So Long, Farewell, Auf Weidersehen, Goodbye

This is my last post for the next ten days to two weeks.

For more than six months, I've been talking about my need to have surgery. At 10:30 on Tuesday, it's actually happening.

It was June, 2008 when I first learned I would require surgery. I ran around getting second (and third) opinions before accepting that there was no avoiding the surgery, but that didn't mean I was rushing into it. I had just started a new job, and there was no way I could ask for six weeks off [wince].

I retreated into denial, putting all thoughts of the tumor off for more than six months while I dealt with the challenges of a new job.

The symptoms are now so onerous, I am actually looking forward to getting cut in half. I've been barely maintaining for the past few months. No joke. Just going to work has sapped all my available energy. I actually have over 5,000 unopened emails, and God only knows how many unaddressed issues.

When I finally decided to accept the necessity of the surgery, I asked my surgeon to remove everything that was not necessary to keep me breathing. That included my appendix--since she was going to be in the general neighborhood any way. She agreed to take out the appendix but said, "Do not ask me to take out your gall bladder."

I responded, "Not to worry. It's already long gone."

I also asked her to take a photo of the fibroid tumor she will be removing. Estimates are that it is between twelve and sixteen pounds. She rolled her eyes, but agreed when I pointed out I needed some closure. She didn't even wince when I asked her to make sure the picture included a ruler or some other way to get a sense of the dimensions of the damn thing. I've been lugging it around like a bad habit, and I want to know what it looks like.

I'm hoping I'll be able to resume posting by Monday, February 16th, but I make no promises. The surgeon put March 16 as my return date to work on my FMLA request.

The good news is that I'm looking forward to an uninterrupted block of time in which to write.

In the meantime, there are three years of posts here about writing, the publishing industry, and some fun book and movie reviews to keep you occupied.

See you soon.