Gindi Vincent

The Dish on Career, Fashion, Faith, and Family

Day 21 – Last Week

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Well, I did it!

I managed to write every day of radiation.

Maybe I’m jumping the gun. 

There are two more days left.

That’s right. Two. More. Days.

Today was Day 21 and my last day is Wednesday. 

I hesitate to say how I am because I feel like it’s the underlying theme in all my posts.  Tired. And burned.

But even with that, I’m almost done.

It’s extraordinary to me. 

I had my biopsy on December 2nd.  Then my doctor called on December 7th to tell me the tumor was malignant.  By December 21st, I’d met with my full team of surgeon, oncologist and radiologist at MD Anderson. 

In just over one month, February 2nd, they’d cut the stinkin’ tumor out. 

Then, this month, 23 radiation visits at 7:30 am from March 1st to March 31st.  I finish right before Easter.  I’ll be ringing the bell well before our June summer vacation that I planned LAST SUMMER with no idea of what was ahead. 

The two hurricanes that would smash the family farm. 

COVID classrooms. 

Cancer. 

Actual COVID hitting everyone in our house but me. 

An apocalyptic winter storm.

We had no idea when we clicked “reserve” on a big house on the water in Bar Harbor, Maine what a gift that time away would be.  What a celebration of life and God’s mercies. 

Two more days. 

Day 20 – Last Friday

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This was my last Friday of radiation. I have three more days left.

I’m burned and tired but quickly approaching the conclusion of this leg of the journey.

If I hadn’t waited until the weekend to write this post, I had a whole bucket of thoughts for this little corner.

But my memory lasts about 5 minutes these days. Grab that thought and write it down or it’s gone.

So instead, I’ll say this weekend was good. Exhausting but good.

Little bit had her best pal over to play on Friday. Then the boys friends from down the street rode up and jumped into our icy pool. They’re insane. The girls just shook their heads at their antics.

Then the boys went to a baseball party while the girls laughed and ate their yummy Door Dash orders.

Saturday was LONG.

A huge win for the girls softball team on their first outing (largely due to a very inexperienced opponent, but still a fun start). An early outing at that – we had to arrive at the ball field by 7:30 am. Then we came home, I made a protein laden breakfast (which they ate very little of b/c of their early morning donuts!), and everyone changed. Bray took the boys to their baseball game and I was off with little bit to track.

The boys battled back from a 5-0 deficit to win the game 12-7. The baby alternates between pitcher and second or third base. The eldest usually plays first base with also serving as a relief pitcher. They lost their first game by one so this made them extraordinarily happy!

Meanwhile, I was with my little Road Runner. She’s a 5th grader competing against junior high kids. She had come in third in her 200 m race last meet. Then this meet she came in second in the 800 m and helped anchor two relay races.

I do not know where she gets it. A dear friend sent me the info for the Susan G Komen breast cancer 5k this year. It falls on the kids birthday and we’re going to run it together! So my little racer is going to have to start training her out of shape mom.

Today, the kids read the Lenten reading in church. What a joy to see them all dressed up together in church. Thankfully, because of a rainy day, everything else got canceled and we could decompress.

In other news, we booked our flights for our big summer vacation. I cannot wait!!! I actually booked this house in Bar Harbor Maine LAST summer! It’s on the water, right next to Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor.

We’ll fly into Boston on a Friday morning, spend 24 hours cramming all the the history in, and then drive up the coast. We have this gorgeous splurge of a house from Saturday to Saturday. We’re going whale watching and hiking Acadia and lobster fishing and we’re also doing a lot of nothing too. I couldn’t be more excited.

*If you have a fav thing to do in Boston or on Mount Desert Island in Maine, please send them my way.*

This trip will be a celebration. You see, in May 2006, 15 years ago, Bray and I did this same trip as our honeymoon. We’ve wanted to take the kids and now it will be a celebration of 15 years, their 5th grade graduation, him turning 50, and now even me being cancer free (an extra we didn’t know when the trip was planned!)!

A lot of good in store. I’m thankful.

Day 19 – Pandemic Pace

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Anyone’s life pace change because of the pandemic? Ha! Everyone’s has.  It’s the pandemic pace.

Turns out the pandemic pace is a good pace if you’re going through radiation. Radiation pace is slow because it drains you of all your energy. 

Unfortunately, our life is starting to return to pre-pandemic pace. 

This week. Whew. 

In addition to full work days, our evenings are full.  Monday was a small wine and cheese party in the backyard and little bit’s softball practice.  Tuesday was a very late first baseball game for the boys.  Tonight is a sports practice. Tomorrow is a play date (don’t know if that’s what we call them at 11) and a team party.  Saturday is an early morning softball game, plus little bit’s track meet, and the boys baseball game.  Sunday the kids speak in church and there’s another practice in the afternoon. 

Sigh.

You tired?

Me too.

Because we’ve all shifted to a pandemic pace!!!

Our go-go-go muscles have atrophied.

And, I might add, we said we wouldn’t go back to the old pace.

Yet, little old pace is creeping back in. 

End of school year and spring sports have always been busy.  I don’t know that there’s any way around that if you have kids who play sports.  But how do we carve out time to slow our roll? 

I know I’ll have to remain vigilant about what else we’re saying yes to over the next two months.  In addition to all of us coming back from a pandemic pace, I’m going to be bouncing back from radiation. 

Nonetheless, we’re coming back some and we’re going to have to start working out our bustle muscles.

Day 18 – Cooking

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Mine did not look this good – this is all Pinch of Yum prettiness!

I’m still cooking.

Literally. (Me personally as well as food on my stovetop…hahaha. Laugh.)

As you know, I’m mildly obsessed with soups. So of course over the weekend I made three soups which is ridiculous because it is now past time it’s appropriate to make that much soup. Regardless.

I went straight back home, to Pioneer Woman, because she never fails. Hamburger soup (where I sub out beef for turkey and use vegetable broth), veggie chili (you know my all time fav), and corn chowder (where I add potatoes and carrots and blend a little of it up to thicken it).

But I also am cooking other things and this recipe YOU MUST GO MAKE. I got a wild hair to make street tacos. Particularly shrimp. I rarely cook shrimp at home because Bray can get it fresh in Louisiana. So there we fry it or boil it and it can’t be beat.

Nonetheless, I marched myself to the best seafood counter on my side of town and picked up some shrimp and made these Spicy Shrimp Tacos. The tacos were good. But the reason you should make these now is THE SAUCE. If you do not like cilantro, I don’t know what to do with you. I know some of you people think it tastes like soap. I do not understand you.

This sauce is amazing. I almost didn’t make it. I almost took a shortcut. No, no, no, no, no. Do not do that. I made a big batch (which means I added more cilantro, sour cream, and I threw in a little fresh jalepeno). So lucky us, there are leftovers. I used it as salad dressing last night. And more, it’s coming.

Because I wasn’t sure if the kids would go nuts for sautéed shrimp (they do love shrimp), I also sautéed a little rotisserie chicken with some onion and salsa as an alternative. I had fresh guacamole, sour cream, and that amazing slaw from the shrimp taco recipe. Plus the cotija cheese. That’s it. Easy peasy. *Don’t forget to warm the corn tortillas on the griddle.*

The kids said if I got fired I should open a kitchen.

Our afternoon nanny who is from San Salvador said I used all the ingredients that they use.

Then, the next day, I used the leftover chicken mixture to make nachos. I just shredded some cheddar, drained some beans from my veggie chili, threw on the chicken and broiled it all on low. Then I topped it with guacamole and THAT SAUCE. I could probably eat that with a spoon. (Like little bit at the green sauce at Los Tios, if you’re from Houston.)

Now I can’t finish this post without a tiny little mention of the eldest. I still tear up trying to tell this story. He’s had a rocky year. He has persevered but it’s been tough. The silver lining of this year is his INCREDIBLE teacher. We go to a private school where the kids have been blessed with extraordinary teachers through elementary school, but this woman is an angel. She gets this boy. And she loves him. For you mommas, that’s all you ask.

Well, it was her birthday yesterday. So he comes bounding home on Monday filled to the brim with joy and starts working in the kitchen. I immediately throw him out because I was having some women over to meet our new pastor and was not going to let him trash the kitchen right before their arrival.

He acquiesces but makes me promise this: he gets to bake at 7 pm when he gets back from little bit’s practice. For their standardized test comprehension practice, they’d studied a chocolate chip cookie recipe that day. He thought it would be perfect if he baked THOSE VERY COOKIES for her on her birthday – she loves chocolate chip cookies and with this being a school recipe and her being a teacher, it’s perfect!

Anyone dying?

He came straight home at 7 pm and went to work. We ran out of butter so he went and picked another stick up at our neighbor’s house. He baked them all by himself. It made 34 cookies. He had one to ensure they were edible. Then he counted out everyone in his class, his teacher (who would get the most), his coaches, and a few former teachers to assess who would get how many. There were baggies with their names on it and a big platter for his classroom.

Day 17 – Bubbles

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The bubbles have arrived.  Bubbles popping up all over the red tender skin on the right side of my chest.  They’re burn blisters of course.  I’d hoped this would have waited until the very end so my skin wouldn’t be peeling during radiation. 

Alas.  Bubbles. 

I was messaging a friend who has been through this and has offered sage advice along the path.  She’s also honest. A trait I love. I asked for tips now that I’m all bubbles.  She’d already given me a list of creams to use, which I’ve been applying. 

Unfortunately, there’s nothing left.  “I’m so sorry. You’re doing all you can. I have a permanent scar from radiation burns.”

I looked at my clock.  Nearly noon.  Nothing on my work calendar until 2. 

I needed some air.  And also some milk, eggs, and butter. 

So I drove to a grocery store a little further away.  Windows down.  Storm has blown through and now it’s sunny and 75.  BLARING music. 

For some crazy reason, I thought of Sheryl Crow.  I haven’t listened to her in years. 

I went all the way back.  Tuesday Night Music Club.  Played all of the songs I still know the lyrics to. 

I kept going back to the first track, Run, Baby, Run.  And I don’t care who’s driving by. I’m singing loud, right along with Sheryl, hair blowing out the window: 

So run, baby, run, baby, run, baby, run, baby, run. 
So run, baby, run, baby, run, baby, run, baby, run. 
So run, baby, run, baby, run, baby, run, baby, run.

Over and over. 

Run. 

I remember the days I always rolled my windows down.  Let my hair blow loose. Sang at the top of my lungs.  Exhaled. 

And now, I’m driving to pick up groceries for three kids with radiation burns on my chest. 

It all changes so fast. 

Yesterday, before radiation I dropped our dog at the vet and afterwards I dropped my car at the shop for an oil change and inspection.  Today, before radiation I dropped our tortoise at the vet and afterwards picked up Bray at the mechanic because of an ever aging truck. 

All before 8:30 am and the start of a full time work day followed by softball practices and baseball games. 

There are days you want to run. 

You don’t. 

But it’s okay to sing about it with your hair blowing out of the window.