I reached my one year anniversary for my stem cell transplant on September 9.  At 4:15 pm (the time of my transplant), all my siblings and Mom toasted in unison - - San Diego, Chicago, Union KY, Cincinnati and Portland.  We texted our "cheers to another 50 years" pictures to each other.  This was quite a milestone.  With that came my one year biopsy.  And I am thrilled to report it came out perfect - no problems, good healthy blood from brother Paul.  Obviously I are incredibly grateful for everything that has happened.  I frequently look back at my journals to recall what I was doing this time last year.  I'm not in the hospital, recovering in Boston, or on leave from work.  I am pretty much back to normal life.  I just take a lot of medicine and scoot down to Boston every month for a check up.  

My summer was wonderful.  I felt great and had so many amazing adventures.  We had a family reunion in Florida in July with everyone - all 5  Taylor kids, Mom, nephews, nieces and significant others.  We were a crowd of 34 people and could pack a restaurant ourselves.  Back in Maine I organized a "quadrathlon" with a group of friends from NH, CO, and CA.  It was a 22 mile journey from our house in Scarborough to Dennis' house in Goose Rocks Beach. We ran, swam, kayaked, and biked at a leisurely place that included a fair amount of beer and a stop at Poole Lobster Company for lunch.  More time in the summer was spent on the water - either sailing, kayaking or beaching.  It seemed like it was 85 degrees and sunny every day.   The kids were home all summer having fun and enjoying time off from school.  We had a great stretch of time together before Cat started her job in Boston and Dan headed back to UMaine in August. 

September meant back to school and work full time for me.  It has been so great to be back with all my colleagues and kids in a relatively normal Covid recovery world.  I am very grateful for my job and all the supports that have been there for me.  It feels so good to go to work and then look forward to weekends again.  I'm even coaching the tennis team - - who knew? At the end of the month Sarah and I travelled back to Cincinnati for our 35th high school reunion.  In addition to seeing old friends, we also had an impromptu family reunion.  I knew sister Jennifer was coming from Chicago but then Mark surprised everyone by flying in from San Diego without telling us.  So we again had all 5 kids with Mom.  She was a happy lady.  

Now fall is here, the weather and leaves are changing and we are readying for the next phase of the season.  School is in full rhythm and we just had our first long weekend.   Our kids are all home this weekend for a short visit.  So nice to be relaxing together, watching the Patriots and pigging out on snacks.  

Life is good and I am grateful every day - for the big stuff (new blood) and the little stuff (new socks).  I will continue my Boston check ups and monitor progress.  Over time, I'll be weaned off medicines so that I am less immunocompromised.  I'll have a biopsy at the 2 year mark and after that, the success/cure rate is very high.  Every day, I thank those folks in Boston and Maine, along with my family, friends, and God for my health and well being. Thank you to all of you who have kept watch over me and sent prayers, thoughts and positive energy.  It has all made a difference.