Interval Training

All is well here at Command Central on Chickering Court. As you have heard, my surgery was successful and I was attended to by some incredibly capable doctors and nurses at Vanderbilt. There were, as you can imagine, many nerve-wracking hours leading up to the surgery and frankly, much of it is a blur. I left the hospital 24 hours after my surgery started. Hard to believe, really, but I am so glad to have this first hurdle behind me.

The weekend post-surgery was difficult. It’s good to be at the 8 day mark recovering, not anticipating. I have spent the last few days being waited on hand and foot, every whim fulfilled. Starbucks? Smoothie King? Calypso? My wish is apparently the world’s command. I have been inundated with flowers, food, and words of encouragement, and I am eternally grateful.

There are a few things for which I am especially grateful: One is pain killers. No kidding! How could one have a modicum of sanity or rest without them? Another is the US Open. Perfect timing to have the welcome distraction of all-day fabulous tennis served up (I know...bad pun) with a new DVR in the bedroom. (Note earlier reference of wishes/commands.) What a godsend: Comcast On Demand. Too bad about my gal Melanie Oudin but she will have her moment someday I am sure. And, let me just say a word about my close family and friends. I remain in awe of their many talents: cooking, cleaning, hair styling, joke telling, message taking, errand running, shopping, communicating, PR, marketing, delegating, even blog editing. You get the picture. Most importantly, they have shed tears with me and protected me. Their loyalty and dedication to my comfort and recovery leaves me speechless. I will never be able to repay them.

Many of you know that over this past year I have really tried to get in shape. I’ve worked hard at working out often. Now, the truth is, I don’t like to run. I would really rather pull out my fingernails than get on the treadmill and run for 45 minutes straight. But, I have discovered I do like intervals. I can warm up for 10 minutes and then run ten 3-minute intervals before I cool down for 5 minutes. Those little spurts of speed and shorter challenges are conquerable and give me energy and time to recover for the next challenge. Maybe that is why I like working on commission instead of salary. Well, I take that back. I don’t always like it (and let’s face it, over the last few months it has been downright depressing), but I am more motivated by commission than salary. So, maybe that is a good way for me to view my treatment for breast cancer: I am going to get through this first interval. Surgery and about 4 weeks of recovery. That, I can comprehend.

I’m not ready, however, to think about or discuss the next intervals. Chemo, wigs, and nausea may all have a place in this training program, if you want to call it that, but I’m not going to run this race well if I try to absorb the whole of it in one breath. I know this about myself. I’m learning that too much information can be painful and scary, so I’ll let you know when I’m ready to move on to the next interval. The future can be scary, and I am resolved to just face today bravely, with confidence. I am sure this is a life-lesson from this seemingly random meaninglessness of cancer.

And so, some celebrating is in order. I hope you will toast me and my success and may I suggest where you might procure the toasting beverage of your choice? The Wine Chap, of course! (Remember, I promised plenty of shameless self-promotion along with updates on me. Would so hate to disappoint!)

That’s it for now. Thanks for tuning in!

BK