Oh, No - Not Again!

In October, 1993, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. After three months of radiation and six of chemotherapy, tests showed that the disease had been caught in time. For 15 years, I felt I had conquered cancer.

I should learn not to be too complacent. When I had my routine mammogram, the doctors saw some irregularity in the films. I had another mammogram and an ultrsound, and the results of those tests led to a biopsy.

You guessed it - my breast cancer had recurred. On Monday I had a simple mastectomy with the first step in reconstruction. I came home yesterday. I was in a lot of pain - 1 being no pain, and10 being worst. I had trouble finding a comfortable position in which to sleep (pain at one point felling abot a 7). Today, however, my friends Billie and Marilyn went to the drug store and filled a prescription for Vicodin. I took two tablets, and they have really helped.

I am now awaiting to hear from my surgeon about the pathologist's report. That will determine whether I have chemo.

Meanwhile, I have yet to see the Dodges lose! We played the Rockies over the weekend. Saturday we scored 10 runs in the first inning. Matt Kemp came up with the bases loaded, and as soon as Vin Scully commented that he had never hit a grand slam!

Why Time Begins on Opening Day

Everyone else in the city where I work may have been commemorating Cesar Chavez's birthday March 31, but I was at Dodger Stadium (along with some 55,999 of my closest friends) to kick off the 50th anniversary of the team's moving to Los Angeles.

In years past, the Navy SEAL parachute team has dropped in (with one of them carrying the baseball for the first pitch); a flock of doves has been set loose; and mild fireworks accompanied introductions of the starting Dodger players. The only remembrance of things past was a fly-over by a B-1 bomber. (Another phenomenon missing from any gave against the Hated Vertically Advantaged) was the booing of His Steroidness. He's not working in baseball - probably too busy staying out of jail.)

Since we are celebrating the team's golden anniversary, the pregame ceremonies included introduction of many former players - those who moved with the team from Brooklyn, and others who have been associated with the team in years past. The greatest ovations were for Fernando Valenzuela, Tommy Lasorda, and Sandy Koufax.

The game was WONDERFUL! It's always great when we can beat the team from up north, and shutting them out - how sweet it is! Brad Penny pitched a shutout, and we won 5-0. The fun thing about winning a home game is singing Randy Newman's I Love L.A. after the ninth inning. Because of injuries, Joe Torre had to start a kid from AA ball, Blake DeWitt, at third. He did an outstanding job of playing the hot corner, and got a hit his first time at bat. Jeff Kent came through with a two-run homer, and that was all she wrote.