June 2021 Monthly Wrap-Up
June was absolutely insane. This month felt like it lasted an entire year. I’m not sure how to sum it all up, but I guess I’ll start at the beginning. The first week of the month, Dad and I took a quick trip to New Orleans for a wedding. It was so nice to get a little change of scenery (although I still don’t know what cocktail attire is).
The following week, I was in the hospital for a few days (and then at my parents’ for a few days) after having surgery to place a PEG-J feeding tube. I knew there was a pretty good chance I would be getting a feeding tube this summer, but I did not know it would be happening right then until two days ahead of time. The recovery process was painful and it was more difficult for my body to adjust to the tube feeds than we anticipated, but things are moving in the right direction, and I can’t describe what an amazing feeling that is. I hope my feeding tube will be a helpful source of consistent, high-quality nutrition and an additional tool for symptom management, and I’m thankful for my supportive medical team and the welcoming tubie community.
The last week in June, Hanne and Grace Anne came to visit Atlanta for two nights, which was absolutely the most fun ever! We shopped for stationery and books, hung out in our fancy hotel and talked for hours, hung out at my apartment, had a picnic and photoshoot in Piedmont Park, and more. This trip was 5+ years in the making and I think it was the best two days I’ve had so far this year.
Other random things I somehow managed to do in June: three doctor’s appointments and one infusion; two voice lessons; met Kenna at the park one day and hung out at her house another day, plus a couple of FaceTime craft sessions; went to a cookout with family friends; went to lunch with my pastor’s family and Margarita after church one day; and we celebrated Joshua’s birthday, Father’s Day, and my grandmother’s birthday.
This month I’m…
Reading: Sing Me Forgotten, Jessica Olson. Take Me Home Tonight, Morgan Matson. Dove, Robin Lee Graham. Set Fire To the Gods, Kristen Simmons and Sara Raasch. Dark of the West, Joanna Hathaway. Hope Heals, Jay and Katherine Wolf. Last Chance Books, Kelsey Rodkey. Hope in the Dark, Hannah Wright. 10 Blind Dates, Ashley Elston. We Were Liars (reread) and The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks, E. Lockhart. This Light Between Us, Andrew Fukuda. The Day the World Came to Town, Jim DeFede. Genesis Begins Again, Alicia D. Williams. Orange for the Sunsets, Tina Athaide. 15 total.
turned out to be a timely read on one of the most difficult nights I have ever had.Listening to: In the Heights. Groundhog Day, Em Beihold. brutal, good 4 you, and jealousy, jealousy, Olivia Rodrigo. free love, HONNE. Keep It Gold, Surfaces. Halfway Up, The Brook & The Bluff. Paper Rings, Taylor Swift. The playlist Hanne and Grace Anne and I made for their trip.
Watching: The Frey Life and Life With Stripes on YouTube. Gilmore Girls (season 3). Bringing Up Bates.
Eating and/or cooking: Animal crackers. Chicken sausage with roasted sweet potato and zucchini. Chips and salsa. Luigi’s Italian Ice (I forgot how much I love this stuff! I also discovered they have a ton of other flavors I didn’t know about and now I have this whole elaborate system where I’m trying and ranking them all).
Writing: Outside of work (where very little went on this month because my brain wasn’t functioning), I did volunteer work with Diamonds, Chronic Joy, and People Hope. I also wrote 38 letters and received 25.
Buying: Lots of adorable tubie pads. A tiny bowl and some Rifle Paper Co notecards from La Bella Maison. A rolling cart and some other medical storage items. Lots of gorgeous patterned paper.
Grateful for: Roly polys. The time and space to make medical decisions on my own terms. A friend who has been consistently there for me with specific advice and encouragement while going through a similar, but much more difficult season herself. Being able to breathe without pain and even sleep on my stomach! Naps. Feeling excited about future plans / about life in general. Spending so much time with people, and getting to have some fun and beautiful life experiences after a long time. The enormous relief of my body being adequately nourished.
What did you do in June? If a friend visited your hometown for the first time, what would you show them? Do you like Italian ice? Come chat with me in the comments!
