It’s that time of year again — everyone is posting New Year’s Resolutions, resolving to lose weight and exercise more. I am too, for one simple reason. Fat stores estrogen. My cancer is estrogen positive, so the leaner I can be this year (while staying comfortably not-skinny, to give myself a little cushion while I recover), the less estrogen I store and the less it will feed any cancer still in my body. So the chemo fat has to go.
There are other post-cancer strategies that I’ll work to put in place too, once I’ve had my surgery and started or finished radiation. I imagine there will be lots of work ahead, as I claw my way back to “normal,” but I am happy to do it. I’m just happy to be here. Tickled, really. And now, the list I’ve been waiting to make:
Top things we’re looking forward to in 2008
* Me. Yup, me. I’m happy that I’m still here, and I am looking forward to enjoying every day with my little boys and my husband. And, soon, work too.
* Work. I happen to love what I do, and so does my husband. So we’re both looking forward to contributing to the nation’s space program in our own ways this year. Huzzah.
* Spring Conference. WonderDaddy and I have gone to the same science conference every year since 1995, and I’m not going to miss this year. We’re even organizing a brunch for the women at the conference, to facilitate some networking and see if there isn’t something that we can do to help women stay in the field. We’re losing lots of women during the childbearing years, and I think that’s a shame. I’m wondering what we and NASA can do to help reverse that trend. (And yes, I already have clearance from my radiation oncologist to skip 2 days of radiation and add them on to the end. She says I’ll need a break in the middle anyway, to lessen the burning.)
* Summer Vacation. We rented a beach house. We have a solid committment to go and have the time of our lives together after radiation and recovery. We’ve been looking forward to it and talking about it during these last weeks of chemo treatment, and I am so looking forward to actually going.
* Birthdays. Widget will turn 4 this fall — it seems unbelievable — and possibly start preschool. If it’s not right for us, though, we’ll start a real homeschooling regimen, and get together with some other kids and moms for weekly science, arts, and music fun. Little Bear will turn 1 in a couple of weeks. I can’t even wrap my brain around that.
* The changing of the seasons. Planting seeds. Transplanting them to the garden. Watching the little shoots come out of the ground. The forsythia bursting yellow. Iris blooming. Azaleas turning pinks and reds and whites all over the neighborhood. The trees filling out with leaves, and then the long summer days of lazing on a blanket and playing in the back yard. Pool parties with friends. Swimming lessons. And then, the chill in the air and the changing colors on the trees. Seeing another Fall day. Waiting for it to turn into winter again, and snow.
* Christmas. I love Christmas. We had such a wonderful one this year, exhaustion and all, and next year the boys will be old enough to start crafting presents for their grandparents, helping me shop, making something for each other …. I can’t wait.
* New Year’s Eve Party. Our traditional toddler ball drop party was cancelled this year due to the boys’ fevers, but next year we’re going to hold a bash! During the day, of course, and maybe not even on New Year’s Eve, but we will celebrate and there will be the Giant Toddler Ball Drop, and it will be fun. I love to throw a good party.
* Being together. Every single day. We are lucky to have each other, lucky to have such good friends, lucky to have such a wonderful and giving family. I hope all of you do too, and that you enjoy your times together.
I’ve listed special days and times here, but really, the love of family and friends can make any day magical. Every day can be magical. Even the days where the most exciting thing you do together is laundry. Which reminds me … I’ve got work to do! Happy New Year, everyone!
Categories:
