5 Months Cancer Free

Well July 17th I reached the 5 months cancer free mark in my recovery.  I am still suffering from neuropathy in my feet, insomina, fatigue, and chemo brain.  Sometimes I wonder if I will ever regain my old level of self back.  I know it is a slow process, and I have to tell myself be kind and rest when I'm tired.  In the meantime to stimulate my recovery, I have taken on some tasks to help rebuild my strength and mental capacity again.  

I have been keeping myself busy with caring for my raised bed garden.  It has been growing like a crazy weed, and I have already had a couple feedings of lettuce, beans, and peas.  It is a joy to watch it grow, and it stimulates me to keep checking to see when to harvest my carrots, beets, and potatoes.  My family has jumped on the garden bandwagon this year too.  Mom has a massive garden growing.  My siblings helped her with some of the planting, and my uncle Raymond (her brother) comes often to check it too.  I think they have the potato bug problem beat.  She has a row that is marked Susan... this row is growing the squash seeds I gave her at christmas.  I can't wait to have some squash this fall.  

Beyond my gardening, I have been helping to lead the 4-H gardening club that will run from May 28th to mid-September.  It's a nice change for me to interact with the kids.  Our first few meetings were held by Zoom because of Ontario being in covid lockdown.  Setting up the slideshow presentations seem to fall into my area of expertise, so it was great fun for me to get into the project manual and pull out the good stuff to share with the 4-H members.  Since July 16th, we can now resume in-person outside meetings, and on July 23rd we can move to indoor meetings since we are well within the limits set out by the Ontario government for covid restrictions.  For those of you who are wondering what is 4-H?  It is a non-profit youth organization that believes in having youth learn to do by doing with Head, Heart, Hands, and Health.  

For the last 23 years, I have been volunteering some time as the Temiskaming 4-H Association administrator.  My main areas of duty have grown during this time, but I am secretary, treasurer, webmaster, database coordinator, awards coordinator, volunteer screening contact, and basically, the go-between 4-H Ontario to the club leaders who do all the hands-on projects with the 4-H members.  It might sound like a lot of work, but it boils down to a day or two a month that I affectionately call my 4-H days.  I love to support my 4-H leaders where I can, and in turn it gives them more time to focus on the 4-H members who benefit in learning leadership skills, developing self-confidence, and gaining life long friends.

 

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July 17th also is another date of significance, it would have been my parents' 56th wedding anniversary.  Sort of a bittersweet day this year!  My family gathered at the family farm, and just enjoyed the feeling of being together.  It was a beautiful and relaxing day with the wind through the trees and the butterfly flying around us, I could feel my dad's presence just with us.  

For christmas, my sister got each of us a sweet memorial item.  I put mine in my little garden, so that dad's spirit could watch over it and give it his blessing.  Thanks Dad... it's growing great!!  :)