Overdue update, Part I

I have been a baaaaad boy and have failed to update on our previous trip, so now I have two updates to post. Ordinarily I might let one of them slide, but because both were so eventful, I will bore you with details of both. I'll split it up into two separate posts, so perhaps you won't realize it is so lengthy.

First, the previous visit:

Another quick trip, another 650-mile 30-hour turnaround, another mid-cycle medical visit. But something was different this time--we had a special guest along this time. We were delighted to show her off to San Antonio and to show off our San Antonio to her. My mother. It had been at least 30 years since she had been there, not counting the two days she had spent at the hospital with me there in 2003 when the original tumor was removed from my arm.

We wanted her to see the charm of the Paseo del Rio (the Riverwalk), so upon our arrival we drove straight to the downtown area and quickly found a parking garage near Casa Rio, the oldest restaurant on the river. The weather couldn't have been better for enjoying an outdoor meal with an occasional wisp of a breeze blowing across the water. Afterward we walked a short distance along the river to show her some of the beautiful manicured areas adorned with flowers and plants. Then we strolled up to street level to see the shrine for which San Antonio is most known, the Alamo. She really seemed to enjoy it, but by the time we made it back to the car and began the 15-minute ride to Janis' and Don's house, we realized that we had tired her out pretty good.

Our schedule at CTRC began the next morning at 10:30, which allowed us to sleep in a little later than usual. Mom got to meet many of our friends there--patients and caregivers as well. Even though I wasn't scheduled to see Dr. Mita this time, we were hoping that we would have an opportunity to see her so Mom could meet her. She met most of my nurses and my research nurse, Pat, who is really like my own personal nurse. And she met Dr. Mita's husband, the other Dr. Mita, who is actually the Principal Investigator for this clinical trial drug I take. We were excited when our Dr. Monica Mita took time to say hello on her way to see a patient in the adjoining room and Mom did get to meet her.

I gained another couple of pounds--at a cancer treatment center they are always happy when patients gain weight. The appointment was pretty quick and harmless, and we were able to leave early enough to make a couple of stops before heading back home.

We decided to run by La Cantera, an upscale shopping mall just off of I-10 and on the way out of town. Although we don't buy there very often, we enjoy visiting because of the beautiful design and always relaxing atmosphere. We selected brick oven New York style pizza for lunch at Grimaldi's, our favorite pizza restarant and then made our way out of town.

It was such a blessing to have Mom with us on this trip. We all really enjoyed it, and I think she really needed a diversion. But we were all happy to be home again, as always. There's no place like home...there's no place like home...