Dear Family and Friends,

Happy summer to all of you. I am feeling much better these days, and as I feel better, it seems I get all the busier. It is so awesome to have more energy, and lose so much of the dizziness and light-headedness, although I still have to really work to focus. I have done a few regretable things when I get too casual. My hair is just starting to fuzz in a bit. From bald to covered, is going to be a while. I just lost the very last of my eyelashes and eyebrows, so I don’t know what the schedule for that will be. I’m trying to learn some make-up techniques to work on the eyes. I really haven’t worn eye make-up except for mascara, so it’s new project for me.
My hands and feet are coming along; my feet especially have been sort of block, heavy, and feel better in my walks.
I am seeing a physical therapist, and she is having me walk three times a day for 30 min. I am having a hard time getting the third walk in. I also have almost another hour and a half a day of stretching and strengthening exercises so I do have my work cut out for me. I have played tennis- doubles- about 4 times for an hour and a half, so I am thrilled about that. My partners have been very kind, but also have been amused about how well I am doing. One of the people I have played with the longest asked me how I was able to keep up. I told her my most energetic activity was to actually stay awake and alert while I watched the tennis channel, and some of the Grand Slams. I am really happy to get back, and I’m sure the adrenalin is helping.
What happens next? We are trying to decide. There are several options, including some clinical trials with UCSF. I have 12 weeks to decide, and recover, and try to read and understand the studies. My oncologist recommended “do nothing”—-meaning follow the standard of care, which is to see the oncologist once every three months, complete with blood tests and a CAT scan. Actually that isn’t just standard care, because I am required to do that by the first Clinical trial I was in.
Summer is still on the planning board. Luke is really booked with work, summer courses, and a trip to OK City with Clark. Luke is doing Masters’ in Arbitration and Negotiation, and they wilol visit attorney-judge- negotiations expert, long family friend JOe Morris, and Judge Holloway, the judge Clark clerked for, after Law School. During the same timeframe, Sarah and Ellen were travelling to Falls City for a high school reunion, and I hadn’t even considered going. Now that I am feeling better, I started finding out if it would work for me to go, and I decided I would also go. The three of us haven’t been back to FC together for almost 20 years. Sarah has some geneology tasks to do, and we’ll roam around a couple of the family cemeteries, and visit Mom and Dad’s grave. I also will be able to see my cousin Rosemary in Baldwin, as will Ellen. We will see other members of Rosemary’s family, also, our only first cousins. I am also fortunate to be able to see a number of friends, Sisters of Charity, and will stay in guest quarters several nights. I am jumping around, here, but to finish family news, John will finish his current year’s employment, and be involved in orienting the new teachers to Tsu
City, and the language center. He is very busy with finishing up his obligations, and finding a new job, which will enable him to have Sat. and Sun. off, so that he can play Pro-football in spring and fall. Most language centers have classes 6 days a week, so he has to find a job with flexibility. He has done many interviews, and is on the brink of finding several jobs, but just needs to finalize something. He can’t stay in the country when his employment and Visa expire, so he just has a couple of weeks.
I wanted to be sure to get this blog out. I am going to continue to write, so I hope I can still contact each and everyone of you in person. Tonight I am going to a Scrapping-Craft night, so I do need to get organized. I could use about 6 months just doing scrapbooks and our family picture wall. I do have a lot of things I need to do, and also am just needing to restructure . Thank you for all of your prayers and energy.
Hope to see lots of you soon, or at least communicate.

Love Annie/Noel