If there was ever a winter to escape from, this was it. But despite the historic snowfalls, the ice, the slush, the driveway we couldn’t drive on, we still had our cruise from Istanbul to Athens to look forward to.

I had my clothes purchased, new pickpocket-proof handbag, travel-sized toothpaste, a new Kindle e-reader packed with new books for the long plane ride, airplane snacks and my Istanbul guide book. We would be stopping at Troy, a dream come true for this armchair archaeologist.

There would be extra days in Athens and several wonderfully intense excursions during the cruise.

But…that part of the world is not safe right now. We all agreed it would be frightening to be so close to Iran’s drones and bombs. Our children are relieved. We–Banjo Man, his sister and her husband (our longtime travel companions) are so disappointed, but we have vowed to try again when the world settles down.

And so then Banjo Man and I pivoted to the anticipation of flying to Idaho. Flights had been made, hotel room booked, rental car reserved. But cancelling the cruise meant we could leave for Idaho earlier than May 11. All reservations could easily be changed. Banjo Man wanted to spend as much time in the cabin as he could before the summer heat and fire danger made it too uncomfortable.

But…my recent PET scan showed a little more unwelcome activity in one of my lymph nodes. I have to have another scan next month and meet with my oncologist at the end of April. Radiation might be needed and if so, our trip to the lake would be delayed. And we don’t know for how long.

I don’t mind the radiation, but I really mind the delay. I want to sit on the dock. I want to drink iced tea on the porch. I want to look at the mountains and catch my breath.

I want to make meatballs and be with my family. I don’t want cancer to mess up my life again.

Am I feeling sorry for myself? Most definitely. But I’ll get over it. I am in the middle of teaching daughter Nancy to quilt and she is ready to start putting her beautifully stitched blocks on the design wall next weekend. My little friend Claire, now in 4th grade, is sewing with me again. Saturday we went to a fabric store where she picked out the fabric for her first quilt. She has quite an eye for color, so her selections were impressive.

So we sew on. Always a good thing!