Tattoo

 I’m getting a tattoo.     I lost my older sister at 40 to breast cancer.  Three years ago my younger cousin died of breast cancer.  This spring my 79 year old mother was diagnosed. 

Like many other teachers I try to schedule appointments in the summer.  We didn’t have school the day before Labor Day, I got up early to have my yearly exam.  Before I got home I’d had three calls.  One call from the local hospital, asked me to call and schedule a follow up appointment, and two more from the doctor’s office asking me call about my test results.

I begged for a late day appointment.  Missing the 5^th day of school seemed like an insurmountable problem.  My fellow teachers covered my class for me, allowing to leave early and not need a substitute.  I’ve faced repeat mammograms; last year in fact I had one that was uneventful.  But I admit the urgent calls had me a little uneasy. 

As I got dressed after the exam I was shown into an office and I was introduced to a friendly young woman.  The nurse told me she was my “Breast Cancer Navigator.”  I admit to a mental snicker.  Why would I need a breast cancer navigator?  The radiologist joined us and explained he was concerned about a spot.  I was scheduled for a biopsy, I was also assured I shouldn’t worry, that 80% of the tests show results that are non-cancerous. 

Thursday was a good day for the procedure I’d have Friday and the weekend days for recovery.  Writing plans for the third week of school wasn’t easy.  I had a sense of urgency to get answers, quickly.  The one spot to be biopsied was now two!  I have a 80 % this will be non cancerous. 

 There’s a reason I don’t buy lottery tickets, I have bad luck!  Yes, I’m, one of the 20 percent. 

I was quickly scheduled to see a surgeon.  He suggested before surgery I have genetic testing to see if I have the breast cancer gene.  My luck was changing.  I did not!  Waiting the three weeks for results was hard.  I found it ironic I’d be learning my results in October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and also the month of my departed sister’s birthday. 

My lumpectomy was on a Thursday, including weekend days that allowed me eleven days to recover.  I returned to work for two days and then went to the surgeon for a recheck.  I fully expected for him to look at my incision, pat me on the back and send me on my way with a reminder to continue to have yearly mammograms. 

“Have you been scheduled for radiation?” asked the Resident.  “I’m not having radiation.”  I replied.  He glanced at the chart.  As they left the room I texted my sister, she’d taken notes during our initial visit.  She didn’t recall any discussion of the need for radiation.  When the surgeon and his team rejoined me they asked about my husband.  I’d assured him this was a routine appointment and encouraged him to work!  I laughed and explained I didn’t realize how important this appointment had just become.  When I later called him from the parking lot he too was surprised at the next step in treatment. 

Last week I saw a medical oncologist.  Tomorrow I see a radiology oncologist.  Later this week the markings for the radiation will be made.  And at 57 I’ll be getting a tattoo. It will mark where the radiation will be applied.

Changes

As the school year nears the end (5 1/2 days), I realize once again how much I dislike change.  A dear friend is retiring. Another coworker  is transferring across district.  Still another has a second interview at a distant school and another may be taking a transfer.
Our staff of eleven regular ed teachers may be saying goodbye to four teachers.
I'm sad.  I'm going to miss their support.  They are so knowledgeable, and fun.
I don't like change!

Lost and Found

Our PTO had shirts made for us during Teacher Appreciation Week.  Everyone got a shirt, in their favorite color.  Mine is fire engine red.  The cute design has a Superman shield and reads I Teach.  What’s Your Superpower?  Always willing to do anything that requires jeans, we all agreed to wear our shirts tomorrow. 

My husband and I left last Monday on a business trip to Hawaii.  I knew I’d done all the laundry before we left, but as I looked for my shirt tonight it was nowhere to be found.  I hang all my cotton shirts to dry, so my first search was in my closet.  The search widened as it remained missing. 

We traveled all day yesterday.  I want to go to bed!  But that blasted shirt is missing.  I gathered up the dirty clothes from our suitcases.  Before I started the washing machine I hopefully checked the laundry room, still no shirt.  As I started my first load of laundry I resumed my search where I’d begun, in my closet.  Moving hangers I realized my bright red shirt was there all along, but I’d washed it inside out and it hung there in front of me.

I’ll happily wear my shirt and jeans tomorrow.  The rest of the laundry can wait until tomorrow.  Or maybe this weekend.

Its a Sign!

 She has given me a gifts several times a week.  Her presents are always homemade and lovingly painted or colored and often glued. This girl loves to craft.  Today she came in late, before she put anything away she delivered the gift.

As the class looked on she presented me with a wooden item.   I looked carefully, but I had no idea what it was.  I could see the outline of letters, but I didn’t know what it said.  As I complemented the gift I noted the painting and commented on the beautiful colors she’d used.  Stalling I asked if she had used paint like we had in school or a different kind of paint.  I continued to admire it, “tell me about how you made this,” I admit I was fishing for clues. 

 “My dad has a friend, his name is Bernie.” Now I understand!  The item is the chunk of wood the letters were cut from.  The letters were cut as all one piece; I was holding the negative space.  Thanking her again I asked where we should display the piece.  She chose above the Morning Message and skipped off to hang up her backpack.

Spring

The calendar listed  the first day of Spring weeks ago.
Someone saw the first Robin.
Spring break started last Friday.
Easter was Sunday.
Today Spring really arrived.
The Cone Corral is open!

I Wish You More

Today  a package from Amazon was delivered.  Blame it on the Slice of Life.
Stacy wrote about books she'd read with her daughter, they sounded wonderful so I bought them for my classroom.
They are wonderful!  I Wish You More by Rosenthal and Lichtenheld is now on the way as a Easter gift to my grand kids.  As for the other three, maybe Grandma can just keep them at home to read to Lucy, Michael and Gordon

Not what I Planned...

Tomorrow I need to be out of my classroom for about 45 minutes for a meeting at our administration office.  The schedule isn’t firm, but the time will probably fall at the end of my kid’s special class.  The time could reach into the time when we have writing and then my kids go into intervention time. 

My principal is going to cover for me.  First year principal a former Middle School Math teacher principal.  One of the Instructional Aides is going to be gone, so I need to accommodate two very different levels of kids. 

The time is before lunch, does that need to rule out the jelly bean graphing lesson?  Sugar before lunch?  Probably not a great idea.