Went to Uncle Bud and Auntie Donna's for Thanksgiving. Guess what???? It was super fun. Gilly decided that Grammie's electric wheelchair was loads of fun. So did i.
For those of you who have not had the fortune to partake in this fun....just wait. One day you will get to be in "the club". For now, all i have to say is: this was an all NEW adventure for me! And i am glad it is over. Oh yeah, and everything checked out and was PERFECT. A nice relief..no pun intended.
It sure is nice to reach milestones..even if they are small.
So how has my week been? In someways, wonderful, and in others..well not so great. Starting radiation was one of the scariest things i think i have ever done. It is WAY scarier then the time Ambyr and i climbed Mt Whitney and got lost on the last 500 ft and ended up scaling this steep and very high up rock wall, only to have to down climb it (we were crying and shaking and SO scared...it was VERY freaky to look down (100 ft below us) and see the rocky ground extending all the way into the valley!). I have recently tried out visualization, which actually was really helpful. It calmed me down instantly. I felt my pulse slow down, my mind stop racing and my body stop shivering. I thought about climbing Mt. Hood via the LeutholdCouloir (back in 2005 maybe). I tried thinking about how my boots felt in the snow, and against my shin. I thought about making steps and having to first sink my ice axe into the snow and how that felt in my hand and arm. I thought about the cold wind on my face and how the ice chunks felt as they screamed down the mountain and hit me in my face. I remember feeling so good on that climb...though it was a tough one, i remember a sense of gratitude (for being even able to climb the mtn) as well as a great sense of accomplishment. I guess it makes sense why i would use that memory to help me get though this "adventure."
Anyhow, [my] radiation techs are awesome and have made me feel progressively better each time i go in with their smiles and kindness. It was scary on lots of different fronts. Basically you don't really feel anything or see anything occurring...but you know something is going on because you hear a beeping noise (just like when you get an x-ray, but a longer more sustained beep) and you can smell the radiation. At first i thought i could feel something but now that my mind a little more settled when it starts, i don't really think i can. I think it was just my mind wanting to feel something...
*I'll try and post some pictures today or tomorrow (11/14) so check back for some "eye candy."*
That i might be over my head....but i kept going. I really wanted to make it to the top, and knew that the steep section would end as soon as i gained the ridge. So up, and up we went. The trail was snow covered in spots; with ice covering the rocks, making for a slippery and dangerous climb up (and even more scary descent!). I caught Mc laying down in the snow and eating it with such fervor, more then once.The trail is pretty interesting and unique, with these rebar handles and wooden steps that have been drilled into the rock.
The top was spectacular and snowy...which McKinley loved. You could see Mt. Washington and Franconia Ridge perfectly from the top.
The top was super windy and everything was covered in rime ice.
I feel so lucky to be feeling so good that i could do this hike. I think there were only about 9 other people who climbed this trail today....and i was one of them! A girl with cancer. With a red blood count of 9.0 (average is 11.9-15). I am pretty proud right now...especially because this was a fairly burly hike..at least the first 2 miles were. That and i am not sure when i will get out again.
It was super fun.
Me and my love.
Gilly and Haley on Grammie's hot-rod.
My favorites; Ains & Beth wearing blue & green.
For those of you who have not had the fortune to partake in this fun....just wait. One day you will get to be in "the club". For now, all i have to say is: this was an all NEW adventure for me! And i am glad it is over. Oh yeah, and everything checked out and was PERFECT. A nice relief..no pun intended.
6 hours.
Mc and i climbed Mt. Moosilauke, from a different side this time. I did not really know what i was getting into, but i figured, after seeing this sign,
That i might be over my head....but i kept going. I really wanted to make it to the top, and knew that the steep section would end as soon as i gained the ridge. So up, and up we went. The trail was snow covered in spots; with ice covering the rocks, making for a slippery and dangerous climb up (and even more scary descent!). I caught Mc laying down in the snow and eating it with such fervor, more then once.
The trail is pretty interesting and unique, with these rebar handles and wooden steps that have been drilled into the rock.
The top was spectacular and snowy...which McKinley loved. You could see Mt. Washington and Franconia Ridge perfectly from the top.
The top was super windy and everything was covered in rime ice.
I feel so lucky to be feeling so good that i could do this hike. I think there were only about 9 other people who climbed this trail today....and i was one of them! A girl with cancer. With a red blood count of 9.0 (average is 11.9-15). I am pretty proud right now...especially because this was a fairly burly hike..at least the first 2 miles were. That and i am not sure when i will get out again.
What a day.
