I’m feeling a lot better as of Sunday evening. Over the weekend I attended a memorial service for a colleague who passed away recently from uterine cancer. I didn’t know Adriane well but the remarks from her many friends and family were consistent with what I knew – smart, funny, a straight shooter and slightly intimidating (if you didn’t know her well.) There were many lovely remarks directed to her two children, Petra and Theo, which made it a bit of a tear jerker but was really touching. Many Duke Law staff were there including our Dean David Levi. It was a beautiful service and I’m glad I went although I was a little unsure if I’d come apart…I did not. Thanks to my friend and colleague Halley for picking me up so I didn’t have to go alone!
After that, because Adriane was generous in teaching me about wigs when I was first diagnosed, I made a trek to the wig store in Wake Forest, Angel Wigs, to get some styling tips as well as a little trim and wave in one of my two wigs. It seems like the right thing to do. I met several other women wig shopping and had a nice time visiting with folks.
Later on Saturday I caught up with Melissa and about an hour later had a surprise visit from my buddy and neighbor (whom I rarely see) Jon Davis, and I finally got to meet his awesome girlfriend Trish. They went to high school together at the science and math magnet school in Durham. Isn’t that cute? I know. Anyway, it was super fun to hang out with them and I do like a surprise visitor when they don’t mind that I’m usually in some form of pajamas these days. Jon decided my Blu Ray player is lacking so gifted me a Roku stick today. I haven’t installed it yet but I bet when I do it’s going to be one of those things that I can’t imagine I’ve lived without. Sorry about that preposition…without which I’ve lived just sounds too…formal?
Sunday was sleep in day for me! I needed it after a busy Saturday. Late in the afternoon I finally went to go ride my horse Banner, whom I hadn’t seen for a week. Thanks to a wonderful gal at the barn, Becca, who has been working with him daily, he’s evolving into a horse you never would have known was ever a racehorse. His ground manners have improved tremendously and he’s learning how to use his body better every day. My stamina is fairly limited so I hacked him out to a hay field all by himself (!) and even over a cement bridge that echoes enough to spook many horses. He was sort of wondering where his friends were but I am pretty proud of him doing all that solo (well without another equine, obviously I was there.) Then we went up to the arena and did just a tiny bit of work. He’s easier to get on the bit going to the left and clearly is learning from Becca about how to do that better. To the right is harder but he’s a willing learner and just so chill.
Even without my stamina I’m happy to say I still get an endorphin high even from a pretty easy ride! Perfect way to end the weekend and now I’m ready for sleep and tomorrow’s monthly staff meeting with the Alumni & Development team at Duke Law.
p.s. I’m going to have to find something funny to write about soon. I’m sure something hilarious will happen at some point this week?
Hi, Sandra, I’m a good friend of your dad; we’ve done a bunch of men’s work stuff at the UU, and we’re also in a cooking club together. I so enjoy your reflections in this blog – thoughtful, insightful, articulate. Thanks for openly sharing your journey with honesty and humor; I can learn from this. Thanks also for the reminder that relationship building, grounding and re-centering are life skills we all do well to practice every day.
Thanks for your note and support, Alan!