Biquette's 2021 Christmas card

[elagache]

Dear WeatherCat faithful,

Since 2011, I've been creating photo Christmas cards featuring my trusty wagon.  Circumstances made this year's card into a real struggle, but here is what I ultimately came up with:



You can click on the image for an enlargement.

Obviously, some explanation is needed.  Here is what was printed on the back of the card:

It has been a tough year for me and the whole family.  When you are caring for everyone else - your health gets lowest priority.  Eventually, what turned to be skin cancer tumors could no longer be ignored.   Since August, I have had Mohs surgeries to remove 5 tumors - 4 of which were on my face, and the worst surgery is still to come.  For a while, my face was looking a lot like our venerable 1965 Buick Special after she was struck on Thanksgiving Eve 2010.

My journey of healing reminded me of the arduous effort to restore our 56 year old family heirloom wagon.  The parallels inspired this card.

Christmas used to be a solemn matter of faith.  However, science has made us so confident that humanity insisted we could create our own hope in a secure future.  Now that security seems dashed as science and technology has seriously stumbled in a time of great need.  Our future is anything but certain, and those difficult "meaning of life" questions are nagging all of us.  Like self-congratulation, self-made hope seems hollow and in vain - the thirst for meaning and purpose is never quenched.  Now more than ever, Christmas beseeches us to rediscover our hope in an eternal good.  Though these pictures, I have tried to portray my faith journey through a most difficult year.

Unfortunately, the worst tumors are on my nose and one is so large that removing them has been referred to the University of California teaching hospital in San Francisco.  The tumors are scheduled to be removed on January 26th with the reconstructive surgery the following day.  What has been a very tough year will definitely continue into 2022.

Thanks for your support all these years.  Sorry if I end up being scarce around the end of January, but I hope everyone will understand.

Edouard

[xairbusdriver]

Hang in there Edouard. If you can fix that Buick, your face should be a snap! Plus, you get a chance to get that nose you always wanted! Medical & Dental schools have all the best talent! Well, all the best supervision, anyway!

Don't worry about the forums! There are some very helpful and kind folks who will take care of things until you get your new license to 'run your slightly dented & scratched up body'!!

I hope everyone here will receive God's gift of peace and hope!

[271249horst]

Hello Edouard,

I wish you to meet the best surgeons in California and a good recovery after surgery.

Sincerely.

Horst.

Translation from French.

[Steve]

Good luck to you, Eduard! I’ve had MOHS surgery on my face and head five separate occasions over the past 15 years. Those guy know what they are doing! One was a record eight rounds at the office. I always tell them that if they can’t make it so there’s no scars, then make it look like I was in a bar fight. 😉

My mother has had umteen MOHS surgeries, one removing most of her nose. Even that looked good after reconstruction. So you should be fine.

Happy Christmas to all!

[Blicj11]

Our faith and prayers are with you Edouard. You have been so helpful to so many here and we are pulling for all good outcomes for you.

Merry Christmas to you and to all WeatherCatters worldwide.

[elagache]

Dear X-Air, Steve, Horst, Blick and WeatherCat faithful,

Thanks for the kind and reassuring words. 

. . . .
My mother has had umteen MOHS surgeries, one removing most of her nose. Even that looked good after reconstruction. So you should be fine.
. . . .

That's good to hear since that is basically my case.  I'll lose most of the left nostril and there are tumors to be removed on the right.  What does worry me is how I'm supposed to breath after the surgery.  You don't realize how dependent you are on your nose until you suddenly have it threatened!

Thanks again!

Edouard

[Steve]

We’ll, she’ll be 91 next month, and the surgery was close to 20 years ago, so it must still function okay. 🤣