manito park spokane | Another Lovely Day

stable

I’m loving the sound of it.

This is the first time since June of 2016 that I’ve had that particular word spoken to me in the context of MRIs.

Nothing’s bigger, nothing’s new.

And nothing is quite like hearing my radiation oncologist talking about “in a year from now when you’ve been stable for that time, we can start spacing out your scans from every two months to four or more.”

In a year.

Someone’s talking about me and the future in the same sentence.

Nothing like it.

And there was nothing like laughing with my primary oncologist this past Friday when she smiled and joked, “So, you must be here for a well baby visit.” Have to admit she took me off guard and it took a moment – I’m certainly not with child – then I got it. We didn’t have any cancer concerns to discuss so I must be there for some other reason. :o)

Nope, nothing like it.

And there’s nothing like having this new reason to be carrying around the beautiful words, “thank you,” in my heart and on my lips.

surrender to calm
sink into silence, dappled
light, laughing water
~ sld

. . . . . . .

The Nishinomiya Japanese Garden is located in Manito Park, Spokane, Washington. The park’s walking tour booklet gives some background about this wonderful garden . . .

“After 12 years of planning the Nishinomiya Tsutakawa Japanese Garden became a reality in the spring of 1974. Various garden elements have been artistically placed in an asymmetric, strolling pond style, creating a beautiful garden in the Japanese tradition. This garden provides an intimate reminder of nature, inspiring tranquility and peace. It also symbolizes the friendship of Spokane and its sister city, Nishinomiya. In 2008, the garden was ranked 16th from more than 300 public Japanese gardens by The Journal of Japanese Gardening. In December 2007 the Garden was renamed to honor Ed Tsutakawa, founder of the Spokane Nishinomiya Sister City relationship and a champion of the the Sister City movement u Spokane for 45 years until his death in October 2007. The garden is open daily from 8:00 am to one half hour before dusk from April 1st through November 1st.”