Day 52: San Fran hoops

Nat and I w. our serious
feminist faces, APSA SFO 2015

SFO markets

In September 2015, Natalie and I headed to San Francisco for the Annual American Political Science Conference. We gave a paper on comparing gender practices in Australian politics and the construction industry and had fun catching up with friends and colleagues. SFO is such a great city, Nat and I had fun looking around and loved the organic food markets at the Wharf.

Staying downtown and close to the shopping precinct, I couldn't resist buying a new pair of earrings as a souvenir - a pair of silver elongated 'hoops'. They're different to the smaller, sparkly earrings I'm usually attracted to but I've enjoyed wearing them.

Meg, Mary jnr and Co. Manly Dec 2016

Bonded sisters, Meg and Mary

I was wearing this pair when I was recovering from surgery and Lindy, Cazy and I caught up for lunch with our lovely Aunt, Meg and her daughter Mary, as they were passing through Sydney at the end of December. Mary, also a politics and IR major, was just about to leave for Edinburgh for the year, where I hope she'll be drawn into the Scottish branch of the golden web. Erica, Meg's eldest daughter lives in Melbourne where she is a clever and creative teacher.

Meg is one of Dad's two sisters - along with Mary snr - and is the youngest of the ten Chappell clan. What a life these sisters must have had growing up with 8 brothers - no wonder they are so close!

Meg, c.1986

Meg was a very important part of our lives as we were growing up; given the age difference, she was more like a close cousin than an 'adult aunty'. Ree and I loved wearing her hand-me-down clothes (I especially loved clomping around in her high heeled shoes even though they were always a few sizes too big), listening to her records, and hanging out. When she left Armidale to become a beautician in Sydney we saw her as a trailblazer. At 15 I stayed Meg's amazing Habour- fronted flat right on Kirribilli wharf directly opposite the Opera House (I cannot imagine the rent these days). I was so taken with her cosmopolitan lifestyle; she worked in the Strand Arcade no less! Meg now lives in Wangarratta, but she and I remain in close contact - one of the great assets of facebook. Meg regularly checks in with me to send encouraging messages of support.

Meg's Debut 1975 with waterfall hairstyles

L&L in itchy dresses

Growing up in a big Catholic family in country Australia in the 1970s and 80s the Debutante Ball was a key event on the calendar. Thinking of it now - with its archaic 'coming of age' connotations and virginal white dresses - makes me cringe, but at the time, it was the done thing for 16 year old girls. I will admit it was fun at the time learning ballroom dancing and planning the dress (more on that below!).

Matrons and Belles, 1975

1975 was the year Meg made her debut, and Linda and I were asked to 'lead the debs' - a great honour for any young girl. Doing it together, and with Meg, was such a thrill, but we wore the itchiest dresses ever! That evening, Mum was also honoured as "Matron" (sheesh!!) of the ball, wearing a gold lame dress, which was very 'of the moment'. Amazingly, it transpires that on the same night Margie, who married Dad last year, won "Junior matron of the ball" and Margie's sister, Marlene was "Belle". I've had this photo of the three of them in one of my fading albums since the 70s. Clearly, a golden thread runs through there somewhere, but I don't have any appropriate earrings to link it to. It looks from the picture that gold studs were the choice of the day.

Pete and debutante, 1983

Now to my own debut dress: first, it has to be noted that was beautifully made by Meg, who among her many talents is an excellent seamstress. It was based on a Dior pattern and made from water-wave taffeta - thus I thought it was very stylish.  In retrospect, I cannot think of a more inappropriate design for my figure - what was I thinking! Perhaps I chose it to match my haircut at the time, probably the ugliest I've ever sported in my entire life, thanks in part to the fashion of the day and having a sister undertaking a hairdressing apprenticeship at the time. Today comparing my high necked pink dress from 1975 and my debut dress in 1983, I see some strong similarities. At least the taffeta wasn't itchy! At least Pete Crogan, on his best behavior, was complimentary.

Day 52 and it's the best day yet since the last infusion, even though I'm reaching the lowest point blood count wise. I had a quiet morning at home including a nice chat with Rose in Melbourne about our paper, before heading off to another medical appointment - this time for a consultation with a second radio-oncologist.
My experience today with Rowena could not have been more different to the meeting with the first specialist who didn't want to bother my poor little head with too many details. By contrast, Rowena was warm, engaged, detailed, very encouraging about the prognosis, compassionate, and, crucially, concerned about mental as well as physical health issues. After a generous hour and a half of her time I left feeling informed and unafraid of the next phase (which will commence 4 weeks after chemo finished and end somewhere around the 10 July). I know I'm very privileged to be in a position of being able to choose my medical specialists, but it was an important reminder to always seek out a second opinion if you're not satisfied with the first.

Angus was under the weather today with an infection, but after Rob took him to the doctor and got the antibiotics into him, he's feeling much less glerpy, a word he made up but which perfectly describes feeling unwell. James bounced home full of enthusiasm after school. Rob prepared another meal. I'm a lucky person.