Slow Churned Update

I started writing in Open Diary in 1998 and used to write in here every day.  There was something so wonderful about being able to write my thoughts, gain an understanding of how I felt about things, see how other people perceived the world.  I have met some wonderful friends, some of whom I still stay in contact; some I have lost along the way.  And like all places with people, there have been arguments, fighting, and bashing.  But I always appreciated the Diary Master’s light hand and the community’s rallying together.

I no longer write often.  I have things in my head to say but I just don’t come in and write it.  I am spending less time online as a whole and Open Diary is one of the last possible entries.  I wonder how some of my old friends are doing but I don’t necessarily read to find out.  I apologize.

This summer I had breast cancer surgery and had half of my left breast removed.  I had a rare form of breast cancer: a Phyllodes tumor.  Less than 1% of all breast cancer is this type and rare enough that the radiologist had never see anything like it before.  It is considered breast cancer because, while the majority (58%) of the the tumors are benign, it can change it’s mind and become malignant.  Just on a whim.  About 20% are in the process of changing when discovered and the rest are already malignant.  It is an extremely fast-growing tumor and the cause is unknown.  It almost always affects the left breast.  The only treatment is removal.  As my breasts are rather large, we didn’t need to remove the entire breast, but half.  I am lucky, as it is the luck of the draw.  Mine was benign.

This fall I have been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia.  It is a relief to know why my body hurts literally all of the time, with some times so bad I can hardly move.  And now I know when I have these flare ups, that it isn’t me being crazy, I have not done anything to myself, and it will pass after a few days.  I am dealing with it through a light fitness class (it is a fitness class for seniors; I figured I could move a bit like them.  I call it Sweating with the Oldies.  I am the baby in the class  ), gentle adaptive Yoga, massage, and stretching classes.  And lots of ibuprofen.

My grandgirl is now seven and a half and still the joy of our lives.  Kaity grows tall and lanky, thinks she knows it all, and has a little bit trouble staying focused.  So many people, so little time to chat.

I hated my job for about two years and spent the summer dreading returning to the college.  Three days before classes were to begin again, I decided that trying to get Public Speaking taught correctly online–a 15 year endeavor–was the problem.  I dropped the online classes, went back into the classroom, and fell in love with teaching again.  I am still thinking retirement in about a year but now have hope to go out still loving what I do.

I hope to spend at least once a week on the Diary.  It is my New Year’s Resolution–take care of me.  I’ll see you in the funnies 🙂

peace~~