I Wasn’t Expecting That!

Welp.  I Wasn’t Expecting That!

I wasn’t expecting any of the things going on. It just feels like everything is upside down, or maybe backwards, or “unprecedented”, or flat out not right. We’ve been enjoying Social Distancing since March 10. We live in the first epicenter (to the extent we know it) of COVID-19 in the US. We don’t have kids, or family nearby, so we’re pretty much a pair all the time and this just means we aren’t seeing other people.  Boy do I miss Pilates and my hair appointments!  All fitness, salons, restaurants, are closed.

We had plans both Friday and Saturday, but those are cancelled. I’ve been making food, which is a nice distraction for me.  I’ve done chili, beef stock, chicken stock, tomato sauce, and granola, in addition to regular meals. I made coconut macaroons. I will make meatballs too.

This is not a yawp about staying home. Trust me, I do not mind and have a definite skill set for this (and have been doing it since 1989); the weather has been mostly beautiful, and so walking has been a pleasure (although  cold). I am busy with my projects, and projects, and more projects! I have lots of contact over the web, I have a phone and know how to use it.

I Wasn’t Expecting a Breast Cancer Diagnosis!

It was looking pretty inevitable after I flunked the second mammogram, and went in for a needle biopsy. I was hopeful, but also not surprised when I got the call of the 19th that I did have breast cancer. I cannot think how many women I know have had breast cancer and survived.  Some even more than one go round.  I know one person who died (except later in life). I see this as an eminently survivable disease, and I am staged at 1A, so I feel like this will end well.

I wasn’t expecting abreast cancer diagnosis–I’ve been obsessing about my roots!

So first, get your mammogram.  I caught it early. I really groused about the appointments taking up time I didn’t want to give, but now I am so grateful that I took time, and that I was able to get in so early (Thanks Covid-19!).  I will see the oncologist on Wednesday, then have a better idea of what is ahead, although due to Covid-19 no one knows what scheduling will be like.

I Had Other Plans!

I have three KALs/Challenges on the burners right now.  I am teaching classes.  Forget about my cancelled vacation, I had plans!  But I always have plans, and I don’t always get to follow them. So, Social Distancing, working on training for the Jill Wolcott Knits® Finishing Challenge, participating in FestiKAL (patterns discounted!), and the IdentityKAL.  Check here for information and links on all three.  Follow me on Instagram to see my daily posts, and also posts for MarchMeettheMaker.

So about those other plans, it suddenly became real to me that I cannot continue juggling (at least for now) like I do.  So my challenge as I organize my space is going to eject everything I am not likely to do in the next couple of years.  Aiiiyyyeee!  Not because I don’t think I’ll survive, but why am I continuing to dream like I was a much younger person.  I have (multiple) dozens of projects I do plan to do, so that is what I will find and focus on.

I think the Jill Wolcott Knits® Finishing Challenge is going to be a blast.

Forging Ahead!

You may not have a cancer diagnosis, but likely you are fretting about COVID-19, or how it is impacting your plans, or the well-being of your family, or whatever anxieties all this is causing everyone.  We were pretty stressed at the beginning of this from three years of being bullied by a master; it is not over yet. Let’s all keep our eye on what matters outside ourselves right now. Stay safe. Vote. Be kind. Ignore as much of the daily horror as you can while still staying compassionate, pissed off, and engaged.  I’ll be knitting, working, and enjoying each day as I can. Hopefully soon I’ll sleep better.

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