365 Things To Smile About Day 12. Seeing Old Friends

Today was a good day and full of talking, laughing and just being with close friends!!!  It's always wonderful to see my friends Lily and Pat!  Just sitting and talking about everything and watching X Files!!!

There are those friends who will always be in your life and these two friends are this kind!  You find yourself smiling just thinking about a visit with them!  And the visit is even better!!  Good, old friends will always put a smile on your face!!

365 Things To Smile About Day 11. Checking out a new place

So today started great by getting a chance to visit with an old boss from when I first started college!!!  I haven't seen her in several years and it was so good to sit and talk for a few minutes!!  

Then I went to Harpers Ferry West Virginia!!!  It is a beautiful, historic old town that I sadly didn't get to explore too much because it started raining but I did see some!  It looks like houses are built on top of each other up the mountainside!  It's a Civil War town full of charm, history and natural beauty tucked away inside the mountains.  Even the deer are wondering around and checking things out:). The whole afternoon was so nice and I'm glad I got a chance to do some hiking and see some of the local charm!

365 Things To Smile About Day 10. Another First Since Chemo

You would think that at almost two years since chemo I would have run out of "firsts since chemo". Not so much!  Today's "first" took a while coming because it involves being back in Virginia!  

For years, when I lived out here, I drove from the Shenandoah Valley to Chantilly and back for work every day. It became a distance I really didn't notice after a while but in fact it was anywhere from 45 to 60 miles one way depending on where I was living. The past few times I've been out here, I simply did not have the energy to drive it. I had to rely on rides from friends to get to Front Royal and often had to rest after getting there.   It was beyond frustrating.  Well, I still had to rest after getting here today but...I drove that route by myself and made it!!!  

Some might say, "Whats the big deal?"  driving has always been a struggle for me since I was a teenager. Finding doctors who understood my eye condition and feeling trusted when practicing driving was no small thing. When I became a daily commuter I thought nobody could take this ability I had fought for for years away from me now. I had proven myself. Then cancer and chemo came along. And driving became impossible. More than 30 minutes of driving after chemo finished made my body and eyes so tired I couldn't see strait and I would start to shake. And that was with no traffic to focus on!!  Only this past spring, over a year out of treatment, have I been able to drive the two hours from my house to my parent's house. And I'm generally pretty tired when I get there...but not shaking. 

Today I feel like I have taken one more step back into the life I remember. The life where I was so independent and didn't have to rest all the time. Maybe I'll never get completely back to that life. But today I DROVE MYSELF back to my mountains that I love so much for the first time since chemo!!  That's something to smile about! :)

365 Things To Smile About Day 9. Space and Friends!!!

Today was a full day with many things to smile about!!!  I spent an hour and a half at the Air and Space muesam in Dulles and had a great time strolling around looking at the different planes, watching an IMAX show on space flight and even riding a simulator of a shuttle flight!

The best part was seeing the shuttle Discovery!!  It was amazing to see a shuttle that flew in space so many times so close you could almost touch it!!  

Then this evening I had a delicious dinner with a good friend!  Good Indian food and good conversation are always a good combination!!!  I love being able to and be around friends, catch up and just talk about all the different things going on in our lives!!!  Top the evening off with Mikes Hard Lemonade and doing nails to look pretty and fun!!!!  A perfect girls night!!!  And plenty of things to smile about!!

365 Things To Smile About Day 8 Good Company

Today I had lunch with a family friend, and my sister's best friend!!  I've known her since I was a kid and had such a great time talking, catching up and being silly!!!

Lunch was Indian buffet followed by Starbucks!!!  It's always a wonderful time when you find yourself talking and laughing for several hours and not realize how much time has gone by!

365 Things To Smile About Day 7. A Stroll Around the Tidal Basin

Today I headed into DC for the afternoon on my own to get reacquainted with my favorite city.  My plan was to go to a museum but I somehow found myself fallowing signs to the water front and ended up at the tidal basin. 

It was beautiful out so I started walking around to the Jefferson Memorial!  It was a warm but very nice day and I loved strolling along the water and under trees. I sat on the memorial steps for a bit and then went inside. It is really quite beautiful and impressive there!

After a time I went downstairs and was browsing the shop when we were told we had to leave due to smoke from a busted hand dryer!  It was quite something to watch the fire trucks drive around the basin, and one even drove up in front of the memorial!  A little over kill but nice to know our monuments are looked after:)

The walk back to the metro was tiring but just as picturesque and the whole outing very much something to smile over:)

365 Things To Smile About Day 6. Hello D.C!!

This post is coming late but it is still day 6!  Today I am smiling and laughing and completely happy to be back in DC and Virginia!!!  

I just flew in tonight and was thoroughly entertained on the flight by the person sitting next to me!  It was kind of them to distract me when they saw how nervous I am when I fly!  Today starts the first day of a nice, long and much needed vacation with friends!!  Lots of things to smile about to come!!!!  And they won't be this late in the day!  Promise!

Pictures and stories of exploring the treasures of DC to the beauty of the Shenandoah Valley to the beaches along the Chesspeake Bay will be coming!   So many things to be happy about!!!!  Can't wait to share these smiles!!!

The picture is from my flight to DC!