Cancer Schmancer

For a couple of days I have been mulling over how to describe my experience at the yoga and knitting retreat. Words rush forth like fabulous, rejuvenating, enlightening, hilarious and oh so relaxing. The Omega Institute is a magical summer camp for those willing to leave ordinary life somewhere else. Our retreat group numbered about 20 -- women of all ages plus Robert, a passionate knitter who fearlessly and cheerfully made friends with all of us.

Our yoga leader, Cyndi Lee of OM Yoga (www.omyoga.com), with her fun, friendly style, fully accepted all of us where we were in yoga, but persistently encouraged us to go as far as we could. Her assistant, Sarah, tirelessly helped anyone she saw needing the slightest adjustment. Our knitting leader, Miriam Maltagliati of Knit New York (www.knitnewyork.com), along with her assistant guru Bert, led the newbies through knits and purls and inspired the rest of us to think beyond the pattern.

It was a superb week for me. I had a chance to push my body through limits and fill my days with pleasures I love, all on a wooded lakeside campus offering both solitude and good company. The retreat group bonded quickly, no matter what our life stage or knitting expertise. It was delightful to see others' projects take shape as the week progressed. We even had a field trip to a knitting shop nearby -- one of our number worked there and arranged for the shop to open one evening just for us.

On Thursday afternoon, the group did about an hour and a half of yoga, then with our knitting in hand, followed Cyndi out for a silent walking meditation to the cafe. We settled at tables to chat and knit, then suddenly a cake and candles appeared and Cyndi presented me with a handmade birthday card, inscribed by everyone with a personal message. While I was far away from my beloved family, I felt surrounded by love.

Now I've been back three days and I'm still feeling the peaceful serenity. May all of you have some of that in your lives!

Posted by lynda at 09:10 PM | Permalink

I'm off tomorrow on my New York state adventure, driving to Rhinebeck for the yoga and knitting retreat I planned a couple of months ago. The car will be loaded with water bottles, stretchy clothes, my yoga mat and loads of yarn. No canines this time -- they will be at their own retreat with their buddies at BRB. I know I'll miss them, but maybe I'll finally be able to meditate without interruption.

Claire and Mom left a couple of days ago for the family reunion in England. By tomorrow, Claire will be checking out the London Zoo with an eye to future job prospects, or just to commune with her beloved exotics.

Posted by lynda at 05:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

My last radiation treatment is done. That means I have had all the weapons that Canadian medical science currently provides brought to my defence against my type of cancer. And I think I've won. It has been a nine-month adventure unlike any I could have imagined.

It shouldn't surprise any of you dear readers that I have yet another gratitude list I want to share:
1. My daughter greeted me this afternoon with a bouquet of flowers to celebrate the end of my treatment. She herself has brought joy into every day since she came home from California.
2. My husband patiently circled the block today waiting for me to be done -- and it took an hour and a half because my unit at PMH was broken when I arrived. Bob has been a prince (of tea, of support, of love) throughout this whole thing. He says I should be invincible now because I am "pre-disasterized."
3. My mom called often to make sure I was OK and always stood ready to drop her whole abundant life in Owen Sound if I should need her closer. Ditto my sisters, who called and sent good wishes all the time. You all surrounded me with virtual hugs.
4. All the prayer people, some of whom I have never met, who continued to pray for me for months. How could I lose heart when I knew you all cared so much?
5. Last of all for today, I am grateful to the friend I ran into while waiting for treatment, who has undergone multiple rounds of chemo and radiation, with far worse side effects than I have had, and who now faces metastasized cancer. She smiled and greeted me cheerfully. I have so much to learn.

As for this weblog, I have decided to continue it, but with an expanded scope. There is no need to focus on my health all the time. I'd like to make it a forum for my new life, a way of keeping on track with the lessons of this year. It sounds simple enough: live each day fully, be kind to yourself and others. But if it were easy, we'd all live robustly to 100. As I try to figure it out, I'll share what I discover. As always, I welcome your comments.

Posted by lynda at 04:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Congrats to my lovely wife on the occasion of her last radiation treatment.

Click picture to enlarge.

Posted by rgdaniel at 03:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I had my last trip on the cancer wagon today as Bob will be my chauffeur tomorrow and Tuesday. It was smooth and fairly quick. On the trip down, I chatted again with Kim, a caregiver I had met on a previous trip, and we exchanged contact information. We may meet at Wellspring in the near future. I'll be glad to get back there, both for yoga and for relaxation class, and to see some of my friends.

The fatigue is slowly diminishing. I can come home from treatment and not have to lie down right away. This afternoon, I'm recklessly planning to drive to Square One for a haircut -- vanity is such a motivator!

Posted by lynda at 12:22 PM | Permalink