a year later. many anniversaries coming up, and one already here.

july 20th (today) - i got the call from my ENT about my MRI results from earlier in the day. "remember that really rare brain tumor i mentioned we were ruling out as the cause of your hearing loss? well you have one, it's huge, and i think you'll need brain surgery." on that day, and today, i walked to 7/11 to get a slurpee and lottery tickets. this is the official way to celebrate tumor diagnosis day, for future reference. mark your calendars. today my mom and i had a lovely trip north through wine country to a tasty italian lunch (leftovers in my fridge), then a haircut and a ukulele lesson. these may well become part of the traditional TDD commemoration.

august 5th - flew from portland to phoenix

august 6th - the pre-op appointment and consult with dr. spetzler about the surgery.

august 7th - my surgery anniversary. 3 more followed the first, 2 very quickly, one a week or so later (i'm fuzzy on details - was pretty out of it). will mark the one year anniversary on the beach in maui. progress. and literally mark it with two tattoos that day - one a phoenix on my left leg (the left is my weak side from the stroke). surgery happens in phoenix? no way i'm passing up how symbolic that is. i'm also getting my word for the year - more explanation to come about that - tattooed on my back, below the tattoo that i already have. and the 8th begins my new year. january first is no longer my new year. august 7th is new year's eve. august 8th is new year's day. maybe they'll change the date of the rose parade.

so much in one year. a year is significant neurologically. when i really look at it, i'm shocked that with everything that happened that i could walk to 7/11 today. what will things be like a year from now? one things's for sure. i'll be drinking a slurpee and being thankful that dr. benton sent me for that MRI.