I’m getting stronger each day. My hair is on it’s way back, even though I look like I shaved my head last week. One of the goals I had during the dark days of chemo was to get to Schroon Lake this year along with my sister, her husband and her husband’s family.

The Massimos are generous and kind enough to let us spend time with them in the beautiful and peaceful Adirondacks. During the most difficult times, I would just picture the smell of the summer, the feel of the sun, the coolness of the lake’s water. I would think about the overwhelming beauty of the night sky where you could see the Milky Way and feel lost in the awesomeness of space.

Having these visions of summer, it helped me find my happy place where I could ignore the anxiety and pain I was experiencing.

On our drive to Schroon Lake, I was reminded of how the solution to heal people (other than bleeding them or cupping) was to send them to the country away from the city and its ills. I used to think that it was silly to think someone with something like TB is going to get better after being around some trees. Whether or not it “cures,” after so many months of being sick, getting away to be surrounded by summer, I finally had a chance to just be.