Archive | September 2012

Winnie’s Warriors #25 | Another Milestone

Hello Everyone:
I trust that everyone has been enjoying the summer? The weather in Toronto has been pretty good all in all.

Another milestone has passed. Saturday, September 1st was my one year anniversary of my final radiation treatment!! And since I like to get out of town to reflect, I went out of town for a few days. Last year, I went to New York, USA. This year, I went to another country….Quebec (haha). Well at least it seems like another country!!

I spent an evening in Quebec City. Haven’t been there since the early 90s. Don’t think much has changed. Then drove out to the Charlevoix region. Very scenic and beautiful. Visited little towns, Baie Saint Paul and La Malbaie. Ended up staying in La Malbaie – it was close to the water. Now I didn’t have any reservations for accommodation so went to the Tourist information office to see what might be available. A few spots on Friday but as it was the long weekend most places were fully booked except one. So I went up there. I can’t even remember the name of the place but I have nick-named it “The Shining”. The stairs creaked and all the doors of the rooms were open. Eerily quiet. Not another soul in sight. She took me to room 128. The only one left available for Saturday. I took a look, turned around and decided I’d take my chances in finding someplace else. That and because I could have any room I wanted for Friday night – it was empty!! Hence, “The Shining”.

So I stayed at the 3 Canards on Friday. I had heard they have a great gastronomic restaurant. There was a nice balcony and view of the bay and an outdoor pool. I swam that night and in the morning sun. It was great. I had hoped for a cancellation for the rest of the weekend, but it was not to be. But as luck would have it, I found a fully equipped 1000 sq ft condo with a large terrace facing the bay. It was perfect. I was able to seal the deal “tout en francais”. =). What I find strange is that even though they know you don’t speak much french, they continue to let you struggle when they can speak english. So much for welcoming tourism!! Anyhow, good thing I am good with numbers. (LOL).
I had great homemade local food (fois gras, duck confit, fresh red ahi tuna and veggies). It was peaceful, relaxing and quiet. Even walked a roundtrip 5 kms for bread…..I misjudged the distance when I had set out. Good thing I wasn’t wearing stilettos!!

One of the strangest things I saw while I people-watched at a local spot “Cafe Chez Nous” having coffee one morning was a woman who had her dog in a backpack-holster like contraption hanging off her back with all its legs/paws sticking forward. Seemed awkward and a little uncomfortable….for the dog! “Oh well – those Quebecois” was all I thought.

I have continued to sport the short crop. Although it has grown in a bit more since I cut it last June. So, as promised, here is the pic:
(I keep being told that I look “a thousand times better”……wonder what I looked like before?!)
Short Crop 6Sep12
I’m feeling better and better every day. And will soon start on getting stronger and building back my strength. It’s strange sometimes, when I think back to the events of the past couple of years. I find that it’s more emotional now. Maybe because I’m starting to appreciate more all the fight I had in me and all that I have now. I was so focused on getting past the illness that I didn’t stop to smell the roses……Well, I’m starting to do more of that now!!
 
See you all soon I hope. Thank you always for your support.
Merci et a tres bientot!
 
Winnie xoxo
This entry was posted on September 11, 2012.