Back to School (8/19/13)

So I am one week into my summer vacation. In 9 (shudder) weeks I'll be meeting my new classes. This year, however, I will not be starting the school year with treatment.

I really needed this break. I was so worn down and emotionally broken after the school year. The fall was incredibly impossible with being so ill and teaching such a demanding course with AP World. The spring was easier but difficult in other ways. I had up and down swings due to meds. I was exhausted. I realized I never really took the time to recuperate from treatment, side effects, surgeries, etc. I probably should have taken a longer period of time off.....but I was so determined to not let cancer interrupt my life or career.

As I said to my oncologist last week, I felt like I didn't know what to do with myself in the spring. I wasn't running to the Cancer Institute multiple times a week. I wasn't recovering from surgery (which seemed like my life from April through January with 4 procedures). I was antsy. I was tired. I didn't want to talk to anyone. I didn't want to do anything, go anywhere, exercise, nothing. I'd drag my sorry ass around half living and feeling miserable and sleeping whenever I could. We did a melanoma walk. We did Relay For Life-and I was so exhausted we left after 3 hours. My brain was overloaded, stopped processing things and needed a rest.

So, I have been living for these precious few weeks off. No tough medical stuff-scans in a few weeks. No major projects. I can focus on resting and relaxing and having a good time. Vacation got off to a great start with friends and I laughed and relaxed and kicked back like I hadn't in about a year. It felt good. You know what? I have energy now. Back to the gym and Zumba. Summer fruits and veggies are part of the diet again and I am making the most of them. I am spending part of each day doing things neglected around the house for the last year. I am doing things for school that will allow me to have an easier semester in September. We have a great foster dog.

I still have a lot of people to catch up with and see now that I am healthy and 13 months NED. Life is good and I have to remember that. Here's to 9 more weeks of rest and relaxation!!!