the Impatient Patient: Re-group, restore, and re-charge

This summer has been exactly that of the title of this blog: a few months to re-group and recover from an unexpected turn in the roller coaster of life, restore my faith in others - and in myself, plus re-charge my batteries via some changes in pattern.

afternoon siesta in Cuba, just sayin' :-)

I am happy to report that I have achieved all of the bucket-list goals I set for myself in the spring, and I have many loving friends and family members to thank for the support along the way. Life is crazy enough without adding the post-cancer dynamic to it, but with the love of true friends it is possible to get through. Knock on wood, my health has been great - energy great, losing weight, have full confidence for another good CT scan in September.

Last night the girls and I celebrated a huge milestone with a bunch of new friends; the end of summer vacation brought the last shifts of their summer job(s). They have worked hard all summer at a high-end restaurant in the next town over, as the resident "Aquatic Technicians," working three nights per week each sweating their asses off in the dish pit.

There were many times they dreaded going to work and feared the pressure and fast pace, but they stuck with it and buckled down with the team and "dumped it every night!" - I quote the Executive Chef's compliments of them last night LOL There were several times we all thought they might quit but nope! They persevered, and they are now basking in the glow of a job well done and the power of sticking with a well-laid plan. This accomplishment is in part to the credit of the Chef's team in the kitchen, they are an inspired group of young entrepreneurs who welcomed the girls with open arms, taught them well, and supported them when they needed it. This respect in turn earned the girls' desire to do a good job for them and to pitch in extra when the team needed it.

All summer I watched this transformation in the girls, from anxiety and trepidation to full-on confidence and a lift in understanding of the working world as they experienced what it is to be part of a team that values their effort. They were inspired - as the rest of the staff are - it was contagious, and as a result it has provided them with a plethora of fun memories of stinky dishwater and singing chefs. :-) I am one proud Momma. *I may or may not also be slightly relieved that our six-night-per-week 10pm drives to Thornbury are over* LOL

We made lots of memories in addition to work; one notable experience was seeing Green Day in Toronto, now ranked as my favourite concert of all time. We also traveled a bit, the girls to a friend's cottage, Canada's Wonderland, several shopping trips to the city, and my long-weekend getaway to Cuba.

Yes, Cuba. I, the eternal skin cancer patient, went to sunny Cuba in August. It's not what you think, rum-soaked resort life beach pool sun sun sun, no... there was some rum LOL but I got to drink it in the home of friends of my traveling companion, with whom I had previously traveled to Cuba in 2008. We wanted to get away for a weekend this summer just the two of us, a girls' weekend - and as we priced hotels etc. in the likes of Niagara, my Cuba-expert friend suggested for the same price we could buzz down there for a few days. And so we did, staying in the city of Moron, at a hostel, living the local Cuban life - and enjoying the local Cuban food (which is amazing, and a FAR cry from what is served at Cuban resorts).

We went on horse-buggy rides to tour the city, relaxed on the balcony, went to a friend's birthday party, ate avocados and mangoes unlike the puny imports we have here, had carefree afternoon naps (in our blessedly air-conditioned room), generally just took a step back and chilled out... we laughed, we cried, and we talked non-stop, as has been our talent since we met in grade eight. :-) It was SO good to re-connect, I really needed that time with my buddy, and I came home feeling strong and empowered, refreshed in exactly the way I was hoping this trip would do. (more pics below)

This trip is actually the start to a busy few months of travel plans in my household, I am happy to say. I have always loved to travel and wanted to do more of it, but with the setback of the last three years I thought I was grounded, I had sort of written off my plans for world travel, staying home with young kids and a career taking most of my available energy. But.... intrepid as I am... I have somehow landed myself in the wonderful position of being invited to travel again, and I am repeatedly proving to myself that I can actually do it.

Flying to Montreal with Save Your Skin Foundation last September changed my life, and in the year since then I have come to realize the extent of the changes are even still unfolding.

I am grateful beyond measure to be freshly back into the foray of international travel, Cuba was a good tester. My next trip is for a September weekend at Whistler, via Vancouver, for a work meeting. November I have work in Toronto and Ottawa, and in December the girls and I are going on a much-deserved (and long-delayed) vacation to the States - we are going to California!

The pièce de résistance is in October... I can hardly even believe I am saying this right now, but... drumroll please... I am going to Australia! I have the honour of representing Save Your Skin at the World Congress of Melanoma 2017 and subsequent meeting of the Global Coalition for Melanoma Patient Advocacy. I will blog more about this in the near future; there is lots to explain, as I have been remiss in my blogging about the work I have been participating in for melanoma patient support in Canada. My Aussie travel visa is approved, I am working on booking flights, and I will soon choose the sessions to attend at the Congress: I get to select relevant information and data to bring back to Canada from the world leaders in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of melanoma skin cancer. Words cannot express the honour I feel for being given this task.

So as I daydream about the summer passed and the koala bears to come, the girls are preparing for back to school on Wednesday - there is much organizing of backpacks and choosing of outfits happening upstairs LOL Tonight we are having an end of summer campfire to celebrate our successes over the past few months, and we will renew our vow to take life one step at a time, and to live every day to the fullest.