The healing trip

Our family was camping from July 4 to August 9.We had no electricity, no showers, and no cell phone service. We had to hand pump our water, drive an hour to town to the laundromat, and the only toilet was an outhouse. While we were there, there was an intense electrical storm, a forest fire and a heat wave. It was the exactly the holiday I needed. I had a wonderful time. During the week, it was just the girls and I. We read, swam, played board games, and walked. The girls played in the woods and on the beach. We had many visitors who camped with us and had fun hanging out with them. On the weekends, Norm and Lucas came up, and we took the boat out.

It was the holiday I had been dreaming about throughout the spring. While I sat in the chemo chair, I pictured myself on the beach at Buttle Lake, reading my book. A lot of things have gotten me this far: the support of my family and friends and the excellent medical care being the main things. However, a positive frame of mind and a faith in God has to play into the healing. I have maintained a good outlook thus far, not because of any conscious effort, but simply because there is no other sensible way to think. I am grateful that I have cancer in 2009 and not in 1989. I so lucky that when Norm lost his job last May that he was able to find a job here instead of us having to relocate.

Over the five weeks we were there, six families camped with us. No one's visit overlapped with anyone else. We had time in between to hang out alone. Linda and Dave took great care of us while we were there. My Mom stayed at the house with Lucas so he could skate. The Gardner's took in my boy when my Mom went home. My wonderful husband made it all possible. He worked while we played, and he drove 2 hours every weekend to see us. Thank you to all of you who gave me the gifts of peace, enjoyment, and friendship this summer.