Fast Forward

Well, it's June now and my last post was in January.  Geez a lot can happen in 6 months!  The quick and dirty is I got breast cancer and ovarian cancer simultaneously.  They weren't found simultaneously - probably due to a series of missteps by doctors in Shanghai - but they were discovered within 3 months of each other.  Apparently it's quite common to have two cancers pop up simultaneously and these two cancers are related as well.  Both were discovered early and I'm so thankful for that.

In the last several weeks, I've been grappling over the decision to do chemo or not.  While my ovarian cancer was stage 1a, it had moderately aggressive cells and modern medicine docs want to throw chemo at it.  Boo!  I hate drugs.  Period.  But, that's a whole other soap box.  So after an agonizing several weeks of research, worry, and more research, I have decided to do chemo.  But as my hubby described it - I will do it kicking and screaming all the way.  (Thank goodness for all those kickboxing classes in Shanghai - maybe I'll at least kick with form!)  I start chemo tomorrow - assuming I don't change my mind for the 100th time.

In all this, we decided to repatriate as well.  Shanghai was a wonderful experience that opened my eyes to a lot of things about the Chinese culture that you don't get from a history book.  I know... I was reluctant to move there in the beginning, but in looking back, there were side benefits.  As a family we grew much closer . . . well, to put it bluntly - because in the beginning none of us had friends.  LOL!  So we were each others friends, like it or not.  Another benefit, uh coming from someone who did not do well in History class, ahem, it was like living through a part of history or history evolving.  For example, they still make/build ladders out of bamboo - and I mean like tie them together when I say "build".  You still cannot get a dual checking accounts.  Most delivery of goods involve a man on a scooter - not some fancy UPS truck.  The last but definitely not least benefit is the friends.  We all made such fantastic friends!  And given the short period of time (in expat years), every one of them have been so supportive in my recent ordeal - as if we've known each other for years.  Ex-pat friendships to me, are such a unique bond.  What sometimes takes years to build in the States, the friendships overseas are much quicker but just as strong.  We will miss seeing them daily or weekly but we know we'll see them again.  Shanghai life is ever-changing and fast paced, it doesn't stand still for long.

So starts the next chapter of our adventures, in Texas for now, but spinning the roulette to see where life takes us next.  I'll be startin' off life here Texas-style - with a big chemo bang!  (insert spitting of tobacco chew)