Good evening from Madison...the forecast is 48* here tonight! Don says, "it's a Grand Marais day!". Grand Marais, MN is one of his most favorite spots that he's been to here on earth...cool, breeze off Lake Superior, camping, smoked fish...just wonderful. The breeze here reminded him of GM!

It's been a good day, though we've had many twists & turns. Chemo has gone well...just a "titch" of nausea and I'll take a pill here soon to take care of that. Counts today were wonderful - the white cell count, potassium - all the counts that were so off last week have come around and are fabulous. Which has led today's doctor (another new one in the group...there aren't many more to go before we've met them all!) has decided that we are going to a 4-week rotation instead of our planned 3-week rotation. Disappointing, yes, but their contention is that if all things are better by waiting a week without rendering the treatment ineffective, then we'll wait the extra week. So be it...for now. I'm not giving up the fight for 3-week go arounds just yet. Again, praise, PRAISE to God for the wellness after chemo...thank you, Father!!

And then there's supper...we're in a different hotel than last time and there aren't as many eateries around this one. We drove around & drove around because I just wanted pancakes or bagels...something simple and "settling". Ha!! Finally I said there's a little Italian place close to our hotel called Olivia's and they advertised Italian & Mediterranean. Let's go there. Got inside and belly-dancers and "clickers" came to mind...the music was not Italian. We looked at the menu and the menu, mostly, was not Italian. I looked at the name again - it was Oliva's...no "i" there at all. Our waiter was a young "Mediterranean" man - very nice and helpful. I asked, foolishly thinking the restaurant was Greek, if they had spinach pie. He said that's more Greek - they are Turkish. I asked, again foolishly, if the Greeks & the Turks got along? He said, "Today? A little." Don & I laughed nervously - we are out of our element here!! Don had pizza - very safe! I, wanting pancakes or bagels, hadn't a clue what to have. Our young Turkish waiter suggested a few things - red lentil soup (it was absolutely delicious...made me think of Esau selling his birthright. It was that good!) and my entree was stuffed eggplant (a far cry from pancakes). Again, what marvelous design was at hand...the dish was plainly spiced, but delicious and came with a Turkish white rice - a plus when your tummy is belly-dancing on the inside! It was a wonderful meal and a delightful surprise!! And again - all the day of chemo! Can you imagine???

We're turning in for the night with tired & weary spirits, but a calm & and peace thanking God for His protection and provision...honoring all our prayers, we believe.

Much love,
Don & Deb