" it was at this point that bilbo stopped. going on from here was the bravest thing he ever did. the tremendous things that happened afterwards were as nothing compared to it. he fought the real battle in the tunnel alone, before he ever saw the vast danger that lay in wait. " from the hobbit, by j. r. r. tolken

i think that the bravest thing that i will  have done in my life, so far anyway, will be to show up at the hospital tomorrow.  i feel like just driving on down to the beach. it was a beautiful day today, and i am sure that  it will be tomorrow. i went to work today, a short day. i worked 8 to 4, but it seemed longer. it was harder than i thought that it would be. my coworkers were great, as usual, but it was harder for me to concentrate today  than it has been up to now. someone from the hospital called me and asked me several pre -surgery questions. " have you been out of the country lately?" me: i wish. " have you been exposed to any  communicable diseases in the past two weeks?"  me: well, it is sort of my job. "have you been exposed to any livestock in the past two weeks?" me:  let me think about that one, and i will get back to you. just kidding, no to that one. 

i talked with the breast care nurse yesterday. she helped me last month  during my two breast biopsies. she will be with me for the sentinel lymph node biopsy tomorrow and will spend some time with me on saturday  before i leave to go home. home- i already miss it! i can not say enough good things about the breast care nurse at frye. she is so very good at her job, and she gives such good patient care. but of course, it takes a village- or a lot of health professionals, to make a surgery or hospital stay successful. i feel confident that i have chosen a very good place to have my surgery, and i like both of my surgeons. 

i have been amazed and humbled by all of the people who have prayed for me and sent cards and their good wishes. this is very important to me, and i hope that i have shown my appreciation to everyone who has done this for me. if not, please accept my thanks now. i will not forget your kindness. 

my husband, or daughter, will post a short message tomorrow( i hope) after my surgery to let everyone know how i did. hopefully i will do well enough to be able to come home on saturday. there is no place like home! whoops, wrong movie. here is another quote from the hobbit: " where there is life, there is hope.". i am  hoping to slay some dragons tomorrow( my surgery starts at 1pm) and be back home in time for a nice cup of tea. something that a hobbit would certainly  enjoy,too.