The start of the fall

 Oddly enough, this will NOT be a political post,

despite how the title could be interpreted.

 

And, while there's MUCH to be said about the politicalness 

of this current time we're living in, 

I'll save that for another day.

 

 There's no denying that the world feels heavy to me these days -

both because of and in spite of 

all that goes on politically. 

 

And, yes, I still am actively seeking,

and finding,

glimmers of hope daily.

But I need to acknowledge another reality as well.

I've written before about having RA 

and one of the medications I take to keep that under control has,

as a side effect,

an increase in the prevalence of skin cancers.

 

Combine that with my love of baking in the sun,

(aka 'tanning') 

on multiple beaches around the world, 

(I know, lucky me, right?!) 

as well as a cultural lack of understanding about the dangers of said activity

and subsequent dearth of available sunscreen

in ages past,

and I'm a PERFECT candidate for cancers,

large and small,

all over my body.

 

All of which is to say,

that, now in my 70's,  

my MOUS surgeon and my dermatologist 

are my new best friends.

 

Because of how many procedures I've had on my face -

and how many more they can see as potential problem areas,

it was recommended that I have 'blue light therapy'.

 

Medication is applied to your face,

you sit and let it soak into your pores for an hour

and then you're placed in a light box for 16 " and 4 seconds.

Oddly specific, I know. 

The brochure described it as a painless procedure,

so I agreed to the recommended series of 3.

I've had 1.

 

Let me say that the brochure was correct -

the PROCEDURE is painless.

 

What it fails to say  however is that you are left with second degree burns, 

blistering, throbbing sores for days afterwards...

and that that's an expected part of the process.

 

That may have been in the fine print but I didn't see THAT at all.

(Now I DID have eye surgery the week after the procedure 

for removal of a shadow cataract, so maybe I missed it)

but it was quite a shock.

Take the worst sunburn you've ever had and multiply it by 5.

And, lucky me, I get to do this two more times.

I'm hoping - since the first layer of skin has been sloughed off  -

that each subsequent treatment gets easier.

I'll keep you posted.

 

It was almost as much fun as having 15 precancerous lesions 

frozen off the top of my feet and lower legs! 

(Consequences of living in sandals year round, 

except for during blizzards -

and then I just add socks!)

Only partially kidding) 

Pain free days have been hard to come by over here.

 

Not quite the 'golden years'  I envisioned

but it is what it is.

 

At least, since I could barely walk

and I was afraid of scaring young children at the grocery store,

I stayed in and played creatively with junk from drawers.

 

Seemed appropriate!

 

St Louis Floodwalls and Paint St Louis 2026

 One of my favorite traditions in St Louis happens on Labor Day weekend;

Paint St Louis -

when street artists from around the country 

come to  brighten up the concrete floodwalls 

along the riverfront. 

 

Those efforts transform a dreary, though necessary, urban landscape

into a colorful, free for all to see, art gallery.

I love the creativity talent and results!

 

See what you think!

Since many urban street artists are young males,

there are certainly images that speak to that demographic.

However, as someone who can't realistically draw a paperbag,

I recognize that talent is talent, 

especially at this scale. 

Always worth the drive to see them!

Get down there, if you can! 

The love fest continues

If you think this looks like an engagement picture,

you're not far off! 

I continue to be surprised by how much I'm enjoying being a cat mom ...

DECADES of having big dogs (50-100 lbs)

led me to believe that's essentially who I am;

evidence to the contrary.

 

 Here I am with our first cat (Thaddeus) in 1972.

I was about to start graduate school,

it was an ill advised foray into dark hair

and the last time I had 'long hair'. 

Serendipity and Ingrid followed Thaddeus ...

but Fiona is the first cat I honestly remember 

having such an emotional attachment to.

I suspect she's got a hugh DNA component of Russian Blue

which makes her look so striking.

We're a good match temperamentally -

she's independent and affectionate, 

without being clinging and needy.

 

She sleeps on my bed every night

but has only jumped in my lap once for daytime snuggles.

 

From some of her behaviors,

I suspect she may have been feral for awhile -

but I've tried not to psychoanalyze her too much

and just accept where and who she is now. 

Since she has to do that for me, it's the least I can do for her!

 

There's certainly much about this summer that has been very sweet! 

 

There's also been more MOHS surgery

(think there's frequent flyer miles??) 

I'm trying to re-conceptualize all my procedures as a face life in stages!

 

I must say 

I find it fascinating that the same process responsible for the creation of life

(cells dividing and multiplying) 

can be SO problematic at a different stage of life. 

 

Hanging onto the sweet, 

hoping the creative returns at some point ...

 

and trying to enjoy what remains of the summer.