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Arrived at Ryan's

I’ve arrived at Ryan’s house and was treated to dinner at the Kabob Palace, a sort of Pakistani (maybe) restaurant down the street from where he lives – very yummy! It’s sort of a last hurrah before being scolded at NIH for my crappy eating habits.

Kevin is going to have a fit after last time I swore up and down that my diet overall isn’t that bad, and that yes, I would sign up for weight watchers. The four weeks in between that visit and this one have been horrible though! Work has been crazy trying to get ready to come back to NIH on short notice. I’ve been doing a lot of things for the Network that need to be done and can’t wait, and I’ve had a freelance project going.

That means my diet hasn’t been balanced, low cal or anything good.

Midwest Airlines, the airline that lost my bag last time I was here, is on its way to redeeming its self. I’m now convinced it’s the ground crew that’s the problem. This time I arrived to get my bag at baggage claim only to find several hundred people pushing on each other standing around the luggage belt. It seems one of the other luggage belts was broken, and so four plane loads of people were all pushed around trying to get their bags. It made it so that those of us with bags that were actually coming out couldn’t get to them. There was no crowd control, and they needed some. Finally, one of the skycaps stood on top of the luggage belt and shouted for flights such and such to back away to that our flight could get to the bags. Finally, someone took charge!

But, it’s hard to beat those nice big leather seats! I guess I’ll put up with a lot for leg room.

On the flight I finally had time to think about the next week – which was good and bad. I’ve been so busy that I hadn’t thought about it too much.

But on the plane I finally got that pit in my stomach with the thought I had the first time I went to NIH – my life might never be the same after this trip.

I talked to my mom the other night, and got the standard, “I don’t know why you worry so much, You just get yourself so worked up…” Since the rest of the conversation was going well, I let it go. But, it’s one of those comments that’s just the totally wrong thing to say.

I know that getting in this trial is my big chance. I know it could make a big difference in my overall health status long term. How am I not supposed to feel anxious about it. That’s like telling the sky not to be blue.

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Comments

Anonymous said…
Glad you arrived safely (and your luggage did too). You have handled an enormous amount of medical STUFF with such grace and courage, and I'm sure that no matter what the week brings, you will ultimately handle it in the same way (though you are, of course, completely entitled to have rough days and worries). You're in my thoughts and prayers.

As for people and their inappropriate comments, I'll give you the same advice someone gave me: Get a squirt gun! Of course, the long distance provides a certain challenge. Perhaps there are phones that can be rigged to squirt at the person from afar! Hey, now there's an invention whose time as come!! Honestly though, for me, just envisioning using a squirt gun in situations like that has been empowering somehow. GRIN!

Hang in there!! Keep us posted about how you're doing and what we can do for you.
10:31 AM
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