Monday 15 February 2010

Cancer Schmancer and the Travelling Hillbillies

We were in Durban this past weekend, visiting Robin's folks. We were fortunate, in that Robin was invited to preach down in Margate (Uvongo) on the KwaZulu Natal South Coast, about five hours drive from Dunhillbillydee and the church paid our fuel to get there and back home... so we made a weekend of it and visited Robin's family in Durban.
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As always, the trip was sheer torture challenging for Jesse, who finds the longs rides sooooo very boring that she becomes a monster slightly annoying about an hour into the trip. Think scratching fingernails on a chalkboard. Or digging on concrete. Now multiply irritation-factor by roughly fifty two, and you might be somewhere in the region of understanding how easy it is travelling with this particular sugar booger.
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Not that I'm complaining or anything. No sirree.
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I'd rather travel around the world with her screeching into my ear the entire way AND STILL HAVE HER, than be a regular globe-trotter WITHOUT HER. (Good enough disclaimer?)
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Okie dokie then.
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Needless to say, we think long and hard before accepting any invitation that might involve an extended sit in her car chair. But when it comes to time with my inlaws, we don't miss a beat in accepting invitations. LOVE LOVE LOVE visiting my inlaws. They are so cool! We love doing all the same things. And Jesse just adores them.
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Speaking of which - my mom-in-law is battling cancer at the moment. The last time I mentioned it, she hadn't yet shared the information with anyone beyond her nearest and dearest, so I couldn't tell you WHO it was... Now, it's no longer a "secret" I can share with you that she has had her first round of chemo and is a total champion! She is one of the bravest people I know. She faced the chemo with her usual gutsy gumption and though we felt nauseous for a few days afterwards, she still went ahead and unpacked the numerous boxes from their move (YES - in the middle of it all, they moved houses, after being in their previous home for 35 plus years!!! - how brave is that? answer: VERY FRIGGIN brave!) AND kept the smile on her face and the skip in her step. I am so proud of her. On Friday she drove herself to the hairdresser and had her head shaved, preceding that awful time when her hair would fall out. She now sports an oh-so-hello sexy wig and she looks GORGEOUS! We are all twisting her arm to keep the style when her hair grows back. She looks HOT! (I will only share pics if she gives permission. I haven't asked, but everything is still very new and though I don't mind sharing absolutely EVERYTHING about my life with y'all, I know others are slightly more private than I am.)
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When we arrived at their home on Friday Jesse went running up to her. My mom-in-law picked her up and Jesse gave her a puzzled look as if to say - you look different, Oumie! And then she pointed at my mom-in-law's snazzy new metallic pink spectacles and smiled! Haha! She didn't even notice the new hairdo, just the new specs.
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Today we're back home on the farm, and enjoying the awesome February weather. It's warm with a slight breeze. Gorgeous! Jesse's napping right now, but when she awakes we'll be running around in the garden together again. Such a tough life. Haha! Have a great week, lurkers. I'm sure we will also.



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