Jan Curran Events

Happy New Year from the Alta Cocker Inn

Happy New Year!

We got past Christmas, past all the news of my cancer coming back, dates are set for me to do the preplanning ( scans and computer testing) and I've also got my flight to Seattle to go visit my elderly mother.

Sort of my routine, if you have been a long time reader. Before I begin treatments, I jet up to see my mother, don't tell her I am sick, have a nice visit and then rush back to begin treatments.

This time is no different.

My scans and appointments are for the 9th , I'll drive then from the hospital directly to my son Lee's ( leegoldberg.com), and the next day he will take me to the Burbank airport for the flight to the northwest.

As always, Aunt Brit will meet me at the airport and take me to Mom's. We've got that routine down pat, too.

I'll return on the eve of the 20th, my daughter Karen ( visualchronicles.com) will pick me up, and either I will stay over night in the San Fernando valley or head on home because radiation should begin on the 22nd.

In between writing about my new treatments, I thought  I might share some of the chronicles of my new life living at the Alta Cocker Inn.

For those of you not fluent in Yiddish, Alta Cocker means old farts and that's who my neighbors are.

Of course, that's not the real name of the place where I live, but believe me with an average age of 86 and many pushing 100, it surely describes the site.

On the one hand, I long for my own place again, and to be near long time friends, but  on the other hand I realize that with this new battle ahead for me, this is the perfect place for me to be. Meals are included with the rent, as is maid service. All I will have to do is take care of ME.

Would you be interested in reading some of the comic things that go on here? Thought  I might start putting them on the blog if there was any interest.

I have no plans for New Year's Eve. In fact, I'm going to have to cut this short in a minute and head down to the dining hall and get some dinner. There is going to be a happy hour between 8 and 9 --- and then I guess everyone turns their walkers around and heads home to bed.

It makes me a bit sad. When I had my DC beau , he'd fly out for New Year's and we always went somewhere wonderful in the desert, dined out with friends, had friends over -- it was always a special time and a fun romantic time.

Last year, at this time, I was in the midst of a chemical allergic reaction to chemotherapy and the beau canceled his trip west to see me  in favor of spending the time with his sudden new girl friend. The seven year itch, or was it the cancer that sent him hunting out younger blood, whatever, I haven't seen him since. I do hear from him and he is a good friend to me, but it ain't the good old days of daily calls to see how I am doing, or quick trips to spend time with me....and with the new cancer I could use some of those good old days back again. Laughter and hugs and fun take ones mind off the days of chemo and radiation -- so knowing that, I will do my best to start writing a book that has hugs and fun  and hand holding in it.

Oh, for those of you in colder climates, do I dare to say I went to the beach today? I did. It wasn't bathing suit weather by any stretch of the weather channel, but with a coat on , and a muffler to block the wind, it was beautiful, serene, a peaceful way to begin the new year.

I wish you all the best in the new year, happiness and good health for you and those you love. And hugs to all.

Jan

The Battle Begins.... again

Dear friends,

I haven't posted anything in a few weeks because , well, because I didn't know what to say... but now I have something to say.

I began this blog way back in '03 , I think, to write about my battle with cancer and then the cancer came back again in Dec of '04 and again in Dec of '05. This was to be my first Christmas/Chanukah in years with no worries about cancer.

I got the results of my latest PET and CAT scan on Thursday.

Cancer is with me again

The good news is that it is not in any organs, not in the lung or brain or anything that would put instant fear in me.. BUT the bad news is that it is in my neck, right side, three lymph nodes and a tiny bit of fluid near the underarm.

What now?

I will do radiation and then chemo again.

Treatment will start after the first of the year.

Not the best news to greet a New Year or to put in a blog post, is it?

Sunday I am going to my son Lee's  ( leegoldberg.com) and all my kids and grand kids will be there and we are going to do an early Christmas/gift exchange/family get together and we just won't even think about the cancer.

Then, on Xmas Eve, I am going to move in to Lee's house for two days of  just family time --  enjoying this time of no pain or anything before the ball game of beating cancer begins again.

Yeah, I will give you more details as treatment nears.

I did not go to Seattle this week to visit my Mom and won't go next week, either. I am sure you have seen the weather reports -- terrible storms and my poor little mommy is basically trapped in her high rise apartment with no power. Thankfully she has loving caregivers who are keeping her warm - but they can't cook, can't do anything much other than shiver, so later today , since my brother Stan got power back, will move in to his big home.  Then I won't worry about her so much.

No, I didn't tell her I have cancer. I didn't tell her last time, either. At 94 she doesn't need the worry of me in treatment so I will continue to lie to her about my health for the next six months.

I hope you are somewhere warm and wonderful.

Thank you, my Germany fan club, for your lovely card and thank you, my British fan club for your wonderful greetings, too.

With all these medical tests and appointments I haven't gotten my cards out, but please understand and know I have you in my thoughts and I wish you the happiest of holidays.

Hugs for all,

Jan