About ten days before we were to leave for our travels to the British Virgin Islands we found out that Tom had a reoccurrence of his bladder cancer. It had remained fairly dormant while he was undergoing chemotherapy for lymphoma so we were a little surprised to hear that he had several clusters of tumors in his bladder. This would require a surgical intervention and then a chemotherapuetic installation of medication. A biopsy would reveal the next course of action.
This trip had been like a light at the end of a tunnel for us the entire year of treatment. It seemed if we could get through the lymphoma we might be home free for a while. We were caught off guard and saddened by this news. My immediate reaction was to do the surgery as soon as possible but I am thankful for the wise words of our physician and friend: Go on your trip and enjoy your life. These couple of weeks are not a game changer in the disease process.
Once we grasped this concept we began to relinquish the part of our lives that could be touched by fear of illness. Don’t get me wrong, I am not cavalier about these issues but it was very freeing to put surgery and chemo in our schedule instead of changing our schedule to accommodate chemo and surgery. It may not always be this way but it is now so we are exercising our authority while we have it.
Our travels were beset with an easy freedom and countless moments of beauty and sheer delight. 
Beautiful seas, gentle winds, majestic clouds, love and companionship, phenomenal sunrises and sunsets all accompanied the surrender of worries as we embraced the fullness of the gift our life is.
Already planning on whats ahead…time with you and stories to tell!
You are loved.
Tom and Nancy’s Journeys 