Bottoms up!

Today I made my first "green" smoothie! Green smoothies contain fruit and vegetables. As someone who grew up thinking vegetables are yucky, these are a great way to get more veggies in my diet without having to really taste them. So following a basic recipe from one of my Pink Ribbon Cowgirls, I put some blueberries, half of a banana, a handful of spinach and a splash of coconut water in the blender and voila...a delicious, healthy drink. To be honest, I didn't believe the fruit would actually mask the taste of the spinach, but they really did. Now that I know how great these green smoothies are, I'll probably try making them with other vegetables, like kale and carrots. I'm feeling healthier already!

So now what?

As I mentioned in my last post, I haven't been sure of what to do with myself since completing my cancer treatments. So after some thought, I decided to volunteer with the Breast Cancer Resource Center, the organization that supported and educated me when I needed it the most during the last nine months. I will be "paying it forward" by visiting with other women during their chemotherapy, hopefully making their time in the infusion room a little easier. I'll also be available if a BCRC client needs some help with gardening, one of my favorite hobbies. And finally, I've joined the planning committee for the wonderful Pink Ribbon Cowgirls, the cancer support and social group that I have been a member of since I was first diagnosed. This great group of women has been a huge source of comfort and sound advice through every stage of my treatment. I'm really looking forward to doing this work, and the opportunity to be there for other women when they're feeling scared, anxious, and sick. I was there, and now I'm here, and I've learned a lot along the way!

A bittersweet moment

Yay!! I had my final radiation session this past Thursday. The radiation technicians threw confetti on me as I walked out of the room, and the other patients in the waiting area clapped and cheered as I rang the bell on the wall used to signal the final treatment. Afterwards, a friend and fellow radiation patient took me out to lunch, and later that night the hubby and I went to our favorite French restaurant to celebrate. While I'm very relieved the treatments are over, I feel a sense of sadness, too. For the last nine months my life has revolved 100% around fighting the cancer with chemotherapy, surgery and then radiation. And now, suddenly I'm finished. There's a feeling of, "What now?" What will I do with myself? I became engaged in the world of cancer, meeting and talking with fellow patients almost every day. Even though I was sick, I enjoyed getting to know so many interesting and wonderful people who were going through the same thing I was. I will sorely miss that part. Of course, I will continue to attend the Pink Ribbon Cowgirl luncheons every month, but I'll miss the daily interactions with my friends at TX Oncology. 

Polly rings in the New Year

Mr. Pincushion and I rang in the new year by doing our usual...staying home! He cooked a delicious meal of carnitas accompanied by tequila sunrises as we counted down to midnight. And yes, I actually stayed awake. 2011 was obviously one of the worst years for me, although probably not as bad as 2003, when my first exacerbation of multiple sclerosis left me paralyzed and cognitively diminished for months. I'm really hoping and praying that 2012 will be a fabulous year, full of good health and joy! One lesson that I've learned from facing my mortality this year is that I need to get off my ass and make good use of my time on earth. I'd like to accomplish a few things in 2012, including a couple from my bucket list. For example, maybe this should be the year I finally write that book that I've been mulling about forever. One thing I know I'll be able cross off on my bucket list is to hobnob with celebrities, because little ol' me will be going to the Screen Actors Guild Awards with my sister this month in L.A.!!! Watch out George Clooney, here I come!

Me and my tequila sunrise.