#2 and # 3

#2 Frank's skin cancer. The report came back that all the cancer had been removed. He has two lesions. One on his forearm and one on his shoulder blade. They are both about 2 inches long with about 6 stitches. I dress them once a day. They are healing nicely. The hardest part about this for Frank is, no golf for two weeks. But he is being philosophical about it. He says, maybe a break from golf is a good thing. He will go back with a fresh perspective.  In the mean time he walks the dogs and uses the exercise bike and practices putting. He also gets a lot of vicarious golf by watching it on his gorgeous giant TV. It's almost like being there
#3 Toby had biopsy's on three differnt lumps, two on his back and one on the top of his head. He looks like a war hero with all his bald spots and stitches. He is wearing the cone and taking it all with grace. He is his usual lively self and cant understand why he cant run and play as usual. He  comes in and checks in with me several times a day. Then lies down close beside me and goes to sleep. We have not yet heard the results of the biopsy.
Today I got my car back from the shop. It looks gorgeous! It doesnt look like there was ever an accident. They also detailed it. It looks and feels and smells like a brand new car. I feel so cared for. Im grateful for this company that acted so professionally as they repaired my car. My insurance paid all but $100 of a $2800 bill. They also paid for my rental car. I didnt pay any of it out of pocket except my deductible. Both companies billed the insurance directly.
GOOD NEWS While I was writing this, the vet called and told me that Toby's biopsy's were all not cancer. One has the potential for becoming cancerous. But it was completely removed. We will continue to be vigilant, watching for lumps. So, my week has ended on a high note... no cancer in my loved ones, and a fresh start with my nice clean 'new' car. God is good!

Dealing with the accident

Things come in threes. At least they did this time. 
1) I was in a car accident on Sunday April 3
2) Frank had two skin cancers removed on Monday April 4
3) Toby had biopsy's of three lumps on Tuesday April 5
Let's start with #1
When your in a car accident, even a relatively minor one, (although there is no such thing as a minor car accident) all sorts of events are put in motion. There is the need to work with the insurance company. Fortunately we have one of the best in the United States, USAA. They have an easy way to file a claim online, and it also helps select a collision repair company and helps with a rental car. 
On Monday I took the car in to the collision company and had it assessed. They will keep the car and begin repairs. Then I was taken to a car rental company and got a rental car. I had to make a recorded statement to the insurance company. 
Once all the ducks were in a row I could resume my every day life. But that didnt make the accident go away. Again and again I would have the same thought line; 'I was in a car accident. It might have been my fault. But I wasnt hurt, the other driver wasnt hurt. This can all be fixed. It was only a matter of inches between missing the other car entirely and throwing both of us spinning around on that busy freeway causing a chain reaction that could have been disastrous. 
My Mom didnt have a good feeling about this trip. She prayed for me all day on the day I was driving. Perhaps her prayers gave me those few inches I needed to save me from disaster.
When I lay my head on the pillow I hear that explosive crash when the two mirrors collided. Then the mind starts circling around.  I have been thinking about what I have learned from Steve. He talked about when they found out that Mary had breast cancer. They decided not to globalize it but to isolate it. So I decided to do that. Yes, I was in an accident. But I wasnt hurt. The other driver wasnt hurt. This can all be fixed. My insurance company is there for me and will help me through it. Im a good driver. But I must admit I was tired after a long day of driving. What can I change? What can stay the same? Those are my challenges. Learn from this. Grow. 

When Bad things happen

I was sailing along with the wind in my sails. I spent two weeks in Northern California. I was in San Francisco for three days attending Greta(my niece's, film festival. It was great! I spent a day with Katie, my daughter, finishing my 'What not to wear' moment with a fresh hair cut courtesy of Damian at Katie's hair salon and makeup from Benefit. I left feeling aglow, not so much from the make up as from the wonderful knowledge that my daughter loves me enough to want to help me to be the best I can be, inside and out. 

I spent another week with my wonderful 90 y/o Mom doing fun stuff. My Mom is such a joy to be with. We always have fun together. I bought her some more fun fur to feed her knitting obsession. She loves the beautiful colors and the fun of watching her scarves grow. I even started a knitting project myself, a blanket for Greta's baby.Toby and I had some wonderful walks by the Sacramento River at Ancil Hoffman park. There was so much wild life and beauty. Toby wanted to chase squirrels. There were wild turkey, deer and canadian snow geese, wintering there.

 On Saturday we went to Amanda, my niece's baby shower. We went with Nancy, Sierra and Michelle and Shirley and Greta. It was great!

On Sunday April 3 it was time to drive home with Toby. It was a long drive. When we were 75 miles from home we were in a car accident. I was trying to merge from I-210 to I-15. There were two lanes trying to merge and a lot of traffic whizzing by on 15. A car came up on my left and suddenly there was a loud bang. We had sideswiped each other and knocked our side door mirrors off. We both pulled over. The traffic was still whizzing by. I ran up to the other driver and said, 'Lets get off the freeway'. So we did. Once we were in a safe place we exchanged information. It was a young woman. She was very calm and it helped. I was calm to. But it finally got to me and I started to cry. 

I asked her for a hug and she gave it to me.

When we were finished I still felt pretty shaky. So I went to a shopping center for a while until I felt calmer. I walked Toby around for a while.

Then I drove home. I decided to stay in the far inside lane all the way because I had no left rear view mirror. I was careful not to go to slow in the fast lane. 

More in the next installment