There's no place like home!

Well, yesterday I got to put my sparkly red shoes on (even though they looked suspiciously more like black & white flip flops), click my heels together and go home! How good it is to be among the familiar, loved things again. I measured my progress by how many tubes and electronic leads I got unhooked from and was so delighted to see the last one come out of my arm! I do look like a pincushion and imagine that if someone saw my forearms they would suspect the cause to be something much different than brain surgery. The discouraging part of the morning, though, came from learning the scope of my restrictions. Not only can I not drive for three months but there is to be no: swimming - kayaking - shooting - bicycling or sports of any sort - pushing, pulling or lifting over 10 lbs - ATV - hot tubs - even warm bubble baths. The only thing I can do outside is a gentle walk with someone at my side - how humiliating. I could feel the sharp little teeth and claws of self-pity tugging relentlessly at my little blanket of contentment and honestly don't know right now how I'm going to do this. Because three months brings us to the end of September, definitely the end of summer. I feel like the canvas of my life has nearly been washed clean, like all the colors of my interests are just gone, along with the summer months I love so much and it will be interesting to see how it gets repainted.

I know, I know, it could be worse, most definitely, and especially if I were facing chemo and a grim prognosis now but for some reason can't look so much at the positives today. I did come home to so many expressions of love and support that I felt carried along on that river again. Bob and Nancy, I will be sending thank you notes too but wanted you to know that the flowers you sent were so lovely. I couldn't have them in my room in intensive care so it was all the more delightful when I went upstairs and could see them all the time. Tasha, yours were and are still beautiful as well. Bridgette, I've never seen flowers last as long as those you sent and Lee and friends, of course the planter is still gorgeous. So I'm surrounded once again with tangible expressions of love and support and it's an amazing experience. Just going into fresh air and sunlight after 10 days was wonderful and today the pain is so much better that's amazing too. So...sending each of you my love and thanks once again and hoping you can look around and find at least one thing to delight in and be thankful for today.
Val