My dad took a sabbatical during the summer of 1990 and it was the best summer I can remember as a kid. We rented a house in Upstate New York, close to our cousins and we stayed the whole summer. The drive out might have been another story. We loaded up our conversion van for the months of being gone. In the back of the van, we would have a clothes line of ironed clothes. Yes, ironed clothes for vacation. This clothes line was bolstered by one measly support rod in the middle no wider than 3 inches. Without fail, we would hit the railroad tracks right outside of our little town (not even 15 minutes into our 12 hour drive) and down came all the clothes. My sisters and I would scramble to hoist the rod back into place with the support pole but clothes for 6 people for weeks was heavy! Inevitably, my parents would both be shouting at us and themselves to fix the clothes rod. Somehow it always got figured out. The drive was long and boring. Except for the tunnels in Pennsylvania and the tolls where I could chuck the change into the metal bins. During the long drive, when my mom was driving, she would ask for an open-faced egg salad sandwich. I would pretend I didn’t hear her. But she would ask again, louder. Rolling my eyes, I would open the cooler and get the Tupperware out, crack open the lid of the egg salad and immediately the van smelled like rotten farts. I never understood why we couldn’t just roll through McDonald’s and get a burger that didn’t make our van smell like somebody had just taken a big poop. But we saved money packing our own food. And Red Roof Inns. The only hotel we would stay. The smell is imprinted in my brain. A mix between cheap soap, sterilization and cardboard. To this day, I refuse to stay in these hotels. I can remember not staying at a Red Roof Inn twice in my childhood. Pretty sure my eyes googled when the doors to your hotel room were inside a building. But the sabbatical summer was magical. We had a cousin sleepover in one room with mattresses covering the floor. In the backyard of our rental, we had a ginormous tree that fell in a previous storm that I could climb all over. Our cousins had a pool and that is where I would want to spend all my time, if allowed. When we would first get to New York, I wouldn’t even waste time changing into my swimsuit. I would jump into the pool in my white undies and undershirt. I didn’t have a care in the world. (Obviously as I was basically buck naked swimming). At my cousins, not only did they have a pool with a big backyard, I would have access to my Aunt Linda’s chocolate chip cookies and store bought macaroni and cheese. And Aunt Linda had treat cereal like Cookie Crisp and Count Dracula. For breakfast! That sabbatical summer we celebrated birthdays together and had BBQ chicken cookouts regularly. It was the best. Lots of crazy things like ironing vacation clothes and the infamous clothing rod and on and on. But taking the good with the bad and sifting the joys. A continued reminder that good things are all around, we just need to focus and find them. And disclaimer, I am not all sunshine and roses with my cancer journey. I cry on the regular for no real reason. I get frustrated with myself and my situation. I get snippy with Chris and the kids. But thankfully there is grace and an opportunity to sift some joys.

Speaking of sifting the joys, treatment number 4 went as planned last Thursday. My platelets dropped only 2 from the last treatment. However, my white blood count was/is extremely low so when I got my port disconnected on Saturday, a Neulasta patch was placed on my left tricep to stimulate the growth of more white blood cells. The patch is supposed to give you flu like symptoms while trying to boost the white blood cells. And I’d say those symptoms were accurate. Then this past Monday, I had an MRI scan and the results were positive with indications of a shrinking tumor. I meet with my oncologist at my next treatment on July 11 to discuss these results and the way forward. But I am encouraged! Thank you for all the prayers and positive vibes. Prayer is powerful and I am grateful for the continued thoughts, prayers and good energy sent our way. It is making a big difference. Life and summer keep ticking away. It is crazy to think we are already in July but I continue to move forward toward my goal of perfect health. Thanks village for your continued love and support. I cannot express my thanks enough.

Liz