As I review my life over the last couple of years to refresh my memory to write this book, I’d like some feedback from blog followers that shared my journey. 

Let me know what you thought about my approach to handling the illness journey. What stands out in your mind? What made you laugh? What made you cry? What topics did I discuss that you had questions about and wanted to know more? Did you share any of the things I did to help me get through with anyone dealing with a health issue? 

Thoughts for a title for the book? 

I look forward to hearing your thoughts. 

Still Sparkling 

Cinzia 🙂 

After a few months of the job search saga, I decided to stay working as a personal assistant and to focus my time on building my health and doing what my heart desires.

I have talked about it long enough, it is time for action. I am writing a BOOK! Turning this blog into a book or two or three books, who knows how many stories I have in me to tell. I am very excited. This weekend I began a journey to write and self-publish a book! My publish and launch goal in mid November 2017! I will keep you posted throughout this process! 

I am feeling great! In January I started taking yoga classes. Yoga has been exactly what I needed to relieve the pain, weakness and tingling in my arms. It has also helped me build strength, relax, focus, and shed some of the weight I gained as I ate my way through chemo. ha! It’s also a bonus to meet lovely people and make new friends in the yoga community.  🙂

Had a follow-up at the c-centre this week. Blood is doing well, I am down 3kg and the doctor is very pleased with my health overall. Next one in October. Feeling grateful! 

Just a quick update from my sparkly world. Much more to come soon. 

Still Sparkling!!  😉

It has now been one year since I rang the bell! Yay! Sparkles worked!! ✨ One year post treatment and I am doing well! Today I had a follow-up appointment and my hematologist is pleased with how well I am doing. It’s always a relief to hear good health news! Now I will shift to three appointments per year. 

Over the last three months I have seen a neurologist and a physiatrist, had nerve test done on my arms and hands, which left me with a different diagnosis of carpal tunnel in both hands not neuropathy. So I have been wearing braces every night for three months now. Some days I feel like things are improving, then I do housework and my hands and wrists are miserable again. From speaking with my doctor today she has no other options to suggest as they have no idea what is causing my issue. It seems like my only option is sparkles! So I will grab the medical encyclopedias and look for detailed images of the bones, nerves and tissues inside of wrists and hands to visualize sparkles healing! ✨ 

My biggest issue these days is, truthfully, being lazy! With 24 hours in the day it is incredible how much time I waste, doing what you ask? well that is even a mystery to me most days. I would like to think I would exercise and eat well daily, this happens for about a week and then I make excuses and procrastinate. If I can admit this then why don’t I do something about it? That is a darn good question. I am human, that’s about all I can say. 

Another observation about my new normal is that I am still quite forgetful. I can be looking at someone while having a conversation and be totally blank, not recalling at all what I have just been told. This is so hard. I used to feel mentally sharp, process things quickly and retain information easily. Now I write things down and still forget. I guess it’s time to apply sparkle healers to my brain and memory. ✨😳

I sparkle on…one day at a time.   😊

I have to admit that every time I thought about returning to Soriano over the last few weeks I was a little emotional. It has been 15 months since I returned to Canada for treatment. I wasn’t sure how I would react upon returning, since little by little memories were coming back to me. I was returning to see the people who saw me through months of illness. A side of my health issue my family and friends in Saskatoon did not see. In a way I feel as though I have two lives, two home towns and a really big international family.

So nice to have been picked up at the airport in Roma by a dear friend and to catch up on the scenic drive to Soriano. Italy is so green and lush right now, remember I have spent the most time here in the winter months, the greenery and summer heat are new to me.

When I arrived in piazza, I almost felt as though I had never left. I went right back to doing the things I always did here. Starting with standing in the doorway of Ai Tre Scalini, smiling and waving at Roberto. It took a moment as he walked toward me and I could see the recognition come to his eyes. Egisto noticed me walking in piazza and a big smile appeared on his face. On to Caffè Centrale to see Federico and Emanuele for more happy hugs and prosecco #1. On to Bar Roma where I saw Silvia, my Italian teacher from my first stay, and enjoyed prosecco #2. Walking through piazza again and waved at Claudio which illuminated another happy smile. Saw Carla, Valentina as well as Francesco and Fiorella for a quick hello in piazza. Down the stairs to Rottezzia for dinner, where it was nice to see Emanuele, Valentina, Loredana, Giada and Francesco. Nice dinner and fun conversation. A lovely evening and welcoming, I have never had my cheeks squeezed so much.   😃

Back to more of my routine, a morning walk and a coffee in piazza. A quick stop to see the doctor who helped me here last year to say thank you. I think he was quite surprised to see me. Then another surprise to Gabriella, a lovely friend that has skype chats with me in English and Italian. I enjoy seeing the double take and recognition come to friends eyes when they realize I am here again! A little food shopping and saying hello to Fabrizio and Rosana. Even more fun to surprise Carla and Katia in the afternoon, I also got a kiss from cute little Morgana. I ended the day having dinner with Spartaco, he clarified some details of events of my last few days here in May 2015, details of the kindness and compassion of friends that bring tears to my eyes.

Another morning walk makes me smile, some things just stay the same, like the two men that work on the road leading up to Rocca and always walk to the ledge to watch me walk by. I can’t help but smile and chuckle to myself wondering if they recognize me or just watch every woman walk by. Ha! It is entertaining no matter what their reason is. After my walk I enjoyed a nice visit with Rocky and spent the rest of the day relaxing.

I was so happy to see Michele, who was the nurse that came to my apartment daily for two weeks to administer antibiotic injections. We shared many laughs over those two weeks, so it was nice to see him again and have him see me smiling and healthy, and not coughing!

This morning I chatted with Simona, who has a local hardware store and teased me about not needing firewood this visit. Haha!! Thank goodness! Not this trip, instead I need to go shopping for clothing appropriate for hot and sticky summer weather. 

Today was an emotional visit as I had lunch with Sophie. It was wonderful to see her and chat for hours. She and her family are absolute angels for the assistance and support they showed my last year. I have been very concerned about the responsibility Sophie took on in helping me with the last CT scan I had in Italy and picking up the results to communicate them to me. I am eternally grateful for the choices she made that day. I am happy to see that my beautiful friend in doing well and is now happy married.  😃 💞

I have a few more visits planned over the coming weeks. I am excited about all the friends I will see again.  😃  Lots of smiley faces in this post since I feel like I have a permanent smile on my face since I am in Italy again.

I have the same big blue eyes and smile, but my hairstyle is very different, so it’s fantastic to see the light of recognition light up friends faces when they realize it is me, Cinzia!  🤗

Still Sparkling!   😃

My European adventure began a few weeks ago with a cancelled flight and being rebooked on a flight through London to Hamburg. So I made the most of it and indulged in a scone with clotted cream and jam as well as sticky toffee pudding for lunch. After a long day of traveling and little sleep all I wanted was sugar and caffeine! This was also the first of being asked if I wanted American or filter coffee. It seems that filter coffee is quite popular, it’s strong so I like it. 

I arrived in Hamburg to weather so cold and grey that my first purchase was a hat, or toque as we Canadians say. My ears were so cold walking around the first evening in early August. I have worn my new hat numerous times during my stay. Although I am happy to say that at the moment as I sit outside typing this at a cafe having a glass of rosé it is a balmy 31C in the sunshine.    🙂

Hamburg is a wonderful city to explore. I have roamed around and taken in everyday life. There is so much history in this city. As I walk along each day amidst buildings old and new I wonder what has happened here, what was life like so many years ago. If these old building could talk, what stories would they tell? So many historical events are marked in little ways. As I walk along the sidewalks and see the ‘stolpersteine’, brass squares which serve as a memorial. My heart sinks to know that these are placed in front of the last residence or workplace of someone who lost their life during the Holocaust.

This is a city with a strong bicycle lifestyle. So much so that there are red brick paths on the sidewalks just for bicycles. It is also important to know the rules of these pathways here since some ride very fast. There is an etiquette to riding here, one must ride in the direction of traffic and if riding the wrong direction give way to those riding the correct direction. Walkers beware, you may be struck if you walk on the bicycle path or irritate the cyclists for sure. I find myself looking both ways before walking across any red path, a habit that was formed by my second day here! Oh ya, as people are whizzing by on their bicycles I realize that I have only seen a handful wearing helmets during my entire stay. Interesting to learn that there are more pedestrian car accidents than bicycle car. Something to think about.

This trip I have explored Lüneberg, Weisbaden and taken a short cruise down the River Rhine. Had a Thai massage and visited a Hamam. Hamburg is also a very multicultural city, we have been enjoying food from around the world. I’ve been happy to dine in Japanese, Lebanese, Indian, Nepalese, Austrian, Swedish, Pakistani, Italian and Turkish restaurants. I have discovered wonderful foods that I have not had before. Since I am willing to try many local specialties, I can’t forget to mention I tried Apfelwein while near Frankfurt and an Asbach coffee while in Rüdesheim, of course I enjoyed both  😉

One thing I love about visiting my friend here in Hamburg and meeting her friends is that I always learn so much about the history of each area we visit from them. There is so much more to see that one or two visits is never enough for me. When we talk about options of things to see and do, I often say ‘next time’ because for me there will always be a next time to visit.

Those who know me know that I do not watch much television. Here we have watched a program called Kitchen Impossible with a chef from Hamburg, Tim Mälzer. I may not understand most of what they say, but I don’t need to understand the language to catch on to the camaraderie between the chefs and laugh along with them, although I did understand the universal curse words they spoke! haha!!

During this leg of my adventure I have spent time with wonderful friends, met lovely new people, visited beautiful historic places and collected a toque, sweaters, a filter for coffee, marzipan chocolates, products from the Hamam and Austrian coffee. Until next time Germany. 

Now I am onto the next leg of my adventure in Italy. Ciao!

Still Sparkling!   :)