Skip to main content

Weekend Get-a-way

Episode LXXXIX - It's the eye of the tiger...


Let me just clarify this before I even start writing - I am a UTK fan... go Vols! However, I am the one one in the house... and am overrun by Auburn fans. I also cheer for Auburn, except when they play Tennessee. And I still love going Auburn football games, which we try to make one game each season. I missed last year - cancer treatment - but, this year we were going... even if I hurt!




I am not a crazy fan - where I cannot recognize other teams great plays. But I do scream at the TV like the team can hear me... cause they can. And I will move seats until they improve. So, I am a slightly crazy fan. My kids think I am crazy (but for many reasons). However, I appreciate the sport. So do not be throwing hate my way when you realize who I cheer for.

There is nothing like football season in the south (if you like football). And nothing like a going to a game and spending the weekend eating at local dives and feeling the excitement on campus. I love sharing that experience with my children. I hope it will instill a desire to want to go to college. To see some of the fun and privileges of continuing their education.


Eating out the night before...

As with any college traditions, you have to wear your school colors (thank goodness both TN and Auburn are orange... even if different shades). If you are lucky enough to spend the weekend in town you generally stay in the cheapest, closest hotel you can find and hope that the weather will be good. Normally, August games can be brutally hot so I was worried about my lymphedema. Fortunately for me the weather was hot, but not the normal Alabama heat that can be humid and sweltering.


Getting ready for some football...


Auburn has a beautiful campus. And I have seen many. While the campus is large, it has an intimate feel with well designed walking paths and beautiful green areas. The large brick buildings are beautifully constructed.

We made our way around Auburn visiting Toomer's Corner for lemonade and Tiger Rags for t-shirts. Of course, in our parental push encouraging education we stopped by the library, student center, and some actual classroom buildings... and made time for our traditional pictures at Samford Hall. The day would not be complete without lunch at Momma Goldbergs where we actually found a booth available. We looped the main drag multiple times just enjoying the pre-game excitement. I walked so much I was worried that my back and legs were going to just give out.


Family traditions... 


My daughter and I opted to go back to the hotel room instead of the game. I can only handle so much time up and on my feet. My arm was swollen, my back ached, and I really needed to lay down for a while. While I slowly (very slowly) made my way towards the car, the boys headed off to the game... ready to watch Auburn win... which they did!

We enjoyed our time in Auburn and even took a quick detour in Birmingham on our way home. Why not, I already hurt???


Silly fun at McWane Science Center... 


In my head...


Even during the most difficult times, fun can be made. No matter how I feel... no matter how bad it is... I choose to enjoy my life. And even though I feel cruddy or tired or sore or ill I want to enjoy the time with my family and continue to do as much as I can.

While I wrote little of my cancer or lymphedema or the fact that the weekend wore me out... I hope that this post shows that the joy of life and the memories we make are so valuable. Stepping away from the doctor's appointments, tests, and general blah of post-cancer treatment is refreshing... even if it is just a weekend get-a-way!!!





Episode Reference: Eye of the Tiger, Survivor song
I couldn't resist for the Auburn fans... 
and Go Vols!

Comments

  1. BonnieOctober 25, 2014 at 11:58 AM

    Glad you are sharing your optimism and normalcy with us! You inspire me!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

my longest hardest day yet

Get ready boys and girls... today is a doozy. And a long post too! But before we begin on one of the toughest days I've ever done, let's recap. Mon: Irritating Onc day where I was not told about suspicious fluid around lung/heart in time to get a biopsy & I got contradicting info from his NP the week before.  Tues: Spending the morning getting Immunotherapy and 2 Chemotherapies before going straight to the airport to fly to Houston and enduring long rental car lines and afternoon heavy traffic. A few more checks off this weeks list... a few more to go: Now back to my Wednesday... the Humpday I would like to forget! So, after 8 hours of cancer treatment, flying, and travel in congested Houston the day before, I didn't have much rest because we had to start Wednesday early. My husband and I decided to walk to the medical center since our hotel was close. However, it was not necessarily the easiest or closest walk - tons of traffic, intersections, and some strange indivi...
Post a Comment
Read more

chemo. travel. fly. travel. stop.

QUICK RECAP Monday was a let's check in with Oncologist - only to get annoyed that I was not told about suspicious fluid around lung/heart found on 10/5 CT before now, the Onc said I could get a biopsy when his NP told me I couldn't the week before, and now it was probably too late get the biopsy since it may be gone because we waited too long. And my official check-in pre-visit appointment phone call with MD Anderson. My Checklist at the Start of Tuesday: Still a Lot to Do! TUESDAY Today is going to be a loooonnnggg day! I started with an early morning chemotherapy time, getting to the facility while it was still dark outside, around 6:35am... It was weirdly silent... I was the only one in the building (except for a security guard) for a bit. I was actually concerned that my 6:45/7am scheduled time for chemotherapy was incorrect and just randomly sitting at the cancer center.  I was even there before the front desk check-in staff arrived. Normally, the place is packed. So, wh...
Post a Comment
Read more

happy birthday to me... almost

  Let's rewind a bit and start a few days before my birthday... I had my first cancer treatment day on October 3rd - check it out if you haven't read that blog post yet. Let's just think of it as an early birthday gift since my birthday is October 7th. Great gift, right?!? If I have to hear "Happy Early" or "Late Birthday" from another medical person, I might have to smack someone. Especially, since I have spent most of the weeks leading up to and after my birthday at a medical appointment regarding cancer. Not really loving my birthday this year. Let's just say, on my birthday, I woke up with a special chemo-side-effect-surprise at 2am. That fun surprise I will share later... Rewind a Few Days... Update But first, let's go to October 4th, the day after my grueling 8 hours of immunotherapy and two chemotherapies on the 3rd. I woke up swollen, red faced, and fevering, as well as feeling pretty crummy. I didn't have time to dwell on it since I...
Post a Comment
Read more