The doctors suggested in August, after my surgery and a CT scan, that I was cancer free. As you know, they still wanted to put me on three months chemotherapy as a precaution. This week I did a new CT scan and after the doctors evaluated the scan they can see no sign of any cancer. When I discussed the result with them I asked: “Am I cancer free?” and the answer was “Yes”. What a relief!!! Of course there…
Today it’s Thanksgiving. I celebrated my first Thanksgiving 10 years ago, only four months after moving to California from Norway. I was certain that during the dinner we would tell each other at least one thing we were thankful for, but that did not happen. I’m not sure if that is because this is not a tradition in our family, or if it is not a tradition at all. I haven’t given it much though, so I’ve never asked anyone…
Yesterday morning I looked at three large pink pills that were in the palm of my hand – the last dose of my chemotherapy. I put them one by one in my mouth, swallowing them piece by piece while drinking tea with milk, sip by sip. I was very happy, but thought I would feel more joyful. What I felt yesterday and feel today is more relief than joy – and that’s ok. Perhaps my comparison to climbing to a…
On October 23rd my grandmother turned 101 years old. I called her, as I’ve always done on her birthdays, and she was as surprised as she always was when I’ve called from California. “Happy birthday grandma!” I said. She was quiet. “It’s Stine” I added. “Is it Stine? Are you calling from America!?” For her it was always very grand to get a phone call from America. After I confirmed that I was calling from America she immediately asked me…
The sound of moving water has always been very soothing to me. Every night when I go to bed and every morning when I wake up I hear the splashing of circulating water in our koi pond. At 9 am our pool pump starts and the sound of the pool fountain and waterfall takes over. It’s fascinating that such a simple thing as water hitting water can be so calming. My favorite sound when I’m in a forest is the…