Coming Up For Air

It’s coming up on a year since that first mammogram … holy hell, so much has happened since then. It’s a bit surreal to think back on it. I ran into an old BFF today while searching for yard duty vests at Talize (because that’s what all good Ps do) and we were chatting about it. Her son, now 20 and happily shopping too, was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma when he was 10. We talked about how, once you’re diagnosed, you are basically swept along from one appointment to the next. It’s just happening to you. And then it slows down and you come up for air. 

Salty Air

I came up for air – after the surgery, chemo, heart attack and kidney insanity – and as soon as we could, we went on a family road trip to PEI. Because if I’ve learning anything from this shit show, you can’t keep saying “we’ll do that next year”. 

cheesy photo
Everyone must have one cheesy trip photo. Here’s ours.

We had a grand time on the road, in Montreal, staying at whack places, traversing PEI.

riding by the sea
One should always rent bikes. Especially when in flat provinces.

And then, the best of all, visiting Deborah and Michael in Maine. It was so great. The sea, the air, the creepy things they made me touch, the seaweed, the rocks. 

low tide
You can’t be a wimp if you want to get to the kayaks at low tide. 
Maine coast
The rocks on the Maine coast are so gorgeous. Hence the black and white artsy shot. 

Hot Air

And then that was done and we came back to Ontario where everyone was melting. I threw myself into doing practically nothing at the lake. It was pretty much the best summer for being by a lake. Hot and hot and hot. 

reading on the dock
No Netflix at the lake, only good books.

I decided I’d better do SOMETHING  productive, so I finished a project that I started two years ago (… because if I’ve learned anything …). When we first bought the place the little bunkie was stinky and dated. We ripped the laminate flooring off of the floor and counter and backsplash (they must have really loved it). 

counter after stripping it
Pretty rough.

I tiled the counter and planned to cover up the black marks on the wall that was left from the glue. 

 

tiling job
My first tiling endeavour. (Not giving up my day job.) 

I bought some old tin ceiling tiles and scraped them till the loose paint was off then cut them to fit each space. With tin snips from 1902. That was fun. Then I sprayed them with varathane a couple of times. It’s amazing how you can think there’s no wind but there really is wind. Just sayin’. 

cutting tin
A great forearm workout. Can’t get that at cardiac rehab!

Gluing the rectangles to the wall was a bit trickier than I’d anticipated. The pieces needed to be pushed against the wall till they set … about 12 hours. I had to be creative and brace them with various objects. 

bracing the backsplash
By the end I had garbage pails, chairs, sticks and utensils wedged against the backsplash. McGiveresque.

In the end the wall looks pretty good. 

backsplash done
Kinda weird but I like it.

Not long after I got the idea to use tin for backsplash, I decided that I could use the scraps to make up some fish to hang on the wall. You know, “tie in” the backsplash. I’d seen some done a few years back – don’t know where – and somehow they stayed in my memory. So I went for it.

  • Tip: don't use white glue.

I really enjoyed making the fish – and I think that they turned out really well. So I hung them on the crapper at the top of the path so that EVERYONE has to look at them. 

fish on the outhouse
Swimming away from the stank.

I figure that if I decide Dougie starts to ruin education and I have to quit, I’ll make fish and sell them on Etsy. I mean, everyone needs a few tin fish on their walls… 

And Now? 

New school and pretty freaking tired… but I’m loving it and am finding ways to cope. The kids are amazing – everyone has to choose a night to make dinner. (I have a feeling that my next blog entry might be on teenager dinners … ) We all commit to having dinner together at 6:00, including me (which is hard but I did it every night in this first week so that’s something). So far so good. Week two could be a bit hellish with a MUGA scan and two late nights at school (Council mtg and Open House). So we’ll see how I’m doing on Friday. 

I likely won’t look like this. 

me with flower

PS Only 6 treatments left …

12 thoughts on “Coming Up For Air

  1. Such a great post, Janice. I love the title. So glad we’re both employing our teenagers, though my compromise is that I provide the recipe and they do the prep – mostly because Mr 17 often isn’t home from work until 8:00, so he will do prep of ingredients.

    Also understanding the “we’ll do it next year” philosophy. Again, as I think you are, I am very aware that my family will shrink next year. Squeezing every bit of memories out of time with my oldest is a priority.

    It has been a joy to have you at work this week. Looking forward to helping you keep the health/work/life balance thing happening.

    P.S. the stank made me laugh out loud.

  2. Since you have come up for air, just remember to take deep breaths and let them out slowly, when life feels a bit frantic. Humming a mantra at the same time also helps. You’ve got this! Lots of family support

  3. Thanks Janis-Don’t stop posting-let me know when you do retire & I’ll be your 1st tin fish customer. They’re beautiful-such creativity out of a tumultuous year!

  4. It is great to see that awesome smile of yours. To quote a t-shirt, “life is good”. Have a good time with all of the newness.

    1. Thanks Cathy! I agree that life is good – and we’ve got it REALLY good compared to so many people.

  5. … a good year to have behind you! You have made the best of it and entertainingly educated a bunch of us along the way. The tin fish make me not rush so much walking by the crapper, by the way.

  6. WooHoo! You Go Girl!! By the time Friday comes, make that your night for doing dinner and make it cereal night…..Lol! You could also pick up a barbecue chicky, a bagged salad and throw some rice in the microwave…..easy peasy. Better yet, pick up a pizza!!
    I totally get the tiredness part, that was a challenge for me when I returned to work as well. I hope you are able to grab some extra naps on the weekend to reenergize. Love your posts and so happy for you that you got some great family time this summer! 😃❤️👍

    1. Oh yes – Friday night is ‘fend for yourself’ night. So it’s often something like pizza. The rest of the week we do our best to have ‘real’ food … although Annie is on for chicken burgers tomorrow night (not exactly home made). Definitely the next blog post!! lol

  7. I have really missed your updates! 💕 Congrats on getting through the past year and on staying so positive and inspiring throughout. You really are something. Xo

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