Clean bill of health?

7:08 am - Friday - November 3rd - GNHS - 51° F, humidity 44%, wind 5 mph out of the west.....crystal clear, blue, sunny skies today with a forecast high of 84° F.  On this date in 2011 TLE and I had just completed a 36 mile round trip bike ride to Ojai from Rincon Parkway (Ventura).....a little vino makes everyone mellow.....↴

....especially with the ocean as a backdrop.  The view this morning.....↴

....the sun just hit the wooden fence outside my window....I guess that would be sunrise!

When we got up Wednesday morning we had no plans to drive anywhere Thursday, but by mid morning our plans had been set.  We would be driving nearly 300 miles round trip to Poway, CA for our annual dermatological exams beginning Thursday morning around 9:30 am.  It would be a long, just shy of 9 hours, day involving at least 6 hours of driving.  Since we didn't have to leave until 9:30 am for our 1:45 pm appointment we lazed around until after 9 am before getting dressed and beginning our 3 hour drive to Poway.

We did this drive at least 4 times last year....once for my annual cardiological exam, and 3 times for dermatology issues.  I hadn't been to my dermatologist since late 2019, so it had been almost 3 years.  As a result I needed 3 biopsies at that first appointment, two of which came back as cancer (melanoma, state zero on my chest, and basil cell carcinoma on my left arm) which required two additional trips for separate surgeries to remove the offending masses.  Anyway, as we began our 3 hour drive I was hoping for a clean bill of health this year, since it has only been 9 months since my last visit.

When we drive to Poway we take secondary roads all the way there by driving around the Salton Sea to Salton City, which is directly across the sea from GNHS as the crow flies.  It takes an hour to get there, and then we head up the hill on S-22 through Borrego Springs, up Montezuma grade to Ranchito, the Santa Ysabel, then Ramona before descending toward Poway.  The drive is beautiful, and there is very little traffic going, or coming.  We always hope for an uneventful drive, and that is what we got, both directions.  We arrived in Poway around 12:30 pm, just in time to top off our fuel tank at COSTCO, pick up a few things at Trader Joe's, then over to Starbucks for a couple of Frappuccinos before arriving at the dermatologist around 1:40 pm.

TLE and I chose to be seen at the same time, in the same room to save time, and it worked out well except for the part where I get a clean bill of health.  The doctor found one spot on my back which he felt needed further investigation, so he took the dreaded biopsy promising to call me in a few days with the result.  If is negative no return trip will be necessary.  TLE did, however, receive her second clean bill of health in 12 months.

We were back on the road heading home by 2:25 pm, and after another uneventful drive arrived in Borrego Springs around 4 pm.....just in time for an early dinner at our favorite local taqueria, Los Jilbertos.  I always, as is my nature, get the same exact thing....the two taco plate with rice and beans.  TLE a single chicken taco à la carte.....YUM!!!  By 4:30 pm we were back on the road for the final 90 minutes home,  arriving back at GNHS just after 6 pm....that was a long day!

I'm hoping for a negative lab result, but if it is positive we'll return in the near future to have it removed.  It's only been 9 months since my last visit, so I'm sure if it is positive it will not be a major deal, just like the others were not.  Not getting the 'all clear' is disappointing, but that's why you go and get checked, right?  Better to catch this stuff earlier than later.

Thanks for stopping by!