Third Week Of Treatment Update

Last week was rough, mainly from the heat and humidity. Even inside with air conditioning it was yucky. Since the steroids jack my blood sugar levels, the Doctor didn't include them last week which could have also contributed to my malaise. It was certainly tolerable, but not my best week so far as far as feeling good. I still can't eat, but can drink a little water some days. They have me scheduled for IV fluids on Wednesday and Fridays to keep me hydrated.

I did catch the Sunrise on Sunday morning. There were a couple days I didn't even venture out to see it as usual. When it is near 80 degrees that early in the morning, it's going to be a hot day. Even the birds didn't do much singing early in the morning because it was so hot. We did see more humming birds taking a drink of sugar water and it is cool to watch them.

I'm not really sure why, but I have been fascinated with water; ponds, creeks, rivers and an uncontrollable desire to dip my feet in the cool water. I guess the Chemo is making my feet warm, but being raised near water all my life I absolutely love bodies of water. I could never live in an landlocked area with no ocean or rivers to play in. Bertie County is surrounded by water on three sides from the Roanoke River, Chowan River and the Cashie River in the middle. Each one is different and awesome in its own way. The Roanoke is a narrow, but deep fast moving river that has some great fishing. The Cashie is also narrow, but usually calm and perfect for water sking. The Chowan is huge and offers the best of everything. Even the creeks are amazing.

I was able to dip my feet in my cousin Gail's pool on the Forth of July, but it didn't really satisfy me. Last Sunday I adjusted the hot tub chemicals, PH and alkalinity and watched it run a few hours. It didn't take long before I was in it! I spent several hours in it as a matter of fact and only came in when a cloud came up. (I didn't want to get my bathing suit wet). Actually, I turned the heater off earlier this summer and the water temp was a cool 85 degrees and perfect to cool off in. My tub has a step inside it that I sat on so I didn't wash off my alignment marks and it kept my feeding tube above water, but was perfect to feel the jets and play in the bubbling water.

It reminded me of summers past, when Aunt Christine would round us kids up at Grandma Bill's house and take us to the river to swim. I'm pretty sure she taught me and all my cousins how to swim, either at the end of the Eden House Bridge on the Chowan river or at Sheep's Landing. I always preferred Sheep's Landing because the waves were usually rough at the bridge. I remember very well when the waves would knock me down as a little kid and make me so mad I'd tell her to make them stop. Sadly, all those places are private now, and the new Eden House Bridge was built right where I cursed the waves so many years ago.

Mom and Dad had a place near the mouth of the Chowan, Roanoke, Middle and Albermarle Sound several years ago. I miss that place since they sold it, but had a lot of fun there. We had pig pickin's, bluegrass and gospel singing out there. Good food and good neighbors. You can't beat it!

Uncle Thomas and Aunt Tine had a place there, Uncle Eugene and Aunt Inetta had a place. There best friends Shelby and Mary and Barbara Jean were neighbors. Mom and Aunt Inetta had paddle boats at the dock that were lots of fun to ride in. Mom's had a leak somewhere, so you had to drain it before and after each use, but it was not hard to handle on the shore.

Keith caught a catfish that pulled us down the river in it and we had to fight it to get it in the boat. We do have pictures somewhere, but I don't think it has been digitized yet, so maybe I'll post it later. Uncle Thomas skinned it and prepared it for cooking. There was always a fish fryer and oil ready to go at one of the houses. Dad always had his boat there, but at the mouth of the Albermarle sound, the wind would cause the water to get rough. Very rough indeed with very little warning. Even the mouth of the Roanoke River would get a bit choppy with waves. Not a big deal, because Dad always had botas that could handle waves since he loved Hatteras and Ocracoke so much.

Just the sound of the water jets brought all these memories to me of a time I wish I could go back to and spend more time enjoying them. I do miss the water and will always love being in it, on it or looking at it.