silhouetted against the light

Hello friends!  Life’s been busy of late so I’m afraid we’ve sadly neglected you.  Here’s a quick survey of recent Deb ‘n’ Val highlights:

My trip to Oaxaca, Mexico, with my mother and sister was a balm and a delight.  We immersed ourselves in art, color, music and sunshine and returned home dazed and happy.  Along the way we ate freshly-made chocolate, followed a brass band to a graveyard, saw the rings of Jupiter through a telescope in front of the cathedral, and shared Thanksgiving dinner with people of many nationalities.  Also, I finally met a lifelong goal by eating a fried grasshopper.

Val’s trip to California went happily and well.  Her adventures included hiking in Tahoe, pursuing aliens at Mt. Shasta, and arguing with her GPS, Glenda.  Also, Karen in SF learned that Val can be dangerous when armed with beets.

Right now Val (accompanied by Rosilyne) is at her every-three-weeks treatment, being infused with Apomab and Avastin.  We met with the doctor and nurses all morning and they say everything is looking good: blood counts climbing, breathing clear, other numbers good.  She is scheduled for her next CT scan on Dec. 19.

Also, breaking news: hair is on the march!  In the last two weeks the peach fuzz on Val’s head has given way to the sleek beginnings of genuine hair.  (About half an inch so far.  Kind of like late-eighties Sinead O’Connor.  Or a harbor seal.)  Over the course of the last few days her eyebrows have also begun to make an apperance, sprouting sweetly out like little seedlings in the spring.  Today you can even see them from several feet away, especially toward the middle.  And when she stands sideways against the light, you can see the nubbins of eyelashes coming back!

May your days be likewise filled with delightful and auspicious events.

Deborah