Thanksgiving Week

 This morning, Wednesday, I treated myself to driving across town to pick up a prescription. I know it doesn’t seem like anything worthy of being called a treat, but it was. I usually don’t drive anymore because it uses up so much energy. But it was a crisp, sunny fall day just perfect for a little drive, and I felt well enough to do it. On the way, I even stopped at the library to pick up a book on hold (Louise Penny’s latest novel, The Black Wolf). At Walgreen’s I looked around for a bit before picking up nystatin mouth rinse. From there, thoroughly worn out, I drove home.

Yesterday afternoon I took a walk . . . across the street to visit my neighbor. And that was after the morning ride to Aldi with my son to pick up a few groceries. He drives, I go in the store with him to make selections, and when we are done, I leave him at the line to the cashier while I go out to sit in the car.

Monday, my daughter picked me up to come over for supper and time with the grandkids. As always, that was fun!

And on Sunday, my son drove me to church. I stayed seated for the entire service, but I was quite happy to be able to sing a verse or more of each of the four hymns, something I have been unable to do since September when I thought I had bronchitis, but it turned out to be a pleural effusion. Singing takes energy, too.

So now you have the rundown of a week in which I feel a little stronger than usual because of the treatment cycle which, after two weeks in a row of my Thursday infusions, gives me the third Thursday off. I also get this week off due to Thanksgiving, so who knows what I’ll be up to next week!

People talk about quality of life when you are receiving palliative care. The infusions keep the cancer somewhat controlled to give me some quantity of life. They also drain me. However, I still find quality in each day. That quality is in being able to spend time with family. It is in being able to write and concentrate enough to read. It is in listening to music and praying. It is in being able to worship with my church family. And next week I get to preach.

Not every cancer patient experiences the level of weakness and fatigue that I do. But you must remember that when I started treatment this time, it was only nine months after finishing treatment for the first recurrence, and my energy had not returned to what used to be normal for me.

So, no, I won’t be traveling or going to special events or completing a bucket list (which, by the way, I don’t have). I’ll be here at home with my son Joseph or over at Dana and Shawn’s with them and their delightful brood of six. I’ll do the bits I can, rest as much as needed, and appreciate every little detail of my beautiful life.

It’s been a hard year, yes, but it has also been a year full of God’s blessings and His provision. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, and there is much for which to be thankful.

Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits (Psalm 103:1-2)