Hi Marci,
Thanks for your input. As I mentioned earlier, the storm here in Houston has done me a huge favor because all the messages and sermons in my church have been about reshaping our lives after storms have hit. I see that God is giving me a chance to re-evaluate what is truly important and what is not. Important is knowing that this is a benign condition and I will be able to hold my grandbabies when I am blessed with them.. Important is having the support of old and new friends, new as in all of you! Important is knowing that I am in the hands of a God who has plans for me after this is done, plans to use and bless me. I have to admit that for a while, I felt like an unwilling participant in some strange version of Extreme Makover! Now I coming to be at peace with the new me that God is shaping through this process. I still have days when I squall and bawl. mind you
![Cheesy :D](https://www.anausa.org/smf/Smileys/classic/cheesy.gif)
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Unimportant things? Worry. I have a saying on my desk that says something to the effect that all worry does is rob today of its joy. So I am trying to let go of that. Schedules are next. As a teacher, my lesson plans are on my desk every day. I always have a plan , and then a backup plan. I am learning that I don't get to decide everything. Some things happen when they are meant to happen.
I have mostly decided not to go to HEI, mainly because Barrow is closer, and my roommate for 5 years after college lives there. My family can stay with her during the procedure and hospital stay. My doctors would be Spetzler and Weisskopf, and they are on the ANUSA list. I haven't ruled out Houston w/Vrabec and Trask. I had a really good visit with Dr. Vrabec last week, and it would give me a huge support system because all my local friends could help me out. I am in the process of seeing which schedules with the two clinics work best for me.
I am almost there! I feel so much better now that it is down to this. I have been asking trusted friends to pray for me in making the decision about where to go for surgery, and I will ask all of you, too. I am starting to notice some little balance issues, a little lightheadedness and disorientation that wasn't there before, so I feel good about going ahead with a December date.
Thanks to all! I feel a little like a two year old who has pitched a hissy fit and now is ready to listen to reason
![Smiley :)](https://www.anausa.org/smf/Smileys/classic/smiley.gif)
. Now all I need is my blankie and a nap to make me all better.
Mags
PS...I hope to be in Chicago for the symposium! Can't wait to match names with faces.