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9/3

Even though our cottage is only three hours away from home by car, the climate here is already fall. Trees started changing colors here and there, and the breeze from the ocean was chilly to my fat deprived body.

One biggest surprise was the disappearance of the birds. When I was here last in July, I could count more than 10 different kinds of birds from the deck easily. Expecting the same diverse population, I brought with me a Birdwatcher’s book this time. No matter how hard I listened, however, I couldn't hear the birds. They went south already. Come to think of it, I was hearing much less chirping even around my house. The birds have been migrating for generations, and telling us the change of season. I have never realized this till now!

September second was our 27th wedding anniversary. We were wedded at a Japanese shrine in Kagoshima, Japan, in a sweltering heat 27 years ago. Then we took Mark’s parents with us to our honeymoon in Japan. Mark had just finished his master’s then, and I had just completed my one-year program at Ohio University. Without much savings, jobs, or guarantees, we started our life at a marriage student housing on the U. of Chicago campus. It does not feel that far away in the past; rather, I feel that we are walking the same unknown path together still, and appreciate that I have a wonderful partner and a soul mate.

We walked around the old historic area of the town of Bath, and bought a very pretty and efficient teapot that is “made in Japan” at a wonderful kitchen gadget store. The area was quaint and small, consisting of only two dozen or so stores. I was very happy that I gained back the strength to enjoy browsing the shops.

For the past couple of days, I have been trying to eat more. Even though it takes a tremendous amount of time, I can now eat ice cream (mainly vanilla), very soft scramble eggs, soggy rice crispies, and cheesecake!!

My oncologist told me that it takes “multiples of few days” for the esophagitis to cure. When I asked for the clarification, he said, “ it can be a square or cube.” Today is the 22nd day after the completion of radiation treatment. I might be able to start eating before the “cube” (3X3X3=27.)