Recess is ending

I was glad that the photohunter prompt for this Saturday was happy. I posted my happy shots Friday and spent Friday afternoon (slow work day cooperated) and Saturday looking at what others had done with the theme. Although Saturday is the official photohunt day, with time differences as well as how large it's become the photohunt seems to get spread out over a few days which I like too because I try to visit as many as possible. It's a nice diversion for me, particularly since the heat cuts into so much of what I enjoy doing. This time of the year is perfect for me to begin an activity like that. What I liked in particular about the happy theme was it reminded me of what makes me happy and there is quite a lot in that category. On the somewhat frivolous side, I enjoy blowing bubbles and I'm glad to be reminded of that. I am going to try to spend some time in the morning and perhaps early evening if it's not too hot, blowing a few bubbles and watching them float off until they pop. I need something frivolous to take the edge off of the next month.The reason I titled this post recess is ending is because that's how I feel about August coming to an end. September looms with a different doctor's appointment each and every week. All are routine follow ups but I can feel the tension rising. I'll have to be sure to blow some bubbles. My first appointment in September is with the rheumatologist and my last one at the end of the month is with the surgical oncologist who has been following me since I got staged with Stage III melanoma. The middle appointments include my gynecologist and dermatologist. I won't be free and clear until early October when I see my pain specialist. Then I should get a break until December when I see the medical oncologist. I don't know why I let the tension rise about these fairly routine appointments. I shouldn't need any scans until my annual full body PET/CT in March and that's always the big tension producer. I am well aware of how fortunate I am to have good health insurance and a job that I can do from my home computer. Work is one thing I don't discuss on my blog but I will say that being able to primarily work from home and only occasionally commute to the office is an enormous perk in my situation. I can spread out the work week and take breaks for doctor's appointments and blowing bubbles as the need arises.I'm glad that I have so many positive aspects of my life that make me embarrassed to give in to the lure of excessive whining. One large reason to celebrate is that I haven't had any further metastatic disease beyond the one lymph node. That is enormous considering the risk factors. I've had a few scares but during the time period where I had to have comparison scans and repeats in three months, the scares ended up being established as false alarms. That's what I call lucky as all get out. Why then is there always a BUT in everything I say, even if it's not spelled out. It's not always stated but it is often implied at the very least. Maybe if I turn it on its head and put the boogeyman first and the good part last it will help. Nope that doesn't work. I tried it and it's much worse. I truly am fortunate. I have good friends, a supportive family, a job that I can do in spite of some physical limitations, I can still do some gardening, I can go on pleasant walks and even slow hikes, I have excellent medical care, my prognosis improves with each and every year that passes, I can be intellectually engaged, and that's only about me. If I start thinking about my daughter, a whole new set of fortunate events arise. In the final analysis, there isn't even a but worth saying. Bill and I have trips planned to the mountains in October and to Manhattan to celebrate my 50th birthday in November. My daughter is coming home for Christmas. Nice to have fun events to look forward to. All this and bubbles as well. All of the sudden my mood has improved.