through a much, much more serious cancer diagnosis with my mom seven years ago, I have a pretty good idea of what to expect, and I’m ready for that. But I do also understand and believe in the power of prayer. We would not have Mom here today without it, and I want to harness all the power possible for a strong and full recovery.

The adventure goes one, and will continue for years to come. I have far too many “firsts” still ahead of me!

On the left, that’s Karen and I and our masterpieces at the paint studio. On the right, I’m enjoying a Strawberry Mule after a hard 30 minutes planting my herb garden.