led zeppelin

the lz 129 hindenburg, a german zeppelin, is one of the largest aircrafts ever built. it is destroyed by fire while landing in new jersey, killing 36 people and 1 dog. the disaster occurs on the sixth of may after an uneventful crossing of the atlantic from frankfurt.

today, jane and i keep our appointment with the ominously and unfortunately named dr. hindenburg.

we go to see this gentle and knowledgeable oncologist, a first for us. it is jane's first day back at work, and i meet her at the allotted hour. she is characteristically armed with papers documenting her progress, test results, scans, and a big smile. we have a long, frank discussion about low grade, high grade, invasive, estrogen receptors, and other assorted flavors.

another test is to follow, which will take two weeks to evaluate - the oncotype dx (to determine if chemotherapy is necessary, or if jane can 'wing it' with tamoxifen). i nickname this test the willy wonkatype dx (as i can't seem to remember what it's actually called) ...

willy wonka, the lead character in the roald dahl book charlie and the chocolate factory, is a connoisseur of confectionery. his tasty treats are world renowned and provide children and adults alike with a sense of wonder and excitement. amongst his closest friends are the oompa-loompas.

i'm beginning to feel as if we ourselves are in loompaland. more to follow ...