The RV Park where I am staying does not have wifi, so I am not able to update this blog as often as I would like to. I’m at the county library today using their wifi.
Since I’ve been back in Deerfield Beach I have been enjoying the company of my mom, my sister, and many of my friends. We have been having quality time together, and of course eating is a part of it. The other day one of my friends and I went to my favorite sushi restaurant 9 Faces Sushi in Pompano Beach. It was fantastic. The owner even made one of my favorite sushi rolls, even though it was not a standard one on his menu.
Saturday, another friend of mine and I had a great time together, we were going to go for an airboat ride, but we decided just to sit and talk, and then go out to eat lunch. What a special time that was for us. She told me that her friend, artist Peter Max, was commissioned to design the front of a cruise liner. How cool is that, we would bet that no other famous artist has done that. Here is a link to the article: https://www.forbes.com/sites/gcaptain/2011/10/07/peter-max-commissioned-to-paint-new-yorks-next-giant-cruise-ship/. You can search for Peter Max painted ship photos to see more. A few years ago Peter Max was so generous and he donated 2 signed posters to our Relay for Life event to help us raise funds for the fight against cancer.
For 3 days this week, Wednesday afternoon through Saturday morning, I will be staying at the Elizabeth House Inn in Deerfield Beach. It’s about 100 yards from the ocean. How wonderful is that!!! I added beach photos to my beach album. If you want a great place to stay check out www.theelizabethhouseinn.com.
They even have wifi so I should be able to post some new blogs. I invited my mom to stay with me since she loves walking on the sidewalk at the beach and sitting under the trees watching the ocean. Some of my friends will probably also stop by to say hello. Wednesday night a group of my Relay for Life friends are coming to the beach and we are having a picnic and watching the sunset, moonrise, whatever it gets to be. I will be able to walk to our picnic since I’m staying at the beach. Photo album.
One of my girlfriends that lived here and moved to Maryland a few years ago is coming to see me Memorial Day weekend for several days, and we are going to take a trip, probably to the west coast of Florida, and just relax and catch up on life. She’s a nurse, so you can be sure that I will be well taken care of, not that I need it at this point in time. I’m still able to take care of myself like I have always done, but it will be nice to have this time together.
During the later part of 2008 I decided to make a quilt out of Relay for Life t-shirts so that we could auction it at our April 2009 Relay event as a fundraiser. The sashing between the squares is white flannel with little lavender squares, the back of the quilt is deep purple flannel with white specks. It’s so soft and cuddly between the t-shirt material and the flannel. I worked on the quilt for many months, and I handquilted it after it was sewn together. It was a labor of love. It was not easy to stitch since much of the design on the front of the shirt was sort of rubberized with the design. I will tell you that I had several very sore fingers, but the finished quilt was well worth it.
We hung the quilt on the back of the stage during our Relay event and when time came to auction it, the highest price was only about $175. Since I had almost that much invested in the materials, we decided not to sell it for that price. I kept the quilt since then and a few of us on the committee talked over the past few years what to do with the quilt. Gordon and I were past event co-chairs together, Nona was the event chair for this year, and we agreed that the quilt should be displayed at the Fort Lauderdale American Cancer Society office where cancer patients, survivors, staff, and others could see it. I asked Gordon to drive me to the office so I could see where it would be hung.
On May 1st, Gordon, Nona, and I went to the office and along with the ACS staff we found the perfect spot in the hallway. In addition to hanging at the ACS office, the quilt once a year will be hung on the backdrop of the Deerfield Beach/Lighthouse Point Relay for Life event. 
The center square is the 25th anniversary shirt for the Relay, the other shirts say Celebrate, Remember, and Fight Back. Purple is the cancer survivor color, white is for caregivers and others that participate in the event. I had not been to the ACS office before and I was really impressed. They provide so many services to cancer patients and their families. That’s why we raise funds, in addition to helping provide funding for cures. They have a room where cancer patients are fitted for bras after having a mastectomy, and there is a look good, feel better program where patients are fitted with wigs and have makeovers.
As I’ve written and said before, I am so very truly blessed in so many ways that they are beyond my capability to adequately express in words. I can feel how much I am loved not only by those close to me, but by so many others that I have met the past several weeks. I am receiving so many emails, texts, and phone calls with kind, inspirational, encouraging, supportive, and loving words. It touches my heart so deeply, I want you to know how much it means to me. My heart is so full of your love that it brings tears to my eyes. I share many of your messages with my close friends. I feel so very humble. Several of you have posted comments on my website, thank you as well. I don’t post the personal emails you send to me on my website, because I thought if you want the messages to be public you would post your comments on my blog.
As for a health update, I went to my doctor on Tuesday, April 30th. She agreed that my tumor is increasing in size, and is beginning to cause obstructions in my abdominal area, which is increasing my pain and decreasing my ability to eat much food at a time. She told me to eat and drink liquids when I can, and to take my pain medicine. I have been not taking my medicine as often as needed, mostly because I can’t drive for hours after I take it. I still like to be able to do things on my own. Dr. Borrows said that I don’t need to suffer, she told me to take the medicine when needed, so I am.
I’m learning to ask people to pick me up when we go out, so I can take my medicine when I need it. My life is in Gods capable, loving hands. We don’t know the timeframe for how this will progress and play out. Dr. Borrows says that attitude has a big part in the outcome. I told her that if I live for many more months that people will think I’m not telling the truth about my health situation and dying due to the tumor, etc. She said not to be concerned with what others think. The time we get to live is up to God. I read a book many years ago called Illusions by Richard Bach. There was a line in the book that says: “Here is a test to find out if your mission on Earth has been accomplished… If you’re still alive it isn’t.” So for now, I am still on this mission called life. I get time to enjoy and treasure life and all it provides including love, friendship, expeditions, experiences, and so much more. One of the ladies that works in my doctors office gave me a big hug when I left the office. She told me that her mom died suddenly and they did not get closure. She said that what I am doing is really wonderful, I’m providing the opportunity for closure. What a huge blessing.
Well, I guess that’s about it for now. I will write more another day.
