This past week my husband turned 55 years old--we decided to go to Paris for the week. We always have an enjoyable time together, but I don't think we will go back in May again. It was rainy and cold. We went to my "happy place" to ride bikes, and it was pouring down. No bicycles and it is freezing. We walked around, drank some hot chocolate, and talked about having my ashes spread there in that beautiful place--they painted the house/chateau a red and white color. I liked it better when it was just white--Eric spoke to the guard at the gate, and he said for a fee, we can rent out an area or room for family--could it be that he is finally warming up to the idea of my cremation?
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| Porte Jaune my "happy place" |
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| the walkways and bike trails in Porte Jaune |
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| This is the cute little hot cocoa/sandwich shop we love |
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| At the river, usually, there are giant white swans |
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| the private chateaux |
Paris is and always will be "our place" I love spending time with Eric in Paris, and it never gets old. We have our favorite places we like to go to, but mostly just spending the days alone together holding hands and walking through the beautiful parks and streets is the best.
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| Frenchie |
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| Notre Dame picture for Dr. Northfelt |
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These are what I save up all my sugar for--days to look
forward to--pastries are my favorite sweets, and I will
wait a year. If I know, I can have them. |
I'm not always forthcoming regarding my visits at Mayo Clinic, especially with my family. I just don't want them to worry--if there is a concern, I will tell them, but to go for regular appointments with my doctors and for tests and more tests, I usually just don't give any reports. I saw Dr. Northfelt just before we left for Paris (he is my medical oncologist). We visited for a while; lots of questions, few answers. No, I am not cancer free. He asked if I wanted to change the cancer medicine I take every day and see if I would get fewer side effects. My question was, "what does it do?" his answer was, "blocks estrogen," then I replied, "What does the medicine I'm taking now do" His answer was, "Blocks estrogen." we both looked at each other and laughed, he shrugged his shoulders. All he could say was, "1/2 of my patients do really well, the other half don't, but they all have side effects" I then smiled and said, "well, OK then, let's try it," until I went to get the prescription filled and found out it costs $299.00 pp, and that was with my insurance, I decided to stick with the original medicine and live with the side effects if I was 100% sure there would be a change for the good I would pay it. Still, I'm not willing to take the chance of even more side effects and a massive possibility of no changes. I emailed Dr. Northfelt from Paris and told him, and he replied back that my decision was reasonable and to please send him a picture.
I am coming up on my 4th anniversary of being diagnosed with breast cancer. I'm grateful to still be alive and know I still have a long road ahead of me but don't we all? Life is Good for me right now.
1 COMMENT:
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