June 5, 2022

Photos from my walks around Heidi’s house

Happy Sunday Funday y’all – 

I hope that his post finds you all enjoying your Sunday whether that means you’re at the beach, spending time with family/friends, or whatever it is you do to relax.  I am packing my bags and getting ready to vacate “Heidi’s house” where I have been for the past week.  

Originally, I was supposed to have my friend Roni stay with me this week, however, I asked her not to come so I could enjoy a week alone in Houston.  Roni is such a wonderful friend that she completely understood that this extroverted introvert needed some alone time.  I have to tell you that it’s been wonderful for my soul to be able to have this time to myself.   

I have been staying at Heidi’s house – let me tell you who Heidi is.  Heidi is the college roommate of my neighbor and buddy, Cory.  It just so happened that Heidi and her son, Max, were going to be on vacation this past week and she graciously offered up her home as a landing pad for me to stay.  I am so thankful that this worked out as this little house has been a nice retreat for me to work, rest, sleep and heal. 

I have thoroughly enjoyed my morning walks in the little streets around Heidi’s house. The streets around Heidi’s house are filled with beautiful old Houston homes.  Many of them have been redone, some were knocked down and rebuilt to be modern homes but the streets, sidewalks, and ambiance is still the quaint charm that has been around for years.  My walks are peaceful and pleasant.  It also allows me time to listen to my true crime podcasts, Dateline, my audiobooks, or just enjoy my solitude and pray as I walk.  Whatever I am doing you can trust that I am working internally to calm my spirit so I can continue my battle.

Side note – I just finished “I Take My Coffee Black” by Tyler Merrit.  It was one of the BEST books that I have ever had to opportunity to listen to.  I bought it on Audible and I would highly recommend doing the same.  The book is read by the author and his voice and storytelling are awesome.  He talks about the injustices against black people, God, the church, theater groups, etc.  It’s a must-read/listen and I promise you will not regret taking the time for this book.  You can find it here.

I went to see the Downton Abbey:  A New Era movie yesterday afternoon and it was awesome.  For any Downton fans, you will not be disappointed.  I truly hope that they continue this storyline for quite a few more movies. We need more feel-good movies out there.  I don’t know if any of you enjoy going to the movies alone or not, but I certainly do.  I enjoy the darkness of the theater and knowing that for the next 2 hours I will be somewhere else.  The movies are great for taking us away from our lives and transforming me into another time and place.  

I’ve also had some time to read this week, which I usually don’t have time for at home.  One of my goals for this year was to read a book a month.  So far, I’ve read or listened to 8 books.  I’m old-fashioned and like to have a physical book in my hand.  Mano enjoys reading books on his iPad.  It’s convenient, I’ll give you that but being a creature of habit my tactile senses needs to hold the book, flip the pages, and get caught up in the story that it’s taking me to.  I promise to post my list at the end of the year so you can all see how well I did.  Please share some of your favorite books with me.  I’m always looking to add to my list of items to read this year.

I had a wonderful experience yesterday when I went to lunch at Mendocino’s at Rice Village – link here.  I was standing behind a husband/wife and their 4 daughters as they tried wrangling the kids to get their lunch orders in.  Their daughters looked to be from the ages of 7 to 15.  One of the teenagers didn’t bring her glasses, because she doesn’t like the way she looks in them, and because of this she couldn’t read the menu in typical teenage fashion, she was rolling her eyes and very non-decisive on what to have for lunch.  You could SO tell that she did not pick this restaurant.  Mendocino’s is a salad, sandwich, and soup place all of which I’m sure is not on a teenager’s food list.  Either way, I digress, the mother and I started chatting about LASIK, cancer, etc.  She shared with me that her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer in her 50s and went through all that I’m going through.  She was offering hope, as so many others do, which is wonderful.  

After I ordered, I found a seat, pulled out my book, and began to read while I ate my lunch.  When this lady finished eating and as she was getting ready to leave she came over and wanted to tell me – how good I looked and that she had full confidence that I would successfully beat this cancer.  I shared that I was in Houston temporarily to do my radiation.   She apologized again for bothering me and wished me well on my journey and as she walked off my eyes teared up as I thought about the kindness of others.  I know that God uses people to provide what we need and he knew yesterday that I needed that message from a total stranger.  (PRAISES).

Mano is flying to Houston today and will spend the final week with me.  I am thankful that I only have 2 more whole breast radiation treatments and 4 boosters to go.  I am scheduled to be finished with radiation on Friday.  I have 2 booster radiation doses that will be given on Thursday, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, and then my final dose on Friday.  I am sure that they will let me ring the bell when I complete radiation which will be awesome since they did not have a bell to ring when I completed my chemotherapy due to COVID.  I will try and get a photo to post! We will see….

My prayer request for this week are as follows:

• Prayers for safe travels for Mano coming here today and for safe travels for us when we head home next Friday.
• Continued prayers for Scott and Hayden as they learn to navigate their “new normal” without Angie.  Trust me it will never be normal for them but as we all know when dealing with loss the world continues to turn and we must put one foot in front of the other and just keep walking.
• Continued prayers for my recently diagnosed friend.  She had her port placed this week and had her first chemotherapy on Friday.   Prayers for peace and strength for her body as she walks this road. 
• Continued prayers for all those in my family who are still struggling with back issues – Mom healing from her surgery, Nicky still having issues with her herniated disc, and Phillip as he continues to march towards getting approved for back surgery.  It’s a lot y’all!
• Prayers for me as I go through my last week of radiation – I’m counting down the sessions and the days until I can go back home.  There is nothing like sleeping in your own bed and loving on your own dogs.
• Please know that I am praying for all of you every day while taking my radiation treatments. 

In closing today I want to stress how important it is to show kindness to those around us.  We never know the battles that others are going through, whether those battles are physical, mental, financial, or something else.  Something as small as talking to someone and letting them know that you SEE them can change someone’s day.  Take time to show love and compassion for those around you.  Enjoy your Sunday!!  I love you all.

Xo,

Tracy 

Photos are from my walks around Heidi’s house