Back again

Hello there, I'm back. It's been a while, and some stuff has happened, but I'm here now, and glad to be back, writing in my blog. There are some important things on my immediate horizon, and I want to reflect on them and write about them. I frequently pick up my journal when unexpected challenges or event happen in my life. I've done this since high school, maybe even earlier. So, while this post will be short, it's a gateway to an ongoing exploration of the amazing, consequential, challenging, wonderful things happening now and very soon. First, my daughter is two weeks away from her due date, her first child and my first biologic grandchild. Amazing, mysterious, beautiful, exciting, full of love and wonder. Second, I'm starting radiation treatment on Monday for breast cancer. I had surgery on April 26th of this year to remove 2 invasive ductal carcinoma tumors and 4 lymph nodes from my right breast. I'm doing the treatment (every day, Monday through Friday) at the University of Maine Medical Center in Portland, instead of in Providence. I want to be close to Portland when Laura goes into labor. Third, my husband intends to retire, officially and permanently, before the year is out. There's more, but these are the big 3. You can see, cant you, why it's going to be important and therapeutic and healthy for me to reflect on and write about these happenings? I'm excited to share this part of my long extended journey with anyone who finds this blog and wants to read. Life is mysterious and unpredictable and wonderful and fleeting. From the poem "Sometimes," by Mary Oliver: Instructions for living a life: Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it.