A Little Slow on the Upbeat

Have been low key this week after chemo. An afternoon nap is essential, but even that doesn't prevent a 4 o'clock dip or that after-dinner laying my head on the table like a child overdue for bed.

Still, this weekend I gathered my Saturday energy and rode with Jeff down to Silver Falls State Park outside Salem, where a host of my writing buddies congregated at the annual conference of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. The head honcho had let them know of my surgery and challenging road ahead and some had read the blog. Everyone penned encouraging notes for me on the inside covers of a copy of Lorie Ries's picture book, The Punk Wig, about a mother going through chemo. It's a lovely book, very well done.

It was wonderful to see them all. Each hug was a blessing. Either I'll be back at Silver Falls for the full three days next year, or I won't...regardless, I'll carry the loving thoughts of my fellow scribes and artists with me.

While I was there, I spent a couple of hours critiquing and hearing my own work critiqued--a very important part of being a writer--. The next day I was fired up enough to dive into revisions on my picture book manuscript, When Big Bad Met Goldie Rocks.

Today I returned to my Qi Gong class, a gentle, centering exercise form that predates Tai Chi. I'm hoping to keep it up as I work my way through chemo. Getting out of the house to breathe fresh air and be around people with vitality is refreshing and keeps my attitude pointed in the right direction. Now, if I could just find a way to reignite my appetite.........

Diane