Cancer Goes to the Hampton's/We're Halfway There!

It's official, I am 4 of 8 sessions done with chemo.... aka halfway there! Before telling you all about treatment, I must share the magical weekend Greg and I had with our dear friends Katie and Joe. We rented an incredibly charming home out in Hampton Bays, which was just outside of the madness that is the rest of the Hampton's, but still a five minute drive from the ocean. It was absolutely lovely.

Greg and I arrived on Thursday night, and had a nice dinner together along the bay. On Friday, Katie and Joe pulled in, and we had a leisurely morning at the Airbnb. I had a chance to sit on the screened in porch and just tear through my latest read for my ladies book club*:

Katie had to do some work, so Greg, Joe and I drove out to Sag Harbor to gawk at the richniks, eat lobster rolls, and stumble across delicious donuts: 

After that, we headed back to the house and just hung out. With vibes like this, it was easy to linger and lounge: 

Before dinner, Katie and took a walk to the Bay, which is just so Long Island that it could make your heart melt: 

On Friday night, Greg had arranged for us to go check out his friend's restaurant in Bridgehampton. It was a pretty bougie AF joint, and with me in my green wig, we definitely felt a little out of place amongst the rich and famous. Still, the staff was so kind to us, and Brian, the chef, treated us really well and came out to chat with us a few times:

As we were leaving, Joe heard the rich basic couple behind us exclaim, “Who are THEY?” I guess we count among the famous, huh?** On Saturday, Katie and stocked up on fish at the local market for dinner, which was sooo cool. They had such a good selection, and the quality was off the charts: 

The weather was absolutely perfect, so we headed out to the beach and set up camp there for the day with plenty of shade to protect my cancer keppi: 

As you can see in the photo on the right, more of my gift from my ladies arrived- check out the waterproof head wrap the girls set up for me! That night, we prepared a dope, fish-filled dinner on the grill, including GRILLED oysters that I conceptualized and, I must say, I totally slayed: 

On Sunday, we hung out at the house before heading our respective ways home. Sigh. It was totally amazing, and just what I needed. Thanks to Katie and Joe for joining us for the adventure! When I got home, my parents had come in after having detoured to pick up Jon at Newark and Chinese food from Grand Sichuan House (GSH 4ever) on their way to ours. We had nice dinner out back on the porch, and it was good to be surrounded by the fam again. 

Though when I had some time to lounge Sunday, I was quite honestly frustrated at the prospect of having to do chemo again. I was just like, fuck, this again? I don't want to go do THIS again.  I know, I know, nobody wants to do chemo. It's not supposed to be fun. It is such a conflicting feeling to have to gear up to go back to something that you know is essential to your health, while also knowing that the side effects are so incredibly uncomfortable and have such annoying (albeit temporary) impacts on how you feel. But alas, this is my current reality, and I have to just keep chugging along. Here's my chugging along face in the chair yesterday: 

And along with being 50% through, I'm officially DONE with my AC treatment, which, again, is supposed to be the more rotten of the two suites of treatment. So it's T-time, ya'll! But first, recognition that I am so. damn. lucky. to have such a big, forceful, and activated network out there. I am STILL getting incredible gifts trickling in from all over the world: 

Above left, Anna Laura sent me yet another great looking book while on her travels in Spain.*** Thanks so much ALG, looking forward to reading! And center, ma tata Christine m'avait envoyé des jolis couverts des tetes pour porter pendant que je fait mon chimio de la France. Merci ma tata d'amour! To the right, you'll see the most on-brand gift from my dear friend Therese in Cali. She sent me coloring books, including one on Elizabeth Warren (!), another with animal puns, and a third focusing on feminist icons. I also think she is the sender of these CBD bath bombs that look heavenly. So good! 

And finally, my friend Tamara sent me an amazing care package that included the most wonderful reminder of our time together during last summer: photos that she snapped with a disposable camera at our wedding!!!:  

They are incredible and took me right back to all the laughs and dances that we shared. Thank you SO much Tachi! Not pictured because we're already getting into all the Dutch sweets is the beautiful wedding gift that Bekah put together. She sent one back for me with Katie, and we are already tearing through those stroopwaffles! Thanks for making us feel like a guest even though we couldn't be there to partake! 

So that's that. Working my way through yet another on-week, trying to stay well-rested and optimistic that the glass of chemo is half-empty, not half-full****. Bises!

*Great choice, Nic G.! 

** The douchiness of the other clientele was cancelled out by this hilarious 9-10ish year-old boy sitting behind us describing an episode of FRASIER in detail to his family (all of whom were adults). 

***She addresses all my packages, "Future Dr. Valerie Stahl," for an extra special touch 😍. 

****See what I did there?!?