CREATIVITY THRU COVID!

I had to change my image to add grey hair in need of a haircut!

2020 is going to be remembered for so many things. At the top of the list will be too many deaths!

But, instead of a political rant about effective leadership, today I’m focusing on everything this pandemic touched in my own life. 

I tried to capture my personality in my masks!

From my face, to what I eat, and the air I breathe, nothing remained the same. From the ceiling to the floor, from the walls to drawers, everything was changed. 

You spend a lot of time at home and your eye roams. It finds all the old stuff, and then the fingers click! From website to website purchases got made. Even new fingertip towels came amongst the boxes left at our door.

New fingertip towels

Some could call it "Retail Therapy," but I prefer to call it COVID Creativity! From outside to inside, there were not too many spaces that didn't get some kind of COVID makeover.

From poems to painting, from photo manipulation upon towels and mats, I put my creative side to use.

My own photos put onto hand towels

I love the smiling bread on this towel

New bathroom towels and decal

I chose an Erin Hanson print and had it put onto a tote bag. Too bad it was going to be my water aerobics bag. That class has been cancelled.

Yoga mats I created. The stones are my photo from the Atlantis in the Bahamas.

Tuscan floor mats I bought to replace old ones.

Painter hard at work!

I bought an iron scroll and then a decal to complete my art piece!

My completed and signed Paint by Number

My second and last Paint by Number

Life is beautiful inside and out. I made the outside piece to go above the thermometer

I cut down a dead bush and left enough to make an easel for my art

Staying home led me to join the ranks of sourdough bakers. No, just kidding! But, I did bake more cookies. I also took time to join Home Chef and pick out new food choices. 

I haven't turned into Marie Kondo, but I gave it my best by organizing my jewelry into two new jewelry cases. 

I also took 10 purses and 23 scarves and put them into two hanging organizers. What a difference that made!

                               

By far the most creative stuff I did during this COVID pandemic was write poetry. 

 

 

I  also took poetic license by writing a story and adding it to John Wilhelm's manipulated photos.

As I finish writing this blog,  I'm half listening to the TV report about President Trump who has contracted COVID.  He is now a patient at Walter Reed Hospital.  No words to mince here. I hope he and the First Lady, and all the people who he infected all recover. But, this pandemic should have been under better control by now. Creative avoidance didn't work. It's time to paint a new picture - the truth!

Poetically,

COVID Crazy Sylvia

t

n

going to be remembered  for so many things. At the top of the list will be too many deaths! But, instead of a political rant about effective leadership, today I’m focusing on everything this pandemic touched in my own life. From my face, to what I eat, and the air I breathe, nothing remained the same. From the ceiling, to the floor, from the walls, to drawers, everything was changed. You spend a lot of time at home and your eye roams. It finds all the old stuff, and then the fingers click! From website to website purchases get made. Even new fingertip towels came amongst the boxes left at our door.  

Wedding Tribute to Kellie and Jack!

Due to COVID, I wasn’t able to be at my niece’s wedding today. But, funny thing, I went walking and kept finding stuff to photograph for a wedding tribute!

Trying To Do More Than Juice The Fruit In My Yard!

I've lived here in Fallbrook for 2 years and 5 months.  So much has happened, yet I haven't really put my thoughts down into words.  Looking back on my blog entries, I was much more prolific in years past.  I hope to now start letting my creative juices flow.

I recently met a local author, and have enjoyed both her books. More importantly, I've been able to meet her for coffee dates and delve further into her mindset as she wrote the books. It's been so fun for me, and I appreciate her generosity in letting me in!

Her name is P. Heaton and both her books are great reads. You can order through Amazon. One is a murder mystery which had me stumped, the other an adventure and love story set in the Civil War years.

Through this author I went to my first Writers Read at the local Fallbrook library.  They hold this once a month.  I found it interesting to listen to all the different authors with unique styles.  The next morning as I was walking around my yard doing clean up, words starting coming into my mind. I went inside and wrote a poem about the Writers Read in less than ten minutes.  Mitch was impressed. But, these moments are far and few.  I hope to start writing more. I created a folder on my computer desktop and called it, "Fallbrook Fonder."  So far, I have three entries. My poem about the Writers Read, an appreciation poem about my home in Fallbrook, and an ode to Cancer.

I just juiced homegrown grapefruit this morning.

Now, I'm trying to juice more than the fruit in my yard.

Let the creative juices flow!

Sylvia
                  

My first three entries into the Fallbrook Fonder Folder:

HERE AND NOW

New to the Writers Read,

open mind, open mic.

Transported from the here and now.

To truth or fiction, I’m not sure.

I hear of London and pretenses.

I almost smell the Jewish Deli.

I hear of hidden journals,

and homelessness and burgers.

I wonder if I will be inspired

to sit and think, and write.

And then I’m stuck on the “Hear” and now.

I thought I was transported away.

But, perhaps I was just enlightened

on our current times.

Activism, Awareness, Alarm!

“Don’t feed the people, but

we feed the machines.”

On my mind since my husband mourns

the loss  of Neil Peart.

The collision of minds.

From a great lyricist

to an award winning Chicana Poet.

Never knowing what will move us.

Or motivate us!

Pen set aside.

My thought now archived.

Fallbrook is alright!

I’ve tasted the sweet sensation of Turkish Delight.

Driven through Tuscany, a marvelous sight.

But, now I exclaim “Fallbrook living is alright!”

The treasures that Mother Nature provides

Are all too bountiful, I can’t take sides.

Citrus fruit, avocados, skies, and tides!

Whether twenty, thirty minutes away

There is so much to fit into a day.

Nonetheless, it's most precious where I lay.

Every morning I admire while sipping coffee

The “never the same” Tuscan-like hill I see.

And I think, and know, I’m so lucky to be me!

No matter if there is fog or rainbows

Incredibly hot weather, or record lows.

I just want to tie the place up in bows.

For my home is truly the best present yet.

A close walk to the farm animals I’ve met.

A cow, miniature horses, and goats to pet.

I think I’ll never tire of the views,

The sunrises and sunset brilliant hues.

My mind at peace, no depression blues.

I’m a Silicon Valley transplant.

Who now gets to tender garden and plant.

And speak about Fallbrook, and rant and rant!

Fallbrook is alright!

Cancer: words not fully comprehended

Appreciation for early diagnosis

Never stop living your life

Carry on and strive for improvement

Enjoy the little moments

Rejoice at remission

 

                      

WHEN ROCKS DO TALK!

"We don't know what the future holds, but no one ever knows what the future holds. People still love us, we're still here, and that's cause for celebration."

This was a line from a recent episode of Grey's Anatomy!  It hit me like a boulder!  I had been thinking about my upcoming one-year anniversary of dealing with Endometrial Cancer, and had found myself in sort of a slump.  I don't know why really. I think it was more the realization that while I was now a Cancer Survivor, I was also a Lynch Syndrome statistic!

So when I heard this line from a T.V. show it brought me back to reality. Sort of ironic that fiction did this.  Anyway, I need to stay positive and focus on all the good in my life.  My children, my husband, my friends, my home.......

Today, March 9, 2019, marks my one-year as a survivor of Endometrial Cancer, so I thought it a good time to be introspective.  I went to the beach yesterday and found some rocks.  I put these three words on them: Grateful, Thankful, and Blessed.  That pretty much sums it up!  

You go back to January 16, 2018 when I was in a state of unknown and I also chose to put my emotions on beach rocks:  Love, Joy, Peace, and Hope.

So you can't find a journal entry about my cancer ordeal because I didn't own a journal. But, what you can find are my emotions on rocks!  

Go ahead and ROCK MY WORLD!

I didn't know I had cancer yet, but knew something was off

Rocks I found that day on the beach

I chose to put words of inspiration

Final resting place 

Final resting place for my new rocks!

Mirror Mirror On The Wall......

I'm turning 58 in ten days and beginning to reflect on what that means. For one thing, it means I say goodbye to 57 and I can't wait! 57 is the year I had to face numerous medical issues, and I'm glad to send them off to my past!

I dealt with Endometrial Cancer which resulted in a hysterectomy and the removal of my ovaries. I also had medical issues with my eyes, my hands, and my gut. Oh, and I discovered I had Lynch Syndrome, which makes me much more susceptible to different cancers, especially Colon and Endometrial, which I got!

So now what?  Now I go on living.  I was inspired to write this blog today after seeing a post on Facebook by Ali Fedotowsky-Manno in which she posted a picture of her belly post two children. She writes, "Self love is a difficult thing to fully embrace. When I look at myself in the mirror I can't help but notice that my hips are wider than they used to be, my wrinkles are deeper than when I was in my 20's, and my stomach has lumps and bumps that didn't used to be there." She continued, "Sometimes what we see as "flaws" on the outside, are actually what make us stunningly beautiful on the inside."  She is 34 and very smart to have come to this self awareness.  I'm 57 and still struggling. I have always had an identical twin to compare myself to. That doesn't make is easy to try and stop comparing.

But, I'm going to try.  Today I saw this on Facebook and it is so true.

Here is my photo of my menopausal belly and my comment to Ali.

Ali doesn't like her lumps and bumps. I don't like mine either. But, the important thing is that I'm alive and healthy. I caught my cancer early and didn't have to undergo chemo or radiation. That's winning in my book.  So I have some belly fat and five scars.  I need to not dwell on that, or the 5-8 pounds I always want to lose.

I hope that in my heart is a reflection of a good soul!

Here's to 58!
Sylvia

Getting Cancer And A Gene Mutation Discovered. Oh Joy!

So, you always hear about people getting various cancers, and still the thought doesn't really cross your mind that you could be the next statistic. Well, I became the next statistic!

In January, I went to visit my new OB/GYN, since I had recently moved to San Diego County. I had already visited my new primary doctor, an eye specialist for my Iritis, and the dentist. Little did I know that the OB/GYN visit would be the start of a unique journey.  I say unique, because everybody's Cancer story is different.  As I was to find out, mine had some plusses and some minuses.

During my January visit, it was discovered that I had a Cervical polyp and extra thick lining (Endometrial Hyperplasia) in my uterus.  A biopsy was done on both.  The polyp came back o.k., but the other was inconclusive. This put me on a five week waiting period before I could get in for a D&C and Hysteroscopy where they could further evaluate things.  I tried to go on living as normally as possible.  Mitch and I went out to lunch one day and stopped at a beach. I found some cool rocks and decided to decorate them.  I put positive vibes on those rocks! 

May we all have these!

And then the results came back.

I remember it clearly. It was a little after nine a.m on February 15th.  And at 9:29 I heard the dreaded words, "You have Cancer!"  And then it went a bit fuzzy. Mitch was out on the golf course and five calls later, he called back. In the meantime I had already called my twin. This news just has to be shared!

And so that was that. I had Cancer of the Endometrium, Adenocarcinoma. It was real. It was already appearing on my "On Going Health Issues" on my on-line account. They certainly do update fast! 

I took some time to digest this news, and then it was on to Internet searches to be educated. I learned that Peach is the color of Uterine Cancer.  Actually, I learned what all the different ribbons mean!

 

I don't really care so much about the ribbon colors. I think this:

On February 20th I had my appointment with the Oncologist OB/GYN.  I was told that if you are to get cancer, this is the one to get as it is usually quite treatable.  My new mantra became, "One and Done!"  I wanted only one cancer, and one surgery with no need for Chemo or Radiation.  My Hysterectomy was scheduled for March 9th. 

Oh but wait, this is where things became even more interesting!  My tumor from the D&C showed that I had a mutation in one of the DNA mismatch repair (MMR) genes. Mine was the PMS2 gene.  It is possible for a cancer tumor to be messed up, without your entire DNA being that way, so it was off to genetic testing for me.

On 2/27/18 I went for genetic counseling and then took the blood test.  Results would come back in approximately three weeks.

On 3/9/18 it was "C" Day!  Time to get the cancer out of my body. With improvements in technology, I was able to have a Da Vinci Robot assisted hysterectomy on an outpatient basis.  My surgery was from 12-2, and I left the hospital around 5:30.

It's amazing how a Da Vinci Robot works!

My only bad side affect was throwing up later that evening from the anaesthetic.  I never needed the 30 tablets of Narcotics that were precscribed. I simply took Ibuprofen for a few days.  It's amazing that the worse bruise on my body is on my hand where they put my IV.  

On 3/16/18 I got back my genetic testing results and that is where the plusses and minuses come into play. But, as with most things in life, it is all about how you look at things. I love this image:

The results showed I had Lynch Syndrome.  I had never heard of it! So I did Internet searches which enlightened me, but, also scared me.  From the reading it appeared I could have as high as 60-80 percent chance of getting Colon Cancer and Uterine Cancer. Oh good, I already got one, now I just need to worry about Colon Cancer and a few others.  The good news is that of the five Lynch genes, I had the "best" of the bad!  My affected gene is called PMS2 and lowers your risk of Colon and Uterine Cancer to about 15-20%. 

So the bad news, I am more prone to Cancer.  The good news, I now know this and can get more frequent screenings. It's all about early detection. I will go for annual colonoscopies.

The bad news, I may have passed this on to my kids.  The good news, they can get tested to see if they inherited it. If they did they will also get more frequent screenings.

March 20th, at 8 in the morning, I got the call from the surgeon.  The cancer had not spread and I am clear to go. No need for radiation or chemo!  I can finally breathe a little easier.  I took this picture on the day of my initial meeting with the Oncologist.  I was rocking my Peach top and doing my best to look positive! 

I see the Light!  In the picture and also in my future.  Nobody ever knows what will happen, so I'm just going to go on living.  There will be photos of my cocktails on Facebook! That brings me to another topic. Don't get too hung up on what you see on people's FB pages. They don't display the whole truth of what is going on in a person's life!  I chose not to put anything on FB until I knew my outcome.  If you go back and look at my posts from January until now, you would think I was just living an ideal life. You would not know that the last two months have been Hell. The worry, the waiting.....  

So, I leave you with two bits of wisdom:  Please listen to your bodies, and if you suspect something is off, get yourself to the doctor. Early diagnosis is everything. And don't believe everything you see on Social Media platforms.  If you want to know what's really up with somebody, reach out and talk directly with them.

A big thanks to all that reached out to me during this difficult time.  You will never know how much the cards, text, emails, messenger chats, (and yes, even the gifts) meant to me! 

A great juicer!

DIY Plant

Healing mug!

Survivor Sylvia!