Reflections
12/19/2025
Most people send out a holiday newsletter or cards. I figured we'll do this with our blog. Like most of our years, it has not been dull.
The first half of our year started with Laurie breaking her leg (January), having another surgery for a sinus mass (February), and a trip to Iceland in May. We live our life in 3 month windows, running from MRI to MRI. My worries and concerns ramp up as we close in on the next MRI, with hope of relief once we know the answer.
So far.....she's doing great, with clear MRI's and great doctor visits. This of course makes us very happy and she continues to be followed by a great team of physicians. We were saddened by the departure of her surgeon, Dr. Chandra, who accepted a chair position at the University of Mississippi. We became quite fond of him, but are so happy for his new opportunity. We still follow each other on Facebook.
The rest of Laurie's care team remains in place. Dr. Chowdhury, who worked with Dr. Chandra for years, now takes care of Laurie. We like him. Dr. Davis, the oncologist at Vanderbilt continues to follow Laurie and is always so kind. Dr. Wang at University of Cincinnati continues to follow Laurie's progress, even though radiation treatments were complete a year and a half ago. Dr. Busby and Dr. Groos, as they have done for years, do a fantastic job keeping her vision in working order.
We remain blessed with the physicians following Laurie and keeping her healthy. We love them like family and appreciate them more than we can express. A happy holiday season to them all.
I finished year one at my not so new employer on Dec. 1. With any new job, you can figure out who the jerks are in about 3 days tops. I am 12 months in....and I'm unable to figure out where they even keep them! The company is simply amazing from top to bottom. From the owner of the company on down, they are kind, honest, and fair. They are good people. I cannot believe my luck, having this company find and hire me.
The kids continue to do well, with lives of their own. Laurie remains healthy with intense hopes from both of us that this is our new normal. My amazing job remains amazing. We want for nothing but health, peace, time, and the company of those we care about. At this point in time.......life is good, and the worries abate. We have such deep hopes this continues.....not only for us, but for you as well.
We didn't travel last Christmas as I was new to the job and didn't have sufficient vacation. Being there a year....this has changed. We are off on our holiday trip which will be around two weeks. Unlike most of our previous trips, we have only one destination. Once we arrive, we will stay there for the duration.
We'll be in one place, with ample time to explore a place briefly touched during our last visit. When we were there years ago, I was sick. We were only there 3 days. We were restrained by my health and time. But not this trip.
We have friends who will join us for part of the trip. They live in NYC and are excited about sharing this destination with us. We'll enjoy their company, explore, eat, and just sit and enjoy the view.
We will explore, hang out with the locals, visit their holiday festivals. We will enjoy their Christmas Market. We'll watch fireworks on the waterfront. We'll visit hot springs and dormant volcanoes. We'll sit and watch the ocean hit the rocks...........for as long as we want.
We are in no hurry. We have no set destinations or schedules. Some days we'll do a lot...and some days we'll do little. We will take our time and enjoy each other's company, the thing I've grown to value the most. We will sit with no schedule, and learn the shape of the days.
Come.......join us in the Azores.
Most people send out a holiday newsletter or cards. I figured we'll do this with our blog. Like most of our years, it has not been dull.
The first half of our year started with Laurie breaking her leg (January), having another surgery for a sinus mass (February), and a trip to Iceland in May. We live our life in 3 month windows, running from MRI to MRI. My worries and concerns ramp up as we close in on the next MRI, with hope of relief once we know the answer.
So far.....she's doing great, with clear MRI's and great doctor visits. This of course makes us very happy and she continues to be followed by a great team of physicians. We were saddened by the departure of her surgeon, Dr. Chandra, who accepted a chair position at the University of Mississippi. We became quite fond of him, but are so happy for his new opportunity. We still follow each other on Facebook.
The rest of Laurie's care team remains in place. Dr. Chowdhury, who worked with Dr. Chandra for years, now takes care of Laurie. We like him. Dr. Davis, the oncologist at Vanderbilt continues to follow Laurie and is always so kind. Dr. Wang at University of Cincinnati continues to follow Laurie's progress, even though radiation treatments were complete a year and a half ago. Dr. Busby and Dr. Groos, as they have done for years, do a fantastic job keeping her vision in working order.
We remain blessed with the physicians following Laurie and keeping her healthy. We love them like family and appreciate them more than we can express. A happy holiday season to them all.
I finished year one at my not so new employer on Dec. 1. With any new job, you can figure out who the jerks are in about 3 days tops. I am 12 months in....and I'm unable to figure out where they even keep them! The company is simply amazing from top to bottom. From the owner of the company on down, they are kind, honest, and fair. They are good people. I cannot believe my luck, having this company find and hire me.
The kids continue to do well, with lives of their own. Laurie remains healthy with intense hopes from both of us that this is our new normal. My amazing job remains amazing. We want for nothing but health, peace, time, and the company of those we care about. At this point in time.......life is good, and the worries abate. We have such deep hopes this continues.....not only for us, but for you as well.
We didn't travel last Christmas as I was new to the job and didn't have sufficient vacation. Being there a year....this has changed. We are off on our holiday trip which will be around two weeks. Unlike most of our previous trips, we have only one destination. Once we arrive, we will stay there for the duration.
We'll be in one place, with ample time to explore a place briefly touched during our last visit. When we were there years ago, I was sick. We were only there 3 days. We were restrained by my health and time. But not this trip.
We have friends who will join us for part of the trip. They live in NYC and are excited about sharing this destination with us. We'll enjoy their company, explore, eat, and just sit and enjoy the view.
We will explore, hang out with the locals, visit their holiday festivals. We will enjoy their Christmas Market. We'll watch fireworks on the waterfront. We'll visit hot springs and dormant volcanoes. We'll sit and watch the ocean hit the rocks...........for as long as we want.
We are in no hurry. We have no set destinations or schedules. Some days we'll do a lot...and some days we'll do little. We will take our time and enjoy each other's company, the thing I've grown to value the most. We will sit with no schedule, and learn the shape of the days.
Come.......join us in the Azores.