After I finished my radiation for breast cancer and started getting my energy back, I realized something. I had never asked anyone where the boob shop is. See, because of where my cancer was located, I had what I’d call a “partial mastectomy.” My medical chart says “lumpectomy,” but honey, they lopped off the top third of my breast. In other words, instead a gentle mountain peak, I’m left with more of a mesa situation. What would you call it? It isn’t really that big a deal. I’ve been stuffing a little sock into my padded bra to balance things out and make my cleavage not look wonky. But the sock was too lumpy for …

In like a lion, out like a lamb, right? Let’s hope so because two blizzards in two weeks are two too many! I mean, you expect snow in Maine in March, but it looks like February out there. ‘Course we shouldn’t complain because February looked like March. Our snowstorm of a couple weeks ago dumped a foot or so of wet snow on Mahoosuc Mills, leaving the trees and power lines coated with heavy, white stuff. Not great for the power lines, but gosh, it’s was pretty darn beautiful the next morning. Along with the second blizzard, my flu, which I thought was behind me, decided to reassert itself and set up a party in …

I had to go in for a mammogram last week. I know! I just finished radiation for breast cancer and I have go in for a mammogram? Don’t worry. They didn’t pancake the tender one, the one that was operated on and then irradiated. No, I get to have a mammogram on that one in six months. This was for my left breast. Now my boobs are on a different schedule. Honey, the girls have seen more action in the past few months than when Charlie and me were first dating! It’s the first time I’ve ever been nervous for a mammogram. Actually, I was a little cranky because I didn’t want to be there. …

I thought I’d bring you up to date with my journey. In case you missed it, I was diagnosed with breast cancer at the beginning of December. For more on that, check out this blog.  It turned out, I only have to do 21 radiation treatments, so I’m already halfway through! I have to go the Cancer Free Center (as I call it) five days a week for my treatment. So door to door, we’re talking about an hour out of my day. Not too bad. My biggest challenge so far is not pigging out on the Lindt balls they have in reception. I usually try to stay with the hard candy and Tootsie Roll …

“How’d you sleep?” Charlie asked me, as he does most mornings. This was a few weeks ago. “Oh, you know, got up every few hours to pee. The usual. ‘Til about 4:00. That’s when I made the mistake of thinking.” “Well, sweetheart, you have a lot on your mind.” “I don’t have a sleeping problem. I got a thinking problem.” “I hear you. Once we have a game plan, we’ll feel better.” “I think you’re right. It’s the not knowing that’s driving me nuts.” See, at the beginning of December, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I know! What a delightful holiday surprise, huh? Not only was I surprised, so was every doctor I dealt …

Just a short one today because I have bronchitis and a sinus infection and Charlie has a cold. Merry Christmas! You know the dueling banjos theme from that movie, “Deliverance,” I think? Come sundown, that’s what it’s like at our house, only substitute coughing for the banjos. I did prednisone and then went on a antibiotic, but this ickiness is lingering. That’s because the real prescription is rest, and that’s hard to do, especially at this time of year. But, I’m trying. I’m making an effort to get to bed between 8:00 and 9:00. Plus, I’ve eliminated as many obligations as I can, and am only doing the fun stuff. It’s kind of liberating, really. …

Last Wednesday, my back went out. And here’s the deal: I wasn’t doin’ anything when it happened, just my usual morning routine. I get up, walk Scamp, shower, get dolled up, eat breakfast. I tidy up the house before I leave for work, grab my coat and purse. I’m on my way out the door, and all of a sudden, bam! I get a massive spasm in the lower back. I mean, it was hard to get into the car and to lean over to close the door, almost impossible, but I managed. Sitting in the car wasn’t all that comfortable either, and it never let up all day. Man, was I ever wiped out …

You know, there are just some things you shouldn’t see up close. In fact, if you never had to ever see ‘em, you could die happy. Last week, I had the dubious pleasure of gazin’ upon one of these things: color photographs of my back teeth. Technology is part of this, of course. I mean, just ‘cause it is possible to see your back teeth up close, doesn’t mean you should. Like the photos of my colon the gastroenterologist sent me home with last year. What was I supposed to do with those? Make Christmas cards out of ‘em? Anyhoo, I bit the bullet and went to the dentist last week. I confess, it had …

This week, I stopped by Wicked Good Stuff, our little thrift shop in town, to drop off a few of things. I mean, how many mugs with logos do you really need? I also donated a  pasta maker I got a some Yankee Swap a few years back. Never did figure out how to use it. Plus, hello, you can get the fresh stuff already made down to the A&P, so why bother? I also threw in a pair of black sandals with bows that were so cute, but honey, every friggin’ time I wore ‘em it felt like I was part of some sort of an ancient foot binding ritual. Pure torture! It always …

I was at my doctor’s office, talkin’ to her about some digestive problems I’ve been havin’ lately, and she says to me, “You know, Ida, the older you get, the more your body becomes like a nun’s.” That caught me off guard at first, but I pondered it and she kind of has a point. After a certain age, there’s just a lot less margin for error. Gotta somehow keep yourself pure. But tell me, where’s the fun in that? It seems like this happens overnight, but if you stop and think about it, you realize that’s not really true. Our bodies have been tryin’ to get our attention, but we haven’t been takin’ the …