While there has been a lot of turmoil recently (pandemic, economic, racial, and political), we also had a little medical scare when my doctor found a large thyroid nodule in my neck. While many people have nodules, due to a family history of thyroid cancer, we were especially concerned. In the end -- after loads of tests and scans -- it is not cancerous and no surgery is necessary until I feel so uncomfortable that I want it to happen. While it creates a new dilemma – what is my threshold for discomfort? – it also allows me to wait until COVID numbers go down/away. I’ll work with the endocrinologist to manage all the other symptoms in the meantime.
As a friend said recently, the major lesson of 2020 is that everyone's threshold for discomfort is a lot higher than we would have guessed. I'm grateful for the great medical care I received, for Kate and Neal's translation of all of that medical information, and for a stable and supportive remote work environment. Most of all, I'm grateful for all of Joshua's hugs. It is sappy to say, but they always make me feel okay.
It looks like the election is working itself out, too, which will be a blessing. Now -- after the U.S. had the most COVID-19 infections in one day -- to get this pandemic response on track.
