A letter from Alyce

This is Nancy, writing for Alyce.  Mom has always been a great correspondent. I think, if she could, she would be keeping up with her hand-written cards and notes to her dear friends and family.  So this letter is written as if she's speaking to you so you can get a feel for her life these days (she did OK it!).  

                                                                                                                      March 17, 2017

It is a cozy afternoon after a little snowstorm.  It’s been a different winter, not as severe as usual and not as much snow to shovel.  The lake has frozen over, thawed, frozen over again – weird!

I have this funny business going on in my head that makes it hard to express myself and makes me confused much of the time.  The tumor that the doctor removed (most of) three years ago has grown back and is causing these troubles in my thinking.  I don’t like it!  If we had a phone conversation recently, and I didn't say much, that's why.  I want to make sense again, and I want to have nice long chats with you again, so I am going to have surgery. 

My surgery will be on March 27 in Grand Rapids.  We all really love my surgeon, Dr. Elisevich.  The girls say he treats me as though I were his own mother or a beloved aunt.  I am a little scared about the surgery, but also anxious to get better, so that’s what we are going to do!  Brian is coming all the way from California, Val is coming again from New York, and of course Jeff will be there as well. Just like last time.  And we are all positive that, just like last time, I’ll be able to come home after just a few days. I’ve been doing exercises and building my strength in other ways to be in good shape for this surgery. 

In the meantime, I am doing my usual thing.  You know me, I like to be busy – always doing something.  I still enjoy reading – the newspaper every day, and I always have a novel going.  I keep up with housework and really like to keep everything tidy.  We joke that I’m always trying to take Rich’s plate or bowl before he’s done eating to put it in the dishwasher!  Grocery shopping is still one of my favorite activities, and I always watch for sales in the newspaper.  I have been working for some time now on a project looking at old photos and sorting them into boxes for each “kid.”  Fun!  Sometimes I am amazed at how much we have done and how many interesting places we have been.  So many terrific friends and relatives.  Rich and Nancy don’t let me get rid of anything, as they are both too sentimental.  One more thing I’ve done recently is finish the fringe on an afghan that I began when Jeff had his accident over 30 years ago. I’ll even admit that it’s beautiful!  

I still go to church and really enjoy it – I may have trouble saying sentences, but I can sing hymns with no problem. I have so many good, caring friends there.  I also have Companions, a women’s Bible study group, twice a month.  My sister-in-law and dear friend Elsie is just a few doors down, and we enjoy time together, too. 

Rich is being so attentive and sweet.  He watches me all the time and makes sure I’m safe and happy.  He always wants to hold my hand!   But I have to take care of him, too, because his myelofibrosis makes him “tippy” and tired sometimes, and he is also getting radiation for skin cancer on his nose.  Phew, too much! 

I would like to hear about you and your life as well.  I think about you and love you. Please be thinking about me on March 27. I appreciate your prayers and look forward to writing you myself soon!