The month I spent in the US around the holidays was jam-packed with family, friends, and lots of travel. It was all fun, especially the time I was able to spend with my grandkids! AND the visit to the Catalan restaurant in LA. All of the waiters were Catalan! The food was very good and quite authentic – croquettes, shrimp in garlic, black rice, patatas bravas! I told the waiter I was studying Catalan and we spoke in Catalan throughout the service. He brought the manager over to introduce me and he shook my hand! It was a shining moment!!!
But the absolute best part of the trip would have to be that the results of my follow-up PET scan showed no trace of lymphoma in my stomach or elsewhere. I have an appointment with the oncologist in July to discuss a schedule of follow-up testing, if any. WOO HOO!! I almost had a setback when they found something suspicious on my mammogram, but after a follow-up ultrasound, it was determined to be nothing – an experience that many women (the lucky ones) have.
On New Year’s Eve day, my daughter treated me to a mani/pedi at a nail salon in LA. I chose a pale pink – a lighter shade than my usual bright or dark red polish. A few days before returning to Spain, while in the shower, I looked down to see red stains on my big toes and my baby toes. I thought it might be blood, as I had shaved my legs, and it wouldn’t have been the first time I wounded myself with a razor. But it was not blood and would not wipe off.
I had taken a “natural” sleeping aide recommended by my doctor the night before, so I thought maybe I had sleepwalked and marked up my toes in my sleep. I later figured out that the color came from a pair of black shoes I rarely wear and had only tried on for a minute the evening before. Darn… I liked the mystery better.
On a random note, I think everyone hates group texts, except perhaps the members of the group who love to ask inane questions or respond with “ok” or “great!” or another meaningless answer that just makes your phone ping annoyingly. You think you have a message from a friend or someone you were waiting to hear from, but it’s only a ping with “Yea!” wasting your time. I am on a WhatsApp group for my Catalan class. There are about 13 of us. The group text is necessary to keep everyone informed about homework and also to notify us if class is cancelled. But, one of the group posted this picture and asked if anyone in the class had lost it. Ping.
A PENCIL!!! And one of the other students answered “not mine” – ping. Oh my God.
Happy to be back on the Costa Brava for a five full months!!!
Susie's Senior Year Abroad 