I have officially sold my home in West Seattle.   We closed on March 26^th and though this was a relief to off load, it’s been sad losing the connection to Seattle.   I had a love hate relationship with that house, I loved that I was 15 minutes from putting my kayak into the water, and I loved how close it was to the city and all my activities.  I loved the wrap around yard and how the dogs would play in the grass, and how all my dogs lived there, Bailey, Beatrice, Fredrick, Charlott, and Dorothy.  There were lots of great memories of BBQs, and summer dinners with friends.   Attempting to raise a vegetable garden, my strawberry patch, and the constant battle to beat the crows to them.  I hated the sewer! The house was a money pit, and I was never able to really do what I wanted to because something else would break.   Old house problems ate me alive in that house.   I hated the crime that developed the last four years.   But it was mine and I cried both happy and sad tears the day we officially closed.   

I’ve been playing more pickleball, not quit as much as I’d like right now, but it’s been fun.   My brother Carl has been a great partner and it’s been fun watching him get better.   My biggest struggle is finding drop-in times that aren’t in the middle of the day.   I’ve found a few places Fridays and Mondays from 4-6 but I’m not off work until 4:30 so it’s only an hour of play.    There are several locations on the weekends, but I’d like to play during the week too.  I’m hoping that when the weather gets nicer some of the parks I’ve been told about will have more people throughout the day.   I’ve found that Colorado players are pretty picky about playing outdoors.   There is a pickleball club “Epic Pickleball” that I’ve been considering joining but the drop-in times again are during the day, and they don’t really have the fun programs like “The Drop” did.  My goal is to check them out, meet the pro’s and if I like them, make a final decision.  It would be nice to take some lessons again and see if I can improve my reaction time.    

Lynne was in town for Easter, so we got to explore Denver and its food scene.  Went to an amazing restaurant called Ash Kara.  Hands down the best food I’ve had out here.  I’m still on the hunt for good Asian food but haven’t given up hope.   Friday I’m flying back to Seattle for a week to hang some more with Lynne, but also to try and get the title to my BMW so I can sell it.   With the proceeds of the house, I purchased a new Toyota Rav 4 and have loved driving it.   The BMW was fantastic to me, but it was time for an upgrade.  😊

My hair is starting to grow back.  Yay.  Still looks a bit awkward but serious growing progress!

Aphasia and Alexia.  Two words of the month for me as I try and sort out what this new diagnosis means.  Alexia is an acquired disorder resulting in the inability to read or comprehend written language.   Aphasia is a language disorder that affects a person ability to communicate, it affects the ability to express and understand written and spoken language.    Both can occur suddenly after a head injury or develop slowly from brain damage caused by a tumor.  Reading comprehension started for me before my surgery, which is what prompted me to visit the ER.  But the symptoms have been slowly getting worse.   Reading is extremely difficult; I feel like I’m reading like a 3^rd or 4^th grader, and as I read, I’m not necessarily understanding what I’m reading.   I need to read paragraphs several times to really understand.   I’ve also had a hard time writing, I seem to leave out words like “is” or “and” or “it”, and sometimes my brain replaces those words with something else.  As for my verbal communication, I’m having trouble with word recall, but it’s minor and I’m struggling remember things on a short-term level.   Work has been a little challenging and it’s been a proof-reading nightmare, but I’m thankful for Microsoft’s “Ease of Access” which has been a great tool.  I’m not sure if this will continue to get worse or improve over time, but it’s been difficult to grasp hold of.   I feel stupid and embarrassed when I’m not able to read things or can’t think of basic words.  You’d be surprised how many people ask you to look at something and it’s in written form or taking forever to look at a menu, or fill out a form before your appointment, or sign a document.  I’ve started seeing a Speech Therapist that specializes in Alexia and Aphasia.  I’m hoping for some tools or ticks to use at least to make things a bit easier.  I know that this is a result of Brain Cancer and not a measure of intelligence, but in the moment, especially around folks that don’t know I have GBM it’s a hard pill to swallow.  

❤️

Jenn