Each day is a gift...

Day +60...Yeah!! What a difference a week can make! I'm getting stronger every day...
Last weekend I was able to get out and to do a hike with the family at World's End in Hingham (slow and steady). After having to fight for bench space (with boys, everything is a competition!),  Fred got busy
imparting his wisdom and knowledge to the boys before they head off to college. I'm not sure the boys were listening, but at least they faked it well! Meanwhile I was all about trying to catch up... and catch my breath! Fortunately Hayleigh was with me in case I needed a push!



This weekend.Fred and I traveled to NH to see Tom Beaumont and Tom Moran participate in the Timberman Sprint Triathalon. And, as if it couldn't get any better,...Sunday we celebrated our 23rd wedding Anniversary! As my friend Margaret suggested, this past year has given all new meaning to the vow "for better or worse"! We have so much to celebrate and be thankful for. Unfortunately the kids could not be with us this weekend; Shane is already at school (in double sessions for soccer), Bret was working, and Hayleigh was in NYC with friends.
It was really great to get away on Saturday and to spend time with friends at sunny Lake Winnepesauke. Believe me, I love my home, and I am thankful to be here rather than in the hospital, but when you are in it as much as I have been, its sooo refreshing to get outside (with respect to all precautions of course). Don't worry Anthony, I know you're reading this, and I'm being very careful).

We began the day on Saturday by getting out early to see Tom B and Tom M run the triathalon @ 7AM. They both finished strong and Tom B even posted a better time than last year, despite knee surgery and a recently injured rib that cut into his training. The weather was spectacular and there were lots of family and friends cheering them through the ups and downs of the race course. Of course, I was out there with my rather loud and obnoxious Nike cow bell, making sure that all the neighbors at Chantecleer Shores were awake to watch the festivities. Even mom (Kay) made the drive to the lake from CT to see him run. I cannot thank Tom enough for putting himself out there and raising $$ in the name of Amyloidosis Research ! As I have said many times before, were it not for the research and clinical trials that have been done over the last 10 years, any hope for survival would be bleak. I cannot wait to get out there myself and promote a program of awareness and education for both the medical community and patients about this rare disease. Bottom line is that if more primary physicians as well as specialists recognized this disease, patients would be diagnosed earlier, and through new and developing chemo- therapies, have a better chance for hope and life.(more on this another time!)

By 10am, (apres-race) I was looking for coffee to keep my energy flowing, which meant Fred had to make a quick run to "DD" , then we all settled in on Tom and Sue B's deck to rest and 'catch up'. (I was tired after ringin' that bell all morning LOL!)  Sue made sure I got the lounge chair of course, although I would have gladly given it up for Tom. It was so great to see everyone and to thank them personally for all the support and encouragement that they have shared with Fred and I during this past year. Sometimes the words don't come easy, just tears. We are incredibly blessed to have such wonderful friends.

Jim, Evelyn, Sue, Fred, "chrome dome", Sue, Tom

Colin, Tom , Sue

                          
Fred and I sadly said our good-byes and headed back to Easton, stopping in Boston to have a quick toast with another couple who share the same anniversary. It was a long but wonderful day.
Sunday morning came way too quickly and after catching up on rest most of the morning (hey...I needed it!) I went for a 30 minute walk (in preparation for next years Timberman Sprint of course ) before commencing prep work for a special "anniversary" dinner for Fred and I: Chophouse salad with peaches and home grown tomatoes, Herb Crusted Filet Mignon, a perfect Chateau St. Jean Cab, and a Plum Galette for dessert. Easy and deelish...If it wasn't for the fact that I had to leave my Filet on the grill for 10 minutes longer than Fred's, dinner would have been perfect! (I won't see medium rare for a long time!)
This coming week we will be somewhat emotional for me (more tears). Besides Hayleigh enduring the dreaded "double sessions" for HS soccer, we are moving Bret to Quinnipiac to begin his freshman year. He is very excited about his new adventure and anxious to meet his roommates for the next year. Now, don't get me wrong, we are truly excited for him as well (after all, we worked so hard all these years to get him to this point, right?) but it is bittersweet to see him finally leave to begin this chapter of his life.(and it has nothing to do with tuition payments!!)  Breath...pray...breath...pray! LOL
Our house will certainly be different this year (notice I didn't say quieter??) with just Hayleigh, Fred and I fighting over the the sectional and leftover pizza, but I'm sure in between high school soccer games and Hayleighs social calendar, we will fit in plenty of visits to Connecticut to see Shane and Bret. Its great that they are within a half  hour of each other too, so we can catch both of them in one trip!

Still no hair...but I'm here, "dancing in the rain", so I'm thankful for each new day.
Thanks for all of your donations to research and the continued prayers for me and my new "amyloid" friends.


Love and "air hugs",
Cheryl

Wolfie...RIP, we love you and miss you!