Feeling healthy

I am sitting in Ft Lauderdale, Florida, feeling healthy and frisky. I've been thinking about discontinuing this blog, since it is meant to be about my journey through the dark days of the cancer therapy maze and I guess I feel that it's behind me now. Then, a friend reminded me that the journey is not over – not by a long shot. Feeling well is very much part of the journey, as is the fervent hope that the bad days are well and truly over.

It's early morning of another scorcher of a Sunday, and I am sitting on the porch of the B&B meditating on the fact that I have actually reached the point where I can honestly say that I feel healthy. It happened last week in the pool. Despite the fact that my feet are still bothering me and my knees have decided to play up as well, I suddenly had this overwhelming sense of wellbeing and realisation that I am healthy again.

So, thanks everyone who helped me reach this point. I am very conscious of your presence, and am determined to make sure that this state of being will continue to the best of my ability.

The first important step in this direction is to lose weight. Since my arrival I have been walking, walking, walking and swimming, swimming, swimming. (not to mention sweating in this heat). The result is that I have lost about 3-4 kilograms since I left Sydney, which brings it to almost 6 kilograms (13 pounds), or almost two dress sizes, of weight loss since I was told that I had an elevated blood glucose level. My new jeans are already hanging loose!



Last week I had the use of a car and explored the area. I visited "Butterfly World".




This is a research centre and tourist attraction with over 3000 butterflies flying around at any one time. Apparently the life span of the creatures spans from 7 days to months or even a year. There are also interesting plants and birds. The only annoying thing was the piped music that made the place feel like a funeral parlour.

Another day I went to Boca Raton and got lost in the Japanese Gardens (not to mention the way to the place). It was the property of a Japanese farmer, who donated his property to the County with the proviso that they make it into a Japanese cultural centre. Although I've seen more beautiful Japanese gardens, it was interesting, even though I missed the tea ceremony, which is only performed during the winter. It was a very hot day and I was getting quite rattled with being lost and, while I was videoing the more interesting parts, my digital still camera slipped out of my backpack, never to be seen again. So, I don't have pictures to show you here.

The week was topped by a wonderful evening with my oldest niece Judy and her husband, Frank. Today I made a call, and now I am on a campaign to go parasailing before I leave for Washington DC.