My Family Visits MVY FF

Friday afternoon mom, dad and Tenielle joined me here on the Island.  Given I had chemo the day before, I was on my way to not feeling well, but we of course made the most of every moment that I was feeling well.
1.  First off I had to take them to Chilmark for Pizza and to visit Chilmark Chocolates because it was the last day they are open until September 10.  It gets way too busy in August for them to stay open and there are only 8 parking spots, so it gets very tight.  They were all impressed and each got their own box of chocolates, which is nice so we don't have to share our favorites.

2.  Saturday I wasn't feeling good, so I slept while my family enjoyed some sun and shopping.
3.  Sunday it was super stormy.  We went to church, played cards, took naps and went on a walk.  The waves on our little beach were much larger than they typically are.

4.  Monday morning we went to the Island Authors event which was a bunch of authors who talked about different aspects of writing and publishing.  It was pretty cool.  We then went to my friend Jane's home where she was having a Kantha Sale.  Remember my Kantha that she gave me in June?  I love it and take it with me each time I go to Chemo.  It was fun to meet her friend Jeannette who brings these beautiful Katha's from India.  We had such a great time visiting with these ladies and Jane's Husband Cliff who is an Author and the writer of the show Dexter.  I can't wait to read his books, but first I have to get through my stack of books on my nightstand. 

Tony joined us Monday afternoon for his first visit to the Island.  Again I wasn't feeling well, which always happens in the afternoon for the first 5 days after chemo.  I kind of feel like a little kid who has to take their afternoon nap.
5.  We had an awesome opportunity yesterday with the organization Sailing Heals.  When I was having chemo last week they told me about this organization that takes cancer patients and their care giver's sailing.  Remember sailing was on my bucket list for the summer?  The event was small; only 20 people.  They provided lunch for us at Edgertown Yacht Club and then our family along with another cancer survivor and co-founder boarded the most gorgeous sailboat with three incredibly handsome host captains.  It couldn't have been a more beautiful day for sailing.  The 3 or so hours we spent sailing was the most relaxing I think I've ever had or at least in the last few months.  Sailing Heals hope is that as cancer patients and care giver's we can leave the worries and stresses of cancer behind for a few hours.  We had a great time getting to know the 5 other people on our sailboat.  I have this absolute love for sailboats.  I am surrounded by them every where I look on the island and I can't get enough of them.

6.  I have worked several hours this week as well.  I've seen so much trauma, probably more than I have all summer.  I've taken several foreign body's out of feet (like what looks like a sharks tooth below; patient took this picture and sent it to me) and fingers this week including a nail from a finger today, treated several horrible broken bones, plenty of tick bites and poison ivy.  I truly do love working here.  I get to meet so many kind people from all over the world.

I work with these awesome folks; second year in a row.  I'm so blessed to work with people I also call my friends.  Oh, yes and patients bring us things like wine (no I didn't drink any), candy and pizza, because they love that we get them in and out quickly and take really good care of them.  I found out this week that our ER has 99% patient satisfaction scores.  That is the highest I've ever heard of. 
7.  Here are some more pictures from what we saw from the sailboat.

Welcome Summer

Doesn't this picture totally scream Summer?  I love Talbots and I love Summer, but I especially Love Summer Bucket List's.  I am planning on soaking up all that this Summer has to offer.  I already feel like Summer is speeding by; it's already June 9.  This time next week I will be in Martha's Vineyard (aka just "The Vineyard") enjoying all of the amazingness (if that isn't a word, I'm making it one) that it has to offer.  People often ask me how big the Vineyard is.  The answer:  25 miles long and 9 miles wide.  On this picture if you could slice the island in half width wise my little cottage is located right in the middle...

at this end of the island.  Does that make sense?
This Summer I want to:
1.  Hike in Martha's Vineyard, because we all know it is way to hot to do so in Phoenix during the Summer.  At the end of my stay in MVY last year my friend Melanie took me on a hike that led me to the beach.  The trail was so beautiful and I can't wait to do it again.
2.  Join the Oak Bluffs Library Summer Reading Program.  I have plenty of books on my list to keep me busy all Summer and into Fall.
3.  PASS MY BOARDS which I'm signed up to take on July 16...Tonight I was at my cousins house and they were getting ready to say family prayer.  They asked who needed prayers.  It was so sweet when they asked if I needed prayers, what I needed and then they prayed for me to study those things that will help me pass my boards.  It meant so much to me to have someone pray for me.
4.  Spend quality time with my friend Melanie.  I'm so excited to see Melanie next week.  She is such a kind, caring friend and I've missed her.
5.  Eat Lobster Rolls from Grace Church on Friday's.
6.  Go for long runs along the beach every day.
7.  Visit all 5 lighthouses on MVY and just maybe I will do it on a bike.  At least I hope to rent a bike this Summer and enjoy all of the amazing trails throughout the island.
8.  Eat Chocolates from the Chilmark Chocolate Factory, while enjoying the several thunderstorms which come along with living on an island. 
9.  Meet people from other countries and around the US as they visit MVY and have to visit me in the Emergency Room because they injure themselves on bikes and while fishing (that doesn't sound right, but really it is fun meeting so many people with various backgrounds).
10.  Swim and eat snow cones with my nieces and nephews when I visit Idaho in July.
11.  Have a fantastic time at my 20th Class Reunion...crazy to think it has been 20 years (I admit this is kind of giving me a little anxiety just thinking about interacting with these people, most of whom I haven't seen in 20 years).
12.  Learn how to incorporate weight lifting and resistance bands into my workout without going to the gym in MVY.
13.  Drink Nantucket Lemonade, only the best...oh and yes this year I want to visit Nantucket Island for a day.

14.  Take in a Boston Red Sox Game, last year it was so much fun!

15.  Spend a day fishing with professional fisherman out on the ocean like I did last year.
16.  Eat oysters.  For reals.  A lady that I work with at the hospital has an oyster farm.  One day this Summer I want to spend time at her oyster farm.
17.  Eat Pizza at the Chilmark Country Store.  It is sold by the slice, so yummy and you can eat it on the porch while rocking in rocking chairs.
18.  Watch the sunrise and the sunset many, many times.

19.  Finish my Europe Shutterfly book, since it was only a year ago and should be completed by now.
20.  Spend as much time as I can enjoying the sound of the ocean, the wind and sun on my skin and the sand between my toes.

21.  And maybe I will be able to put a check on my life's bucket list next to Sailing.

22.  Oh and yes I will be sure to take lots and lots of picture's to share with you my reader's.