Wednesday, November 5, 2025

     The storm is coming.  The sky is dark.  My sister in San Rafael reports the wind and rain are fierce in her neighborhood.  The weather folks say the storm is coming.  I am waiting. My brother says the sun is shinning in Orange county. He is waiting.

     Last night we have a fireplace fire with a Duraflame log.  A three hour log. So, we watch MSNBC for three hours as democrats are elected across the country. The personal librarian brings more books and a little puppy dog, and stays to cheer on the good news. California Prop 50 passes by a huge margin.

     I nap for several hours in the afternoon.  Really, I have things to do, but the couch and warm blanket call to me. I walk on the deck in the morning.  I am having a difficult time remembering what I did on Tuesday. Didn’t read much, long conversation on the phone, put away the home delivered meals.

     Retrieve the garbage and recycle bins from the curb. I am nervous about the coming storm. The new heater is still working, I have electricity. I am going to pay more attention today to my life.

 

Tuesday, November 4, 2025, election day.

     The tall man comes with me for my appointment with the oncologist. He drives, we talk, we sit in the waiting room, The technician draws blood, and then we are ushered into the room. Soon the thoughtful doctor arrives and we talk some more. He gives me a fresh way of looking at cancer and cancer treatments, a better way.  I am doing well, Don’t have to return for three months unless the urologist finds more cancer. We leave the office and I am feeling lighter.  I am not sure how this happened. My cancer story is beginning to shift for the better.

     I have three doctors working with me, each with a different role. They work in different medical systems and have different views points and protocols. I am not sure they talk with each other. I want to complain but this is the set up now. This is our current medical system. And I am getting better.

      In the evening while my roommate is busy on zoom meetings, I watch another episode of MEGRET, a master piece theater detective series. Today I will be watching the election returns with a friend.

     The Highlands baker arrives in the afternoon with a fresh loaf of great rye bread and lively conversation.

 

 Monday, November 3, 2025   

     I wake up early and turn on the new heater. Click and then the low hum of the fan.  My room begins to warm up. The new heater is working well. this morning is writing group time and then in the late afternoon is an appointment with my oncologist to see what is next.

     I almost don’t hear the steady sounds of the traffic from down the hill. Always there, day and night but mostly, I don’t hear the sounds. I spend hours improving my solitaire game on the computer.

     I continue to watch LONG WAY HOME, the motorcycle trip through Europe with two old er guys and their support trucks. It is calming. No drama, beautiful scenery and lots of motorcycle talk.

     I am still reading several books. The most intense is DEATH OF THE AUTHOR, a story focused on the future with the robots fighting each other now that the human race has disappeared. Yes, I am nervous about talking to the oncologist this afternoon. I am not sure what new difficult treatment he is going to suggest.