Day 4 of our 35th Anniversary HOG trip: Loup Rivers Scenic Byway. We jumped on Tim’s bike and went for a scenic ride through countryside, with a few stops along the way.
First stop was Platte-River Harley-Davidson in Grand Island. Couldn’t resist the GREAT sale on shirts! Buy two discounted shirts and get one free.
Tim got one, and I got two. Good deal…for me!
Next stop was Happy Jack Peak and Chalk Mine. This is the only underground chalk mine in the United States. No longer a working mine but an interesting tour for sure!
There are very small bats in the mine!
We followed the tour with a challenging hike up the hill to Happy Jack Peak. My legs barely worked after that but the view was spectacular.
Third stop in Ord, had lunch at Arby’s … because we could … not wear a mask . They were open at 100% capacity. We felt a sense of normalcy for the first time in days. The whole town did not appear to care about social distancing or wearing masks. In fact, much of Nebraska is that way. I guess when you live in a town of about 200 you don’t care about coronavirus coming to meet you. We walked around the Ord town square (the museum is closed this year – no help from Yelp on that one ) then headed back toward the hotel with at least two other stops for construction zones.
So, what then? Time to do laundry, play Scrabble and Chess, eat a steak dinner, and have a face chat with two of the grands. Now we are trying to figure out what to do tomorrow. We planned to go to Rapid City, but there are storms so we’re probably only going half-way. To be continued…
Day 3 of our 35th Anniversary HOG trip: Manhattan Kansas to Kearney Nebraska.
We only rode 238 miles today. Last trip we learned that I get tired after about three days on the bike, so we changed it up this time. We are staying in Kearney (pronounced KAR-nee) for two nights. I’ll jump on Tim’s bike for some sight seeing tomorrow, and then we will leave the area the next day.
Today we were on some really beautiful rural roads. Three flaggers with one lane roads delayed our trip … twice. Someone said we could have been the flagger – we sure were colorful!
At one point Tim’s GPS warned us of dirt roads ahead 🙀😱😬😳. Fortunately, we turned right before the pavement ended, but we were sweating bullets for a few miles!
I woke up to a Scripture saying “Be alert.” This was much needed advice with all the farm equipment and rough roads today!
We rode through the geographical center of the United States, and past the birthplace of Home on the Range (🎼 while singing said song) on the Home on the Range Byway.
Once we arrived in Kearney, we visited the only American museum in an archway that spans across an interstate (I-80), the Kearney Museum. It was excellent and the narration is very informational! Good suggestion Harley-Davidson!
And we had some Poutine for dinner.
If you’ve never eaten it, be prepared for calorie and carb overload! LOL. The description is house cut fries, cheese curds, white pepper gravy, bacon, shredded cheese, scallions.
I managed to stay upright on my bike (which was not true yesterday…a story too boring to share), so… All in all, a very good day.
Day 2 of our 35th Anniversary HOG Trip: Prague, OK to Manhattan, KS.
Happy Anniversary to us! Today is the official day. Thirty-five years. May we have at least 35 more.
Great ride through some scenic byways in Kansas. We’ve never been in this part of the state before. Weather was perfect. Cool morning with some heat in the afternoon. Found a perfect picnic spot in Florence for lunch, with cold 99.99% pure spring water running from an old fashioned pump. It was a blessing which brought us much needed relief from the afternoon heat! We soaked our clothes, which were dry within ten minutes of leaving the picnic area. But those were a nice ten minutes!
Today is our actual anniversary (35 years!) so we went for a walk to an open restaurant in Manhattan, Kansas where we are staying tonight. It’s hard to find things open with this pandemic, but this was a treasured spot indeed. Locals call this town “The Little Apple”. 😂 Get it? 😂
Bourbon and Baker is a small plate specialist where we had our anniversary dinner. We shared three entrees: St. Louis style ribs, Fried Chicken and Biscuit, Cornbread Slider. And for dessert: Purple Pride (buttermilk cake). It was all so very tasty and delicious!
Total miles Days 1-2 are 750. I forgot to post our miles last night. We rode about 413 yesterday and 337 today.
I will take this opportunity on our special day to say that while we have our ups and downs, moments, squabbles or frustrations, there is no one I would rather be sharing life with. Weirdos get weirdos, and Timothy — you get me! I can’t believe it’s been 35 years!! To my Riding Buddy, Lover, BFF, Favorite Human, Handsomest Husband, Housekeeper, ChemoBuddy, Snoring (purring) Buddy, Caretaker, Father to my kids, Yoda to our Jedi, and Lifelong Partner in the Ministry, HAPPY 35th!! I love you … more. 🥰😉
Day 1 of our 35th Anniversary HOG Trip. Conroe, TX to Prague, OK.
We left early this morning, eager to get started and avoid the potential storms coming through. Packed and ready to go, we rode from Conroe Texas to Prague Oklahoma, where we would stay with the Seyferts. They are friends from Tim’s childhood and a couple he recently married.
Passing through Seminole on the way to Prague was nostalgic. I heard Tim speaking to me in the Sina com system, telling me all about the places he remembers: his first job location, the farm where they lived (that is now a large open field), the new gas station (wow Seminole is looking pretty good!), and the golf course where he learned to play. It was good to hear him reminisce.
It’s always good to have him in my ear. I usually lead since I have the maps open on my phone. And he thinks I go faster when I’m in front 😂. It’s always comforting to see him in my rear-view mirrors. I love riding with him. He’s always got my back. He looks out for me when cars are passing or he sees something in the road ahead when he is in the lead. This is true of life as well. He’s my caretaker, even though I don’t need to be cared for as much as when I first started this breast cancer journey. I love my riding buddy!
Staying with friends is such a treat. They reserved a spot for us in the garage. Even though it was our first day on the road, they let us wash clothes. They made us a wonderful homemade meal of fish and veggies.
We played Spades (both teams won one, but we were too tired for a rubber match). This was the first time playing cards in a while. It was good fun! A great stopping place. Thanks Jeff and Melissa for your wonderful hospitality!
I’m not sure how I do it, but God. I could stop there, actually. I wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for God. He has given me the strength to continue to ride my 2019 Heritage Classic. I call her “Free.” I wrote a whole blog about this a couple of years ago.
We took a motorcycle trip a few months ago to Colorado but we had to cut it short, because, well, it wasn’t as much fun with the pandemic and frankly I got tired. I don’t think I ever wrote about that trip! It was a great trip with lots of sites, but the ride through the mountains was challenging. This time we decided to spread out the ride, with lots of rest in between, and avoid the mountains with all the clutching. We are heading to the Black Hills!
We’ve been planning a HOG ride to commemorate our 35th anniversary (which is coming up on Monday) because our trip to Alaska was cancelled by United. (Boo!) It’s a special year and deserves a special trip. (Any reason is a good one to jump on the bikes, right?) We were planning on leaving Tuesday, but there are two hurricanes happening in the Gulf.
Sooooo, we are leaving early tomorrow morning to beat the storm. That is, after we drive home from comedy driving school (another whole story) through horrible Houston traffic, pick up Tim’s bike (5,000 mile service), finish packing, keep our granddaughters for a couple of hours and overnight sleepover, then off we will go. Weather looks like it will be beautiful for the entire trip.
My husband and I recently went on a spiritual retreat, with the primary goal of letting our souls catch up to our bodies. This rat race of life, work, avoiding COVID, societal tension, all while fighting terminal cancer can move us to become very busy people. Frustrated people. Angry people. Unfocused people. Sometimes we just need to get away and retreat to gain proper perspective. Sometimes we need a mountainside where we can pray.
“After he had dismissed them [the crowd],
he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray.”
Matthew 14:23 (NIV)
We headed to Boulder Colorado for some inspiration (and cooler weather). Backpacks were filled with food, chairs, study materials, and of course water. Each day would bring a new adventure, and cooler temperatures than we have in Texas!
I deleted FaceBook from my phone so I was not distracted by the world. I wanted to focus on the Lord and listen to what He had for me.
We studied the books of First and Second Timothy separately and together, engaged in prayer and planning, went on hikes through the mountains and foothills, and walked through a wildlife refuge. We sat by a mountain river and studied Scripture, while enjoying the fabulous backdrop God provided. This particular hike was a bit challenging for me (four miles total), but God provided me with the strength I needed.
“I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.”
Psalm 121:1-2 (NIV)
In the wildlife refuge near Denver we witnessed bison, prairie dogs, elk, deer, coyote, and more, then sat by a lake to study. Mountain views were once again our backdrop.
The foothills blessed us with a colorful paraglider show in the sky, as well as mountains in our view. Bumblebees busily buzzed around us as we studied and had lunch beneath a shade tree. The hike up the hill was harder than it looked!
“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”
2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV)
We built altars to commemorate our time with the Lord.
See Joshua 22:26-27.
My eye was behind the camera at times, taking in the view through my little black box. But much of the time I just sat and took it in. Listening to nature, and listening for anything the Lord might say. Few photos remain from those moments, but the pictures are firmly planted in my mind.
Paul’s letters to Timothy are inspirational. I admit I was not initially all that excited, but it was quite a good read. I encourage you to read them and study them. These letters are a personal word of encouragement to Paul’s spiritual son. Timothy became a Christian under his ministry. He tells us Timothy’s mother and grandmother were a big part of this process. This affirms my role in the lives of my grandchildren!
Paul also wrote these letters to describe his ideas for structure in the church setting. As we reflected, we imagined he is looking back over many years of ministry. While he has started churches organically around the region, he now recognizes they need some organization if they are to grow and succeed. He gives Timothy ideas on how to structure the church for success.
Similar to Paul, we have been involved in ministry for many years. We have planted churches. We have passed on the baton to other leaders. As we delved into the letters to Timothy and reflected on its meaning for us personally, we realized we have learned much by working in churches throughout the years. God has given us much. We are grateful he has gifted us with knowledge, education, and experiences. This means we have great responsibility.
“When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.”
Luke 12:48b (NLT)
We are hopeful there are some Timothys out there who will listen to our wise counsel as we serve and coach pastors and churches. Paul also urges Timothy to stay alert in terms of doctrine, to watch out for false teachers. We felt this is particularly important during our current time as we see so much false teaching in the world. Part of our responsibility exists in truth-telling.
Second Timothy was especially endearing to me, as it was the last book Paul wrote before he was to be executed. The first letter was written from a place of house arrest, where he could have visitors and roam about freely. The second letter was written most likely from a cold and drafty dungeon, where he was in chains because of his faith. Only one person (Luke, the physician) was with him. Paul knows he is about to die.
In addition to much learned (too much to include in this blog), this study made me think about my life. Who would I would write to at the end of my life? What would I say? What would I want them to know? What would God inspire me to say to them? I found it very interesting that Paul chose to write to Timothy. Not his wife, not his children (assuming he had any), not to his physical family, but to his spiritual son and family. He was most concerned about the life of a young preacher, the advancement of God’s Kingdom, and the security of His church. Oh to be like Paul…
I long to have this kind of Kingdom mindset, so these things are always in the forefront of my thoughts. Always.
A wicked storm passed through our neighborhood last night and woke me up…twice. I vaguely recall Tim mentioning the beautiful light show, but I was too tired to open my eyes and watch. I could see it through my eyelids with each bright flash. I kept hearing it get closer and closer and closer and then BANG!
I was thankful for the rain, and the slightly cooler weather it provided. It has been HOT here in Texas. Over 100 degrees several days in a row. I was supposed to get a walk in, but that didn’t happen either. Tim had a meeting and we still have one car. We have the bikes, but rain is not their friend 😪. Our plan was for him to drop me off at a restaurant for lunch, and I would walk to my appointment from there. We changed our plans since the weather was so unpredictable. I could wait in the clinic just as easily as in the restaurant anyway.
This wasn’t meant to be a weather report. 😂 I’m sitting here at MDAnderson getting the drip. They got me in early. It is true I still have chemo whether it is raining 🌧, sunny 🌞, or otherwise. Every three weeks this thing rolls around. (Has it been 3 weeks already??? 🤔 ) Some people ask me when/if I am finished with chemo. The answer is always the same…I’m a lifer. I am on maintenance chemo until the day I die. That may sound grim, but I plan to be on chemo for a very long time!
A man just rang the bell. It is a tradition here at MD Anderson (and in many other centers as well). It means he is finished with chemo. Yay! I’m happy for him. I am reminded of the time I rang the bell when I finished radiation. It was a remarkable, emotional moment. I was allowed to have family there with me, but this gentleman had to ring it with only staff by his side due to all the COVID restrictions.
Reality is, I will never ring the bell again. And I am okay 👌 with that. I am so happy 😀 that I have treatment that is working. God is watching over my body to keep me stable. The nurses here are like family to me, and this center is like home. I walk in and things may look a little different (e.g. new PPE or longer lines), but there is something comforting about going to a center you understand, routines, and knowing there is always someone there to care for you, and care about you. They take a genuine interest. Nurses know me by name, and ask me personal things, like how is my book coming (yes, they remembered!).
AMEN!!
Just a few more minutes and I’ll be finished, so it’s time to wrap up this blog. I had an extra 15 minutes of drip today as it was time for my bag of Zometa. That’s the medicine that helps my bones 🦴 🦴 stay strong. I get it every three months. Even still, it seemed to go by pretty quickly. Spending time with you, my readers, has helped. Thank you for sharing my journey!
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
“Rejection hurts at any age,” said my wise 22-year-old daughter. We were just talking about a missed opportunity for a mutual friend.
A toddler playing with toys babbles and cries while pointing to a sibling, who won’t play with him…rejection hurts.
A child is the only one not invited to a birthday party…rejection hurts.
Middle schooler does not get picked to be on the team…rejection hurts.
A high schooler gets turned down after finally gathering the courage to invite that special someone to prom…rejection hurts.
Young adult hears “no” or “not now” when popping the proverbial question…rejection hurts.
A mom’s child is not accepted into the desired private school…rejection hurts.
Divorce papers are served…rejection hurts.
A person in the prime of life is passed over for a promotion…rejection hurts.
Man with just over a decade from retirement discovers that his age is now a factor in not getting that dream job…rejection hurts.
An older couple invites the family for a holiday, but their children have other plans…rejection hurts.
Rejection hurts at any age. It doesn’t feel good to hear the word “no.” Our human side jumps to “I’m not good enough,” or “I’m not pretty enough,” or “They don’t love me,” or “_______________” (you can fill in the blank).
We’ve all been there. We’ve all experienced rejection in some form or another. Some have a longer lasting impression, but the hurt is hurt regardless of age or circumstance.
Jesus understood rejection. The prophet Isaiah spoke of this many years before his birth. He is familiar with the pain and suffering that rejection by another human being delivers. He was rejected to the point of being murdered. He can empathize with you when you hurt. When you are feeling rejected, go to the one who knows us best. He will never leave our side.
“He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.”
Isaiah 53:3a (NIV)
Oh, sure, we may take a day or two to feel bad, and we may even bemoan the rejection and throw ourselves a self-pity party.That’s human nature. That’s normal. But…it isn’t healthy to stay there. We must pick ourselves up, go the Lord in prayer, and listen. He may have something even better in store. Remember the old saying:
“When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.”
(attributed to Alexander Graham Bell, although many have been credited for this seemingly anonymous saying)
Way to go Alex! But in reality this concept appeared in the Bible way before Alexander Graham Bell, Helen Keller, or anyone else wrote it. Paul may not have used the words windows or doors, but the idea is right there in Romans. The suffering we experience from rejection can make us stronger if we look to the Holy Spirit for God’s will in our lives. Suffering (and one might say suffering from rejection) builds endurance, character, and hope… the other door.
“But that’s not all! We gladly suffer, because we know that suffering helps us to endure. And endurance builds character, which gives us a hope that will never disappoint us. All of this happens because God has given us the Holy Spirit, who fills our hearts with his love.”
Romans 5:3-5 (CEV)
Gladly suffer? Gladly? I may need to work on that.
So, yeah, rejection hurts at any age. But the pain and suffering will lead to strength as we learn how to embrace it.
Big 5-0! Chemo, that is. I hit that milestone personally…ahem…a few years ago. Actually, I received radiation for my 50th birthday…kinda forgot about that until just now.
Today is Perjeta and Herceptin round #50, also known as Pertuzumab and Trastuzumab. These drugs are keeping my body stable, so it’s worth the effort. Hard to believe I’ve been here 50 times since my MBC diagnosis. I should get a cake or something. . They give me these drugs for the HER2-Positive status. The brown bag is the Herceptin.
I have a room with a view today. I like the exterior rooms because I can see outside, although my back is to the window when I’m sitting here. One of my neighbors was apparently watching Star Wars, as I could hear the beeps and techno sounds of R2D2. My nurse is very efficient. Luck of the draw. You never know who you’re going to get.
Something’s beeping saying I’m ready for the final bag. Just another half-hour, a few minutes to flush, de-access the port, and then I will be free. Have a wonderful week everyone!
Another day … another dollar … spent on medical treatment. 🤑My out-of-pocket expenses are typically met within the month of January, then I can just let things happen. It’s about $10,000 per year just for my portion. I don’t bother to keep track of what the insurance company pays. But it is a LOT.
This week alone I had multiple scans on Wednesday (CT of chest, abdomen, and pelvis, and whole body bone scan), blood work, and today I had a mammogram, more blood work, and now I’m waiting for chemo to drip. It is very much like a full-time job managing all of my doctor’s appointments and such. I’m not complaining, especially now that I am “semi-retired.” haha. The doc called yesterday to let me know my bone scan and CT were normal! Yay! My body is still stable. Thank you Jesus. Keep plugging away as it is working!
Annual Mammograms are such fun!
The mammogram was earlier this morning. This is the first time I’ve had one at this center, and the first mammogram in two years. They only do the left one, since the right one is basically belly tissue. Combination lockers conveniently store my valuables. They gave me this freshly pressed, monogrammed robe that has been stored in a warmer. So cozy! I felt like I was in a spa, until the s m a s h i n g began 😂. Ladies, if you have never heard Barbara Johnson’s “How to Prepare for Mammogram,” it’s worth the read.
After that torture chamber I had some time between appointments to eat breakfast, shop, and get some lunch. Oatmeal breakfast was inside Panera Bread, as they are open and allow people to sit at socially distanced tables. That was much better than what I did (am doing) for lunch. After shopping for some fun stuff to keep the grandkids busy (more on that later), I was running out of time to eat out. So, I thought I would pick something up at the clinic. The coffee shop here is less than desirable. Even the nurses talk about how they miss the cafeteria in St. Luke’s. They were out of salads and Diet Coke, so I got a Coke Zero and the last “gourmet” peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
Gourmet lunch?
As far as I can tell, the only thing gourmet about the PB&J was the price! They did include granola to the center for a bit of added crunch. I went to the cash register but the clerk was out to lunch, said the technician sitting by the cafe. He asked what I had and offered to pay for it when the clerk came back, since I had to get to chemo. 😃 Aww! That was sweet, but I told him I would pay when I get finished. Who knows whether I’ll have a bill when I get back down there. 🤷♀️
Nurse👩⚕️just came in and we commiserated about the new patient chairs after I pinched my finger 🤨. They are better than the ones at St. Luke’s, but they have some quirks when you try to lift the footrest. At least I can put up my feet while I’m writing this blog.
Perjeta and Herceptin
Rats! I forgot to apply the Lidocaine cream 😩😩. That’s what numbs the port so when the needle goes in I don’t feel it. Rats. Rats. 🙀🙀 Double Rats! Oh well, too late now. I have to apply it at least 30-90 minutes prior or it doesn’t work. I got so busy shopping I totally forgot. This nurse is pretty good. Nice and quick. She did fine. It only feels like a brief pinch.
Still forced to wear masks every time we come. They give me a new one each time, so I’m starting a whole collection 😂. No one can come in except the patients. I’ll be so glad when this pandemic is over!
On a fun note…
When I’m finished with chemo, we will be picking up Elizabeth and Anthony’s kids (Paige and Gabriel) 🤩🥳 to keep them for the weekend so mom and dad can celebrate their anniversary. They have been married FOUR years. So hard to believe! I went shopping to buy some fun stuff for them to play with. Stuff ALL the grandkids will enjoy 🥰🥰. I’m so excited to have them for two whole sleeps. Hopefully they will sleep and let us sleep as well.
. They were open at 100% capacity. We felt a sense of normalcy for the first time in days. The whole town did not appear to care about social distancing or wearing masks. In fact, much of Nebraska is that way. I guess when you live in a town of about 200 you don’t care about coronavirus coming to meet you. 
We walked around the Ord town square (the museum is closed this year – no help from Yelp on that one 
) then headed back toward the hotel with at least two other stops for construction zones.
Actually, I received radiation for my 50th birthday…kinda forgot about that until just now. 
or something. 
