The Verdict

June 21…first day of summer…the lover’s solstice

We have returned home from seeing my regular oncologist in Scarborough.  Dr. Weisberg agrees with the doctor who examined me last month at the hospital in Belfast: the breast tumor is gone.

But, she will not use the word remission.  She believes eventually the tumor will come back, as I am stage 4 and there is no way that all the cancer cells can be erradicated.  A scan is to be scheduled soon, for the purpose of examining cancer in the whole of my body.  Perhaps it will show the cancer gone too from my bones and lymph nodes.  If so, I will use the word “current” to describe my remission. 

The doctor calls this turn of events, “wonderful”!  Yes, it is.

I’ve heard from Dr. Marina Angeli, who continues to be a source of encouragement.  She tells me not to concern myself with whether or not I’ll continue on my medications for the rest of my life- she says the answer to that issue will unfold in time.  For now, I will continue to take them. 

Summer is finally drifting into our world, filling the air with birdsong and gentle, warm breezes.  We have another beautiful day, the second of the gorgeous pink and black poppies has bloomed in the garden.  Yesterday I was able to tie up some of the tall plants and weed out a section of twisty weed vines from the chives, peonies and monkshod.  The lilies are so fragrant that I brought one inside to float in a bowl.  All the leaves on the trees are fully unfurled, the rugosa roses around the base of our maple tree are in bloom.   

The other day Chad brought me a new nest for my collection.  It has two robin’s eggs within…it came from the boat shed at his job, apparently abandoned when work began on a nearby sailboat.  There is a tall set of narrow shelves behind the livingroom door, which is where I keep special items, like nests and crystals and other lovely, natural treasures. 

Today I am awake quite early and I have some energy!  I may work in the garden a bit and also begin painting in the hallway.  This is the first I’ve felt ready for a decorating project in a long while.  The sweet smell of the lily wafts from its place near the desk, perhaps it is energizing me!  One lily can perfume an entire room- XX, C