Dolphins on my Doorstep

I personally have never seen them, but some of my friends have. I live where the mighty Derwent seeps almost unnoticed into the sea, becoming one with the Southern Ocean with only a small lighthouse on a rocky outcrop to mark the change. When we look out from our porch, or walk along the beach, the waves make us think it is the sea, so we hardly ever think of it as a river, and no doubt the fish and other sea creatures don't make the distinction either. That's how I know there are dolphins in our beautiful bay. I believe the eyewitness accounts, but it makes sense that the dolphins wouldn't make a U-turn at the light house, and head back out into colder waters when they could have a holiday and frolic in our bay. It makes me happy to think of the dolphins, and the other wonderful unseen gifts in creation.

Until it happened to me, I didn't know you could feel happy and depressed  at the same time - but there that's clinical depression for you. It is definitely a physical illness that effects your emotions, and physical ability to function. Sometimes the treatment is worse than the condition, as my first medication proved. The tablets increasingly sedated me until I could barely think to remember my name. When my doctor said he was going to change my medication to "Prestik" I thought, oh good , he realises that I'm coming apart and need to be stuck back together (In South Africa, Prestik is a brand name for glue and BlueTac). Actually, the medication is Pristiq and is a different type of antidepressant. After a month I feel almost back to my pre-cancer self! It's amazing. I'm getting up in the morning, thinking more clearly and am far less fatigued - I can do my housework in one day now!

I have also had my second 3 monthly breast check up and everything is clear. Yes, I have many cysts but nothing suspicious is lurking. Sometimes we cannot see something, but we know it is there - like God, and the dolphins on my doorstep; but no cancer can be seen or felt at the moment, so I believe it is not there, and I am now enjoying getting stronger.

(Photo courtesy of Magda Mandecka Louw (who saw the dolphins on the ocean side of our bay.)