Celebrating Three

Buc-ee's

We were home from Belize a total of two days before we packed up the car and headed north to our son and daughter-in-law's house. Our granddaughter was turning three, and we wanted to be there as we have for all of her birthdays so far. The fall color on the drive was still pretty nice, so that always makes the drive more enjoyable. 

We also had our first opportunity to stop at a Buc-ee's. We have heard a lot about them but never had the time to stop at one. They pride themselves on their bathrooms, and I have to say they have justification for their bragging rights! The ladies room was huge with individual stalls each boasting a red/green light overhead so that you could tell which ones were occupied. The restroom was spotless to boot. We went ahead and grabbed sandwiches to go, and they were large and delicious.

3rd birthday

We had a really fun time with the kids, with lots of visits to the neighborhood park. It is an easy walk from their house, with a nice lake, trails and playground. Our grandgirl loves to swing, so we got a bunch of pushes in. I cannot believe she is already three and well on her way to being potty trained. She is a delight, still a grandma's girl (which I love), and I am so grateful that we had the opportunity to spend this time with her. (And her parents too, of course.)

Celebrating Seventy

Charlotte skyline

We have often traveled with our friends, Kathy and Paul. Kathy and I went to high school together, and later college at Iowa State University. Our birthdays are three days apart, with hers falling on Halloween. Jim and Paul were fraternity brothers at Iowa State, so we have all known each other a long time.

Paul and Jim put their heads together to plan a surprise for Kathy and me as we were both turning 70. They booked us into the Orchid Bay Resort in Belize. None of us had been to that country before, which is surprising since Paul was a captain for a major airline and has been around the world.

coming into Belize

Our ungodly early flight on October 30th necessitated a 4:30 a.m. Uber pickup, which was ugly. We had a few delays out of Charlotte due to maintenance issues and the government shutdown which has resulted in a shortage of control tower workers. From Charlotte we flew to Atlanta so that we could be on the same plane with our friends for the journey to Belize.

The resort was a two hour drive north of the Belize City airport, so we definitely wanted to share transportation for that ride. Upon checking in we were offered a welcoming beverage before being shown to our separate, thatched-roof casitas. They were lovely and included a good-sized screened lanai, which we took advantage of in the mornings and evenings. 

welcome to Orchid Bay

The next day we hung out at the resort. Because we had the all-inclusive package, we could have anything we wanted to eat and drink. We did some hiking on the resort grounds, played some games and also took out the kayaks to paddle around looking for birds. On Saturday we took a boat ride, which included a visit to some Mayan ruins, a trip down the New River, some snacks and then a stop to watch the sun set over the bay. It was lovely. Following dinner that night the staff provided both Kathy and me with our own cakes while they sang Happy Birthday to us.

birthday celebration

Sunday was our last full day at the resort. We decided to do a snorkeling expedition. Following a breakfast sandwich we made our way to the boat dock to meet the captain and his crew. It was only the four of us as passengers, so that was nice. They first took us to Bacalar Chico National Park & Marine Reserve, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is the only place in the Western Hemisphere that a reef touches land.

Bacalar Chico

Next we made our way to the Belize Barrier Reef. Part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, it is the largest barrier reef in the Northern Hemisphere and the second largest in the world. As we have also been to the Great Barrier Reef off Australia, we have now snorkeled at the world's two largest reefs. The first stop that we made was not very pretty nor were there very many fish. The second stop was super shallow and when the captain said you had to walk backwards over rocks to get to the deeper water, I decided to wait in the boat. That ended up to be a good call as they quickly spotted sharks and hustled the others back to the boat. The third stop was much better in that the coral looked healthier and there were a lot of fish. I will say that I have never snorkeled where there were not a ton of other boats around. We were the only ones there. And also normally the guides will feed the fish to draw them in, but that was not the case here. The fish were just there without added enticement.

snorkeling

One of the most interesting things to happen is that the assistants on the boat captured some conchs. They brought them on board and showed us how the conch hides within its shell. You have to tap the shell in a certain spot to loosen the conch so you can pull it out. They placed the shells back in the water as they become a home for other sea creatures. They then cleaned up the conch and served it in a dish called ceviche. You really can't have any seafood that is fresher than that!

conch

Following our breakfast Monday we make the two hour trek back to the airport. I have to say, it was a lot easier to leave the country than to enter it. When we arrived there were three other lines/checkpoints to go through once you got through Customs. Ridiculous... 

Our flight to Atlanta left a little late, but we had sufficient layover time in Atlanta to weather that. Plus our flight leaving Atlanta was late anyway, so no big deal. Going through Customs in Charlotte was a piece of (birthday) cake since we have Global Entry. It is worth every penny if you do international travel.

goodbye Belize

Cheers to Seventy Years

pickleball party

Today was a new dawn and a new decade as I turned 70. I began my celebration yesterday when the gals at my pickleball facility threw a little party for me after our clinic. Can't think of a better way to kick things off than pickleball and good friends!

There's always something special about leaving one decade and entering another. I can't say that I really feel any different. Having just completed my annual Medicare Wellness Exam, they obviously look at things a little differently. The cholesterol level that was considered mildly elevated last year now is considered a little more menacing now that my age has a 7 in it instead of a 6. Even though the blood work did not show it to have raised much at all.

The doctor has recommended that I undergo a CT Cardiac Calcium Test, which is a noninvasive test that looks for calcium deposits in the heart arteries. Because it is considered a screening test, my insurance will not cover it. I spoke with the radiology booking people today, and they advised that the CT would cost me $125. As I think the information will be beneficial, I went ahead and scheduled the test for next month.

My doctor also has been after me to get a bone density test done. I have never had one, and I tried for the past two years to get one scheduled. My prior insurance carrier would not cover that test either because they said I don't have any underlying conditions to warrant it. Hello, old person here! Surprisingly, my new carrier will cover this test. I was lucky enough to be able to schedule both of them back to back so I only have to make one trip to the radiology center.

My bloodwork also indicated elevated thyroid hormone levels. This led the doctor to suggest thyroid medication. As I don't have any of the signs of hyperthyroidism, I am reluctant to jump on the medication bandwagon. It occurred to me to question whether the flu shot or Covid shot could impact the thyroid levels in a blood test. Guess what? They BOTH can, and as I had taken one of each in the two weeks prior to the blood work, that makes me wonder if the results were reliable. The doctor agreed with me, and suggested that I have my blood test redone in four weeks. That seems very reasonable to me. Here's hoping that the level will be back in the normal range by then. I do not take any prescription medications, and I sure would like to keep it that way.

Lighting Up Mount Holly

seahorse lantern

Last night was the 8th Annual Mount Holly Lantern Parade, and for the 5th year in a row our community had an entry in the parade. Also for the 5th year in a row we took 1st place in the Group category. This year's theme was "Into the Deep Blue Sea". 

As we plan what we want to do we take a couple things into consideration: What is going to resonate with the kids who line the parade route?, and how can we involve the large number of people who want to walk in the parade with us? We have a core group of 8-10 people who consistently show up each week to build the lanterns. But we normally have 30+ folks who want to walk down Main Street with our group.

This year we decided to do "Baby Shark", the wildly successful YouTube video featuring a family of sharks and a few sidekicks. Mommy, Daddy, Grandma & Grandpa sharks were five feet long, not including their tails. Baby Shark was four feet and his buddy William the pilot fish was three feet. The other main character, in our minds, is Pink Fong who is kind of the mascot for the show. 

Once we built those lanterns, we moved on to ancillary items. We made a seahorse, three jellyfish, three schools of fish containing twelve fish each, seven starfish and four clams that were our first attempt at hand puppet lanterns. A crowning late addition was a coral reef that was worn around the waist of the carrier. It could have been an entry all by itself.

coral                                                banner

An Imagery banner led our entry, followed by a baton twirler with a lighted baton, then a decorated wagon with speakers playing the Baby Shark theme song on repeat. Two residents dressed as the little boy and girl from the video came next, running away from the sharks. We also had four people handing out shark-shaped small bags of candy. At the end of all of our lanterns was a wall of wavy blue streamers complete with lighted bubbles to signify the end of our group. All in all, we had 39 folks in our unit including two of our own parade Marshalls to keep us in order.

Imagery Lanterns

Though the night was a little cooler than previous years, it was a beautiful evening to be out. The parade went off mostly without a hitch. Baby Shark decided to act up and his pole disconnected inside his body. This caused him to drop down on top of my nose. Ouch! I was able to get him somewhat situated before we passed the judges station, but after that I just hand carried him for the rest of the parade. Bad Baby!

It was rewarding as always to be named First Place as we have been working since April to pull this project together. After the winners were announced, the organizer released the theme for next year - the "Wide World of Sports." All I could think was, ugh. The theme does not excite me, and I wonder what we can pull together that makes sense with the theme but will still engage the kids. What a challenge!

Another Shot in the Arm

covid booster

Thursday I went in for the Covid booster shot. I know there is a lot of discussion going on regarding whether or not this booster is really necessary. But we will be doing some travel outside the United States, and the last thing I want to do is get sick in a foreign country. Hopefully between the flu shot and this booster, I will be pretty protected.

The shot itself was a piece of cake. I barely felt the needle going in. Later in the day I got really tired, which is a normal reaction for me. (And a great excuse to take a nap.) I never felt sick that day at all. By Friday I had a large, warm, red knot at the injection site. I also had a headache, and felt a little sluggish while playing pickleball. That afternoon I slept for over two hours, which is atypical for me.

By Saturday all was back to normal, so overall the experience wasn't too bad. I go in on Tuesday for my annual physical, so I'll be happy to report to my doctor that I am all up to date on my vaccinations. It's nice to have them out of the way.

Falling into Color

fall color

On Monday we took a drive to the Blue Ridge Parkway (BRP) in search of fall colors. One of the things I miss about the St. Louis area is the large tree diversity that results in brilliant fall colors. Here there are so many evergreens that you just don't get that burst of color. Except when you go to the higher elevations in North Carolina. We are fortunate in that we can get to the mountains in about two hours.

We left the house around 5:40 a.m. as we hoped to see the sun rise over the Linn Cove Viaduct. That part of the BRP is not only an architectural marvel, its complexity resulted in it being the last section of the BRP to be completed. The seven mile segment was completed in 1987. 

As we drove up it began to mist. The forecast for the area had called for partly sunny skies - perfect for photography - so we were disappointed to see the gray skies. Though tempted to turn around and go home, we continued with the journey. We rounded a curve (the BRP has plenty of those!), and there were blue skies.

We had a perfect day in the mountains. Crowds were larger than expected for a Monday, but we had forgotten that it was Columbus Day. That explained the abundance of children in the area. Nevertheless, we found parking spots at all the stops we wanted to make, and a favorite restaurant in Blowing Rock had outdoor tables available when we arrived for lunch. By the time we left it was packed.

Blue Ridge Parkway

All in all, it was a great day. It did my heart good to see all the glorious fall colors and to get out in the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Flu Time

too much?

It's the season when a lot of germs get passed around as we start to spend more time indoors with other people. I decided to get my flu shot on Monday. I go to Walgreens as they are the closest pharmacy to me, and they have a record of all the shots I've received in North Carolina. 

I love the fact that I can make an appointment online, and complete the paperwork ahead of time. Also, when you get to the store you can scan a QR code and check yourself in. As I was doing this, a huge cockroach was making its way across the floor to me. It was headed right towards the area where I would have to sit to be called for my appointment. I can't stand the sound of crunching bugs, but there was no way I wanted to have to keep my eye on the bug's progress. So I stepped on it. What a loud popping sound it made! A lady way down the aisle said she could hear it from where she had been standing. Ugh! One of the pharmacists came from behind the counter with a tissue and picked it up, thank goodness.

The shot went smoothly, and only stung a little bit. I really didn't have much of a reaction to it, other than a little swelling and rash at the injection site. Now I just have to decide if I want to get the latest Covid booster. As we will be doing some international travel, I suspect it would be a good idea.
 

Scar Face

surgical scar

The stitches were taken out of my left temple surgical site on Thursday. It was quick, easy and painless. I was in and out of the office in less than ten minutes. My only instruction for post-op at this point is to keep  putting vaseline or something similar on it for one more week. I'll be glad when that's done as it makes my hair greasy.

The swelling has gone down a lot over the past week, and the bruise has lightened. The bottom part of the scar is still puffy, but I am hoping that it will continue to flatten out. The surgeon said it can take a year to settle completely down. I guess I'm lucky that it is located so close to my hairline as I can probably cover it somewhat with my hair.

Latest Mohs Surgery

basal cell after biopsy

As I posted previously, the biopsy taken on the spot on my left temple back in July came back positive as a basal cell carcinoma. The Mohs surgery could not be scheduled until September 25th. The specialist who performed my previous Mohs procedures is no longer with my dermatology practice, so this was my first experience with their new surgeon. He is fine, but I really liked the gal they had before. 

The surgery was scheduled for 8:45, but the doctor was late and didn't even get to the office until 9:10. Not a great first impression. He took the first cut around 9:30, and I was bandaged up and sent to a small waiting area with all the other walking wounded. Everyone else had bandages on their noses, so it must have been Mohs Nose Day or something. It was an hour before they took me back and said they did not have a clean margin on the piece removed. The surgeon said while the basal cell was not deep, there were still some cells along one of the sides that needed to come out. By the time he got done with me, the small waiting area was full, so I had to go out to the main waiting room.

A gal came out to get me a little after 12:00, and since she took me to a different area of the clinic I assumed they had gotten a clean margin on the second try. That assumption proved correct, as I was led back to the plastic surgeon's procedure room. I have had this plastic surgeon for wound closure every time they have done Mohs on me, so I'm very comfortable with him. He stitched me up, gave me my followup instructions, and the gal put a covering on the site. They are aware that I am allergic to every known adhesive on bandages and tape, so she put on a gauze pad and attached it with paper tape.  

This is my 22nd skin cancer removal, not all of them by Mohs of course. But this one has been pretty painful. When I removed the gauze pad after 24 hours as instructed, I was stunned to see how large the cut was. No wonder it hurts! For the first three days I alternated taking Tylenol and ibuprofen every four hours during the day. By the fourth day I was only taking them every six or seven hours.

Mohs surgery

Hopefully this wound will not get infected like the last two ED&C removals have done. I go in this morning to get the stitches out, and I am praying that the skin smooths out after that since the bottom third of the wound looks really rough.

The Gateway City

St. Louis Arch

Following our Kentucky and Indiana stops, we drove the remaining three hours to St. Louis. Even after all these years, it remains a thrill to catch sight of the Arch as you cross the Mississippi River into Missouri.

The main purpose of our trip was to attend the 30th Anniversary celebration of SWT Design, the company Jim founded with Ted Spaid and Susan Trautman in 1995. What an accomplishment!

But the trip also gave us an opportunity to catch up with friends and family while we were in the area. We were able to see my sister's family, which was great, and Jim got in a bit of motorcycle riding with his friend.

While he was off the first day, I met a girlfriend at the Sophia Sach's Butterfly House. It was a pretty hot day so neither one of us wanted to go on a long walk outside. While the butterfly house is on the warm side, at least you are in the shade. It was great to sit and chat while the butterflies flitted around us. We grabbed lunch after that. 

Butterfly House

The next day while Jim rode, I picked up another friend and she and I went to the Missouri Botanical Garden. I have been to many gardens in my travels around the world, but I have yet to find one that is as wonderful as the one in St. Louis. It is easy to navigate while offering a different visual and sensory experience around every corner. As this particular friend is also a photographer, we were in perfect sync stopping to photograph the flowers and insects around us. When we were finished, we went to the Trainwreck Saloon for lunch. This restaurant is owned by a gal that I worked with at the American Cancer Society from 1980-1982. In all the times I have eaten there, she has never been around. But that Wednesday was my lucky day as Chris was in! We had the best time catching up, and since my lunch friend graduated from the same high school as Chris, they had things to talk about as well.

Missouri Botanical Garden

On Thursday Jim and I spent the day together since the party was later that afternoon. We first went to the St. Louis Zoo. Again, I've gone to a lot of zoos in my lifetime, and none of them compare to this zoo. And it is FREE to get in! SWT Design has done a bit of work in the zoo, so in addition to enjoying the animals it was fun to check up on the progress/maturation of some of their work. The nice, hot day necessitated a stop at Ted Drewes for some frozen custard - always a highlight of a visit to St. Louis.

St. Louis Zoo

That afternoon was the SWT celebration garden party. While it was hot, it was wonderful to catch up with staff members and clients. I don't think Jim and Ted ever anticipated what their dream would one day become. It's a huge milestone to make 30 years in the design field, and to know that their projects have made and are making a lasting impression not only in St. Louis but throughout the country.

Friday was our last day and we began it by playing pickleball in a nearby park with Jim's riding buddy, who has been playing even longer than me. Then the three of us had a late breakfast, and the guys dropped me off at the hotel so they could go pick up the motorcycle trailer. For a few months Jim's motorcycle has been garaged in St. Louis. But it is time for the annual inspection and licensing, so we needed to get it back to Charlotte. It seemed easiest to trailer it back so Jim wouldn't have to make that long bike trip on his own.

Saturday morning we left St. Louis as the sun was rising and made the thirteen hour drive back home. The trailer added time to the trip as we had to stop more often for gas, and be a little more cautious when driving through the mountains. So we saw the sun rise and the sun set, but made it safely back here.

sunrise, sunset

 

Kentucky Whisky

A couple weeks ago we drove up to St. Louis to see friends and family. As it is a long drive, we stopped in Loretto, Kentucky so we could experience the Maker's Mark Distillery tour. There's a bit of a connection between Loretto and Webster Groves, the St. Louis suburb that we lived in before moving to North Carolina.

Loretto is known as the national home of the Sisters of Loretto, which were founded in 1812 to provide education and serve the community. The early nuns enlisted the aid of Father Charles Nerinckx, the Flemish missionary priest who served the area, to help them establish their community. We visited the Loretto campus, and saw the sign for a road named Nerinx. 

Sisters of Loretto

In Webster Groves, very near where we lived, is a girl's Catholic school called Nerinx Hall. It was founded in 1924 following the Loretto values, and the name is a tribute to Reverend Charles Nerinckx of Kentucky. Also nearby is Webster University, which was founded in 1915 by the Sisters of Loretto as Loretto College. It was one of the first women's colleges west of the Mississippi River.

In Loretto we stayed at the Hill House Bed & Breakfast, a home that was built in 1863. We had a lovely stay there, and the hosts recommended that we head to Yellowstone Bourbon for a free flight of whisky. As I am not a whisky fan (and felt bad about only getting a free flight with our coupon) I ordered a gin Old Fashioned. It was tasty!

Yellowstone Bourbon

Following a delicious breakfast at the B & B, we drove the few miles down the road to Maker's Mark. The campus, also known as Star Hill Farms, is approximately 1,100 acres. Our tour began at 11:00 and lasted an hour and a half. The tour guide provided a lot of interesting information about the history of Maker's Mark and the process they use to make, bottle, label, seal and ship their whisky. An added bonus for us was the Chihuly glass exhibit that is taking place this year. After the tour we made our way to Huntingburg, Indiana, where we spent the night at our daughter-in-law's parent's house. They are right on the way to St. Louis, so it was great to be able to catch up with them for a bit. 

Maker's Mark Distillery

Hand Book

Dupuytren's

On Wednesday I saw the hand surgeon regarding the lump on the palm of my right hand. More accurately, I should say that I went to the hand surgeon's office. As it turned out after waiting 40 minutes to be called back, I only saw her physician's assistant. I know that stuff happens and offices start to run behind, but I would have appreciated a heads up on the delay, as well as an apology for making me wait. It was also disappointing to not see the doctor as I had never met her before. Apparently my case was not serious enough to warrant her attention.

Anyway, the PA took one look at my hand and said that it is Dupuytren's disease. Basically it is a build up of collagen that forms tough
tissue under the skin. As it progresses it may form rope-like cords on the palm, which can cause one of more of the fingers to bend toward the palm. Over time, the finger(s) cannot be straightened.

This disease is more common in men than women (!), and people of Northern European descent are more likely to get it. It is hereditary as well, though I don't know of anyone in my extended family who has ever had it. It is also more common in smokers, and I have never smoked. I guess it is just my year for oddball medical conditions.

The PA said there is nothing that can be done for it right now. There are procedures that can be performed when it gets to the point where I can't straighten one or more of my fingers. But because the disease can reoccur, they prefer to wait as long as possible before doing injections or surgery. Since it doesn't hurt or cause problems with my pickleball game or other daily activities, I am fine with doing nothing at this point. He did send me off with a Patient Guide on Dupuytren's Contracture (though I am not at the contracture stage yet.) It kind of lends new meaning to the words "Hand Book", right?

hand book

Grandma Time

 Following our week in Massanutten, I spent a little over a week with the kids to help out with my granddaughter while my daughter-in-law went away for the long holiday weekend. They had her in daycare for the first few days so I took advantage of the beautiful weather and enjoyed a local park and long walks with Monty, their small dog.

Green Springs Gardens

I also visited our nation's capital. I rode the train in with my daughter-in-law, so I arrived pretty early in the morning. A good friend from college lives in Arlington, so she took the metro in and met me on the mall. We had an incredible day together, picking right up as if we had just seen each other last month instead of years ago. We saw many of the iconic structures of DC in addition to stopping at some of the Smithsonian exhibits. I logged over 22,000 steps, and had the time of my life. It never gets old to visit the seat of our democracy.

Washington, DC

On Friday we took A to the National Zoo. It was another beautiful day, and we were blessed to see the new pandas that have arrived from China. There's nothing like a trip to a zoo to bring out the kid in all of us.

National Zoo

The days passed quickly, and soon it was time for me to fly home. It was such a treat to get to spend so much time with my sweet little gal (and her parents, too, of course!) She is still very much a grandma's girl, so I'm going to eat that up while I can. I know it won't last forever.

Family Trip to Massanutten

our Massanutten lodging

Last month we rented a house in Virginia at the Massanutten Resort for a family vacation. We had not known of the resort before but were looking for some place that would be an easy drive for our son and his family to make, and not too long of a drive for us either. When I asked on our community page if anyone had visited the area, I was amazed at the number of comments I received. Apparently there are a large number of time share units in the development, and some people here still own theirs while others recalled fond memories of traveling to the resort as children. 

With the positive feedback in mind, I booked a four bedroom, single-family home for our small group. The house gave us the privacy we desired without sharing common walls as in the condos. It was perfect as it gave some separation for the adults, and had a nice playroom in the lower level. A bonus for Jim was that it also had a pool table down there.

We found plenty of things to do at the resort with the two recreation centers, multiple pools and playgrounds, pickleball courts, miniature golf, etc. The surrounding area had good restaurants when we didn't want to cook, as well as wineries to visit. Nearby Shenandoah National Park offered a beautiful drive and the opportunity to put a new stamp in our National Park's book. 

infection

The only negative thing that occurred on the trip was the fact that my recent ED&C became infected despite all my efforts to keep it protected with Aquaphor and bandages. I even used waterproof bandages while at the pool, and the doctor had okayed me going into pool water. I reached out to my dermatologist's office, and they sent a prescription to the local Walgreens. A week of using the ointment cleared it up with no additional issues.

While we enjoyed our visit to Massanutten, I think we all agreed that we would like to try someplace new next year. I'll keep looking in Virginia as that makes it easy for the kids while not being too bad of a drive for us.

Surgery Number One Done

Wednesday I saw my dermatologist for an ED&C, the procedure she uses for removal of small basal cell carcinomas. She's done a few on me in the past, including one in March on a basal cell that was near the one she removed this week on my right arm.

The procedure itself is not too bad, once you get over the sting of the lidocaine shot. The whole thing only took about 10 minutes. For me the issue is my allergic reaction to anything with adhesive. They want me to keep this covered for two weeks, and that will definitely be a challenge. I have tried every type of bandage out there, including the so-called sensitive skin ones. They all make me itch and break out. 

Last night I put on a gauze pad and wrapped an elastic bandage around my arm to hold it in place. It held up pretty well, but even the elastic bandage irritated my skin a bit. I'm going to try a different brand tonight and see if that works better.

My Mohs surgery for the basal cell on my left temple is scheduled for September 25th. That one will take several hours as they remove tissue, wait for it to be read by a pathologist, and then take more as needed. I'm definitely not looking forward to that, and pray that the doctor will get it all in one or two tries. It was really unnerving when it took five attempts to get all the cancer on my nose in 2019.

Also on Wednesday I had my annual mammogram. I had to go to a different radiology center as my insurance changed January 1. The office was very efficient, and I was in and out in no time. Now I just have to wait for the pathology report.

Biopsy Results

basal cell

The dermatology office called yesterday with my biopsy results. To no one's surprise, both of them came back positive for basal cell carcinoma. My dermatologist is quite accurate in determining which of my spots requires a biopsy. She only missed once, resulting in a biopsy that was negative. I'd rather her err on the side of caution rather than overlook something bad.

With the latest two biopsies, I have now had 22 basal and/or squamous cell carcinomas. Ugh! For the one on my arm, she can do an ED&C as she has for the last four basal cells. However, the spot on my left temple is too large for that procedure. The two options I was given for removal are Mohs surgery and radiation therapy. This is the first time I have been offered radiation. It is not done in the office closest to me, which makes this option inconvenient. It would require me to come in three times a week for seven weeks. Wow! I just don't see making that work with my schedule. I told the gal on the phone that I would opt for the Mohs procedure. Unfortunately the doctor who did my previous Mohs is no longer with the practice, so I'm not sure who will do the surgery. I will ask that of the scheduler when she calls me back to set my appointments.

More Biopsies

more skin cancer

Last week I had my six month checkup with my dermatologist, and as expected needed a couple more biopsies. At my last visit she was going to biopsy the spot at my left temple, but because I was going somewhere tropical where I would be snorkeling, she said I could wait until this visit for the procedure to be done. I also had another spot on the back of my right arm that I wanted her to look at as well. It is very near the location of my last basal cell removal.

She did both of the biopsies, and also used liquid nitrogen on a few spots both on my face and my right neck. At this visit, she brought up the option of using blue light therapy on my face in the future. Apparently at the office they apply a photosensitizing agent to your face, and then you wait an hour before placing your face in a light box. Supposedly the blue light only has an effect on sun damaged areas of the face, such as precancerous cells. The reaction is like a sunburn, and you must stay totally out of the sun for a couple of days. Healing can take 1-2 weeks, and my doctor suggested a series of three sessions spaced at a month or so apart. 

This is definitely something I will need to think about. First of all, I need to see if my insurance will cover the procedure. I suspect with my skin cancer history they will likely approve the procedure, especially if it will prevent some future skin cancer removals. But also, when would be a good time to start this process? We have a lot of activities coming up, so this may be something I put off until 2026.

Another thing that I have going on is a lump on the palm of my right hand. I have had it for quite a while, and believed that it was just a callous from my pickleball paddle. But it has been changing, and now has some lines coming off the top of the lump. So I asked the dermatologist to take a look as I wanted to make sure it was not a tumor. She immediately said, "You need to see a hand surgeon." I know I looked at her in surprise, and she added that I have trigger finger. She gave me a referral for a hand surgeon.

Dupuytren Contracture?

Monday I will call for an appointment, but I have shown my palm to multiple nurses in my community. They all said the same thing - that's Dupuytren Contracture. In looking at photos of this condition online, I have to think that my ladies are correct. We'll see what the expert has to say about it. Hopefully this will not require surgery.

In the meantime I have to wait on my biopsy results. It has taken as long as two weeks for this lab work to come back. My dermatologist has been very accurate in predicting which things on my skin are cancerous. I have no doubt she was correct on these two as well.

North Myrtle Beach Part 3

The last part of our North Myrtle Beach vacation was just the two of us. We played quite a bit of pickleball, finding the people and level of play to be quite good at Central Park. The four courts are located on an old ice skating rink, which was interesting. It brought back memories of early days in Webster Groves when our outdoor courts were also on the old ice/roller hockey rink. It was a little tight, but doable.

One day we took a drive to Conway, SC as I had read there was a pretty walk along the Waccamaw River there. The drive wasn't too bad until we got near Conway, and then the traffic crawled along. We never did see what the issue was. We did have a nice hike there, and the boardwalk was lovely.

Conway, SC

Probably our favorite part of the whole trip was going to see Brookgreen Gardens. The sculpture park, preserve and low country zoo are located on 9,100 acres. It took us about 45 minutes to get there, and we arrived just as the gates opened at 9:30. The day was pretty hot, which was unfortunate, but we so enjoyed exploring the gardens, seeing all the phenomenal sculptures, and visiting the zoo (which was comprised of animals native to the area who are being rehabilitated). We miss the Missouri Botanical Gardens so much, and these gardens brought a little bit of home back to us.

Brookgreen Gardens

We wrapped up the rest of time in North Myrtle Beach by visiting another preserve, going to the Cherry Grove Pier and taking in one last concert the night before we were heading back to Charlotte. Overall the trip was great, but I would avoid going back there during the summer due to the crowds and the heat.

North Myrtle Beach scenes 

 

North Myrtle Beach Part 2

Tropical Storm Chantal arrived the day after our neighbors went back to Charlotte. It hit in the early hours of July 6th, and I will say the wind and rain blasting the front of the condo were pretty impressive. As our bedroom was ocean front, we definitely were awakened by the storm. By mid-morning Chantal had been downgraded to a tropical depression, leaving only high winds. The rainbow almost made up for the lack of sleep we had gotten the night before.

rainbow

Mid-week some friends from Charlotte came to stay with us for a few days. They are also not ones to just sit on the beach all day, every day, so we filled our time with other activities. They are avid pickleball players, so we got on the courts a few times with them. They enjoyed learning the Shag with us on Tuesday night, and also the Thursday night concert near the condo.

Back at the condo we got caught up while playing card games and Mexican Train. It's so nice to have friends who enjoy the same activities as us, while also being on the same schedules of waking up and going to bed. That is pretty rare!

North Myrtle Beach

The next post will wrap up our visit to North Myrtle Beach.

Visiting North Myrtle Beach

view from the condo

A lady in our community offered her condo in North Myrtle Beach to residents here, and our next door neighbor asked us if we would like to go in with them and rent the condo for the month of July. It is right on the beach, and has three bedrooms and two bathrooms. The downside is that the unit is on the third floor, and there is no elevator. Despite that and the fact that July is the hottest month in Myrtle Beach, we agreed to the rental.

fireworks on North Myrtle Beach

The four of us spent the first week of July together. Our neighbors then headed home and we stayed there until July 17th. There were pluses and minuses to being at the beach for the 4th of July week. It was incredibly crowded, and the heat was a factor. But it was really amazing to see the Patriotic Flyover, and to be able to put our chairs on the beach for the fireworks was great. We didn't have to drive anywhere, and there were fireworks displays all up and down the beach. As fireworks are legal in South Carolina, that meant lots of amateurs were setting them off all around us. That was somewhat disconcerting, especially when a display fell over and began shooting rockets off into the crowd!

The condo is located in a great area, and you could literally park your car and never have to drive anywhere. Restaurants, bars, shops, and groceries are all within walking distance. We even found a park with pickleball courts that was within walking distance. Also, this beach is the birthplace of Carolina Shag, the official dance of South Carolina. Fat Harold's Beach Club was right around the corner from us, and they off free Shag lessons on Tuesday nights. It was fun to go and watch the dancers there.

Every Thursday night there is a free concert at North MyrtleBeach. We were able to set our chairs up mid afternoon, and head back to the condo. Then we went to Buoys for happy hour, timing it so we could then head to our chairs for the concert. The bands were great, and what a turnout!

We had decided the four of us would go on a dolphin watching cruise, but unfortunately the ocean was too rough as tropical storm Chantal was heading towards the coast. Instead we took a ride on the intracoastal waterway, which was fun as well.

intracoastal waterway

After our friends headed back to Charlotte, we ended our first week at North Myrtle Beach by driving a little north to do some hiking at a preserve. We had the Heritage Shores Preserve to ourselves, and it was nice to enjoy the peace and quiet after all the crowds on the beach and in town.

Heritage Shores Nature Preserve

My next post will cover part 2 of our North Myrtle Beach trip.

one of the beautiful sunsets