Inside Marcy's Mind
Having hosted the Aging aint for Sissie's podcast for two years, I wanted to expand what I could discuss. This podcast will touch on the fun of aging and whatever has crossed my mind! Please join me as I walk through life! #retirement #travel #fun #aginggracefully Link in my bio! Listen now!
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Inside Marcy's Mind
Discovering Joy and Resilience in Unexpected Places
What if a weekend getaway could mend the deepest family rifts and spark newfound hope amidst personal challenges? Join me on an emotional rollercoaster as I recount a heartwarming reunion with my estranged son, Kyle, in the vibrant city of Chicago. Our early Thanksgiving celebration was filled with cherished moments and laughter as we explored beloved spots like the Kris Krindle Market and the Field Museum. Yet, amid this joy, I confront a daunting personal challenge—my recent breast cancer diagnosis. With candid honesty, I share the path ahead and the resolve to navigate this journey with openness and courage.
Beyond personal reflections, you'll find practical tips for traveling Europe during winter. Learn the art of packing efficiently with versatile layers like fleece-lined leggings and the strategic use of accessories to stay warm. Discover how to navigate airline luggage policies to avoid unexpected fees and master suitcase organization with savvy packing cube techniques. As Thanksgiving approaches, I also delve into the joy of side dishes, share intriguing facts about turkey consumption, and reflect on the gratitude that fills my heart with my family's presence. So, buckle up for stories of resilience, practical travel wisdom, and a sprinkle of Thanksgiving cheer.
Hello and welcome to Inside Marci's Mind. My name is Marci Backus and I am your host. Well, it's Thanksgiving week. I always record on a Wednesday now. So tomorrow is the big turkey day. So I hope you're ready. I hope you're gathering with family or friends or doing a Friendsgiving. I hope you have something wonderful planned.
Speaker 1:I got a couple things to talk about this week. I'm going to talk about a health update on me. I've debated back and forth on whether I was going to share this, but because you are all a part of my weekly life and listen, and I think my goal is to always share information that helps people, I'm hoping that it will help. So why don't you sit back, get yourself something to drink, get ready and we'll talk about my week. I had a fabulous week last week. It was kind of a bad and a fabulous week altogether I don't know how to say that Probably my highest high and my lowest low. If you've ever experienced that in a week. Wow, it's mentally hard. So let's share about that. So sit back, let's get ready and we will chat. Well, let's talk about my highest high. So I have shared with this that our oldest child, for about a year and a half, had gotten no contact, wanted nothing to do with us and was in a very bad place relationship wise somebody for a very long time. But things had gone very South and about a month, five weeks ago it's not my story to share, but I will just say this that I got the phone call or the text that I needed. I need help. Mom helped me get out and as a family we did that. And now my oldest, kyle who is transgender, by the way, and I still struggle with pronouns so sometimes we'll be a she, sometimes we'll be a he, but that has nothing to do with my unwavering support of my child to be who they feel that they should be With. That being said, both of the kids flew in last Friday and we had a fabulous weekend. They stayed with us. We had an early Thanksgiving at Cousin Sue's house on Saturday, which was wonderful and delicious and yummy and good and family filled and just wonderful. And that's because Sue and her husband are flying out Thanksgiving. Craig and I are flying out Friday and Craig's sister is flying out Saturday. We are all meeting in Basel, switzerland, to take the Christmas River Cruise.
Speaker 1:So next week will be a repeat episode only because I am focusing on my trip and when I get back I will tell you all about it. But I am going. I'm going with the Hallmark Christmas in mind. I'm dressing Christmas. I bought a beautiful new, very warm burgundy red coat. I am looking at this as just a fun trip, not a learn what I can see everything trip. I'm all about the Christmas spirit. So that is what's coming up. But we had just a wonderful weekend.
Speaker 1:We went to the Kris Krindle Market here in Chicago. We walked the streets, we saw the Christmas decorations. We went to Kyle's favorite museum since Kyle was a very tiny child, which is the Field Museum. As you know, craig's family is from here, so we've traveled here ever since the kids were little. So we did and it was very fun. It was just a lot of fun. And Sunday they came to church with Craig and I. They came to church with Craig and I and then we went out to their grandparents' home out in the suburbs, because that home is going to be sold here in the next few months, hopefully, and they wanted their one last moment at Grandma's house. They have a lot of really good memories because when we traveled here we stayed there. There's a prairie and there's a pond, and they got to take their cousin dog Bella out for a nice hour-long walk on the prairie and get to say their goodbyes to Grandma's house and then they both flew home.
Speaker 1:It was a whirlwind of a weekend. Lots of early flights Picked up Kyle at 4.30 am at O'Hare, picked up Alec at 10.30 or 9 a 9am at Midway our two big airports here. On Friday, alec flew out. Sunday night Kyle had a flight, a 5.30am flight, on what day, I don't even know. Today's Wednesday, on Monday. So got Kyle out too, so had a great weekend.
Speaker 1:It was great to be the four of us. It's been a very long time since it's been just the four of us and I think it was an important healing step. It was like nothing had happened, but everybody was a better version of themselves. We're all working on ourselves, you know. I think everybody, I don't think anybody's done cooking. I'm 63 and I'm not done cooking.
Speaker 1:So then it comes to. That was the greatest of times, and and I honestly didn't know if Kyle would ever come back to the family the person that had a hold on Kyle had a very strong hold and, uh, I wasn't sure if that was going to ever happen. So to have sorry, I'm getting a little choked up. I haven't been choked up yet. It was a good thing, it was a really good thing. So there's that. And then the worst of times Tuesday or the Wednesday before the kids got here, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. So that is a journey that we're going to go on together in this podcast, because I share everything. I try not to hide anything, because if I'm hiding something then I'm not my authentic self here on the air, and it is my goal to always give you the authentic Marcy and to learn something. So we're going to learn a little bit together.
Speaker 1:How did I find out I had breast cancer? To be honest, it came from a dream and I dreamt that I felt a lump and when I woke up there was one. And I hadn't felt it before, Not that I had been looking recently. I knew my mammogram was coming up. So you know, you kind of let those things go to the wayside of November is my normal mammogram. So here's my soapbox, and I think I was on it a few weeks ago mammogram, mammogram, mammogram. And don't let them tell you to go two years just because you're older. No, I've never had anything on a mammogram. I've never had a cyst. I've never had anything suspicious. I've never had anything show up on my mammogram ever. So when they tell you, since you've never had anything show up, you don't have to come for every two years, don't listen. I've come every year. So last year in November, I had a mammogram. So this has grown in a year.
Speaker 1:I then went for an ultrasound and yesterday I went for an MRI which found some more suspicious things on the right side. The original lump is on the left side. So, with that being said, I don't know a whole lot, because I meet with the oncologist today, which will give me a lot more information. I will meet with my surgeon. I am leaving on my trip. I am going. I'm going to go enjoy myself, I'm going to relax. I'm not going to stress myself out on this trip with trying to see everything. Literally. I'm going to enjoy the river cruise and I'm going to enjoy the average two hour a day tour that they give me and I'm going to sit back, I'm going to relax, I'm going to look at the river and I'm going to enjoy life before my life changes Because, as everybody knows, no matter what kind of surgery you have.
Speaker 1:Life always changes and I've been through a lot of surgery, so six on one hand, two on the other, one on my leg. I know surgery, I understand surgery, I understand recovery. So I feel that those are blessings that have been given to me through the trials and tribulations of my life already. So I'm ready for that part. But again, you never know what's on the other side of anything of any surgery. I know that this is going to be a journey.
Speaker 1:I also know that a lot of you out there have been through the breast cancer journey and the one thing I do know is that everybody's journey is personal. I will never force my journey on someone. I will share the information, as I share with you the information, but it's my own journey and I know that and I appreciate people giving me information about their journey. I try not to let it cloud my journey, my forthcoming journey, because I know it's going to be different. So it's going to be two weeks before I let you know what happened with the oncologist. But stay tuned, I promise I will let you know.
Speaker 1:More than likely, the Wednesday I get back is the 11th and I see the surgeon on the 12th. So, oh, you know, I have a rare genetic disorder. Already I've been through a lot. You kind of feel like, okay, I've had my share, but that's not how it works and unfortunately you hear a lot of breast cancer and somebody in this journey in the last few weeks told me that eventually everybody's going to get it, and I sure hope that's not true. Somebody told me very close to me, who I love very dearly, that it's a club that nobody wants to be a part of. But it seems like we get members all the time, and I am the newest member of the breast cancer club. So hang in there with me.
Speaker 1:I am a generally positive person and I will continue to be that way throughout. This Doesn't mean I won't have my moments and I don't have my days. I had one yesterday in the afternoon after the MRI came back and showed some suspicious stuff on the right side. That kind of threw me for a loop. Wasn't expecting that, don't know what I was expecting, but it certainly wasn't that. I'm excited about my trip, and so I thought today what a fun day to.
Speaker 1:I'm a pretty good traveler, as you all know. I travel a ton and I carry just a carry on, even when we went to Greece I'm for two weeks. This one I'm going to take my medium suitcase, which is one step up from carry-on, mainly just because I want to save a little room for perhaps bringing back some goodies. I don't know, I'm not much of a nitchy getter keeper kind of person, but you never know what those fabulous Christmas markets in Europe, what I might find, you never know. So how about if I give you some of my travel tips? We'll lighten this episode up a little bit. I know that you're out there supporting me and in whatever you believe in whether it's a God or nature, I don't care but I accept all good wishes, I accept all positive thoughts and I accept all prayers, and I know that's what you are all doing for me. I know a lot of you that listen, are friends of mine for a very long time, or family members. So thank you, and don't worry, I'm going to be just fine, all right.
Speaker 1:Traveling, traveling, traveling. You know everybody I talk to, I'm an overpacker, I'm an overpacker. There's nothing good about overpacking. Especially the older you get, your suitcases are just heavier and you come home with a bunch of crap you never wore. So it really, really, really does pay to take some time and pre-plan. So that's my first suggestion Pre-plan. I use an app called Pack it. It asks where you're going, how many nights, it tells you how many underpants you need, blah, blah, blah, how many pants and you can adjust it and I've customized mine to what works for me, but it gives you a general idea. Plus, you can check things off and it saves all your trips. So it's kind of fun to look back and see where I've been. I do it for even if I go on a three day weekend trip or a four day trip, I use it for everything.
Speaker 1:But the main thing is to plan it out and before you start throwing clothes into your suitcase, take a moment and plan your outfits and make a packing list. Consider the weather, think about what you're doing. My greatest triumph ever was this last trip to Colorado for four days. I planned my outfits for what we were doing, the things that we were doing, and I came home and wore every piece of clothing and only had one extra pair of underpants left. That was a winner, winner chicken dinner for me. So really think about it, don't overthink it. I will be honest, since I've lost weight and I know my clothes all fit good and look good on me. It is easier to pack than when I was heavier and I wasn't sure how things were going to look. I'm going to admit that flat out it was harder to pack when I wasn't sure how things fit. So try on your clothes, put your outfits together.
Speaker 1:I am a huge one for a color palette, so I normally take black and white and then an accent color and that's it. If it doesn't fit into those categories number one, it doesn't go. If it doesn't fit into my planning, it doesn't go. But for this particular trip that I'm going on, let me just kind of tell you my thought process for this. Because I bought myself a bunch of really cute not heavy, thin, thinner Christmas sweaters, not gaudy, beautiful, cute Christmas sweaters. So I'm taking those and during the day I will wear I have like turtle, like if I'm on the ship I have a couple of turtlenecks. Those can layer underneath the Christmas sweaters, but I have those for going to dinner. I have a black pair of slacks and a long, thin column black skirt. So I could wear a skirt or the black pants to dinner and my sweaters very easy, no other bottoms. That's it, people. That's it.
Speaker 1:I do not pack jeans. I do not take jeans at all. They're heavy and I don't need them. So, especially for this trip, since we'll be in Europe in winter, I'm taking all fleece lined black leggings probably three to four pairs. I can wear one every two days and that'll get me through the trip. And I will wear like a turtleneck and a layered tank. Underneath that, my big jacket. I have gloves, I have my scarf. I bought a beautiful Christmas scarf. That's one of the things I'm going to be looking for when I'm. There is a scarf. I have a hat. That's it Like, really, that's it.
Speaker 1:Some casual like a cotton long sleeve top just to wear when I'm on the ship and we're walking around because it's not cold in the ship. You know we're having coffee. Looking out the windows. I have a couple of long sleeve t-shirts I'm taking. But really think about it. Bottoms are ridiculous. When you take a ton of bottoms, really, the tops change. Nobody looks at your bottoms. When you're like walking into dinner, everybody's looking at your top. So long as you have a different top over every day, nobody cares what the bottom looks like.
Speaker 1:Shoes I'm taking like a snow boot, rain boot, tennis shoe combination. I'll wear that on the plane because it's heavy. I'll take my coat on the plane because it makes a good little blankie, and the other pairs of shoes I'll take my black tennis shoes and I will take my black dress shoes flat mule, pointy toe, low heel, dress heel. That's it. That's it, people. No dress purse. I'm on the cruise. I don't need a purse, I will, for when I'm out I have a cross body that I use and I also take a backpack, a very thin one that I can, that folds down and it zips down into a little pouch because for sightseeing during the day, I like to put, like my rain pants, in there in case it gets rainy. Then I can put my rain pants on because I don't like getting wet. Rain pants are the best investment you can make while traveling. They weigh nothing. I have a small thin rain pullover that I won't need on this because I'll be wearing my rain, my rain winter warm coat. But who wants wet legs? Nobody wants wet legs, people. So I have rain pants, love them Best investment I ever made. So and I got them on Amazon.
Speaker 1:Let's talk about a few other things. Okay, make sure you know your airline's luggage policy. How, and honest to God, people, if you were getting to the airport and your bag is too heavy and you're going on a vacation, now I get it. If you're taking things home for mom and dads, I get it. If you're okay, I don't really ever get it.
Speaker 1:Mine is never close to being overweight, but I start out with the lightest possible suitcase. That is my other tip. Begin with the lightest possible suitcase you can find, because if you start with a heavy suitcase, it's only going to get heavier. But you should never be over the weight. If that is, then you are. You seriously need to pack better, but know your airline's policy.
Speaker 1:Fyi, when you put them in the overhead, now stop putting them flat. Put them on their side. I'm so sick of people seeing them put them flat and the girl's like and the picture says put them on the side. If you put them down flat, we get three in the overhead. If you put them on the side, we get six. Think about it, people. You're not the only person. Traveling Irritates the crap out of me as I sit there and watch that. Sorry, soapbox, soapbox alert Again. Coordinate your outfits for maximum versatility.
Speaker 1:Scarfs are a great way to make look something, make something look different. I'm a huge proponent of scarves. Now I have a whole scarf section in my closet and I use scarves a lot. Layering is key. As you just heard me, I've got a tank that's going to go blah, blah, blah on a t-shirt and and layering layering in cool weather and layering in cold weather is very, very much key. So think about your layering process. Again, this is up for wrinkle-proof fabrics on this particular list that I found I don't really care. I mean wrinkle-proof fabrics on this particular list that I found I don't really care. I mean wrinkle-proof fabrics. Yeah, whatever, they have irons, wherever you're going, I just throw something in steam while I'm taking a shower. It never seems to be a problem. I also take wrinkle-release spray. Fyi, wrinkle-release spray. Get it at your grocery store For packing.
Speaker 1:I do use packing cubes. Number one it helps everything get in the suitcase correctly and it's. You know what's what. So I have one packing cube for bottoms. I have one packing cube for tops. I have one packing cube that is underpants. I take one pair of pajamas for a trip. Good God, people, that's all you need, unless you're, if you're, stinky, dirty after the day, take a shower before you go to bed. So one pair of pajamas, all the underpants I need go in that. If I'm taking a swimsuit, it goes in. That I have little slipper socks goes in that. So that is one cube. The other one again tops, the other one.
Speaker 1:So on the left side of my suitcase goes the packing. The largest packing cube is usually for the tops, the medium packing cube for the bottoms because I told you I don't take a lot, roll, fold flat. However, you can use that room. Then on the right side of my suitcase is my toiletries, is my small packing cube. It's very small. Underpants, pajamas and a swimsuit do not take up much room. So it's the small packing cube and then I nestle my shoes all in there and my belt.
Speaker 1:So that's how my suitcase looks, my carry-on. That's how it works. That's how I do it. I do it every time. There's no thinking about it. If you're haphazardly packing, you never have what you need. You never have what you need because you've messed up your packing process. There's going to be a point where you don't have something you need. So figure out a way that works for you and continue to do that. This is what works for me. So packing cubes are amazing. I did buy the compression packing cubes. Not a fan, not a fan, I have them. If I need to put in a little something extra, then what I also have in my suitcase is my zip down foldable backpack. So it goes down to like a little cube and a little tiny flat cube and that goes in there. When I go to California and I'm going to see my friend Lynn, who loves to shop and loves to shop for me, I have a duffel that folds down flat again and I can throw that in there, pack toiletries and cosmetics wisely.
Speaker 1:I will not take shampoo and conditioner on this trip. There's no reason. The ship has it and all the hotels. Why bother? Why take it? Don't take it. Take a moisturizer there's no reason. The ship has it and all the hotels. Why bother? Why take it? Don't take it. Um, take a moisturizer. I take a body moisturizer. I take a moisturizer. I take a face moisturizer for day and night I take that. I take a serum for my hair and pomade for my hair, but I put them in smaller jars. I don't take the full size jars, everything. Go on Amazon and buy a set of travel, little tiny jars like they have, little tiny ones like the size of a quarter or a 50 cent piece. You can get stuff in that.
Speaker 1:What I do take is at home. I have all of my vitamins and the couple of prescription pills I take in a big container not daily, they're all in there and there's like nine spots and everything has its spot. It's all labeled. I take that, I use it at home, I take it. It's worth the wait, it's worth it. I have everything I need and that goes right on top of my toiletries and it zips. The thing that I have is flat on the bottom. It's an oval top that seems to be the best shape for fitting into my suitcase. I pack it with the flat side of the half moon or half circle to the flat side of the case. Then the half circle comes in again for nestling.
Speaker 1:Shoes. Cosmetics I take the very simplest. I take a foundation, I take a bronzer that I use as a blush. I take a really cheap eyeshadow palette from the Dollar Tree that I love. I take some brushes, mascara, eyelash curler and, for God's sakes, for those chin hairs, don't forget your tweezers. Don't ever forget a set of tweezers. That's really you know and some lip gloss, and that's that. That is how I pack toiletries. Make sure your shoes are versatile.
Speaker 1:Wear your bulkiest items in transit. Hence, I will wear a pair of fleece leggings. I will wear my snow, rain tennis shoe boots. I will wear my coat. Of course, it'll be like 20 degrees when we leave, anyways, from Chicago, so the coat is handy. But I will tell you what I now. That is my suitcase, so now I'm not even. I haven't even talked to you. Oh, let's talk about jewelry real quick. Take a little like. I don't take much, unless there's a particular outfit that needs a piece of jewelry, I'll take it, but other than that, I just have the basics. That needs a piece of jewelry, I'll take it, but other than that, I just have the basics that I wear onto the plane.
Speaker 1:I have a set of all electronic cords that are in a little pouch that just goes in. I have a pair of large headphones that are noise canceling. They're not the little earbuds I like the big headphones that say don't talk to me, don't bother me, and I really can't hear anything. They're the best. So that is super important. But I also have a set of cords, so when I grabbed that bag, I have every cord I need Now I added because in all of the rental cars if you want to use Apple car play, you have to have a cord in there.
Speaker 1:So I have a cord that I leave in the rental car and I don't leave it. I always take it with me. I've never forgotten it, because you have to plug your phone into it to have the Apple car play work. But I leave it in during the duration of the rental so I don't have to take it in and out. And so then I have a charger cord for my phone in my room. If that, if you understand that, makes sense. I have a charger cord for my phone in my room. If that, if you understand that makes sense.
Speaker 1:Leave your valuables at home, hide your. Here's the thing. Take a picture of all your credit cards, or a copy on your printer, or take a picture of them. Have that information, because if your wallet gets stolen, all your numbers of your credit cards are on them. Fyi. So that happened to us in Budapest. Good to know. Let's see On the plane.
Speaker 1:Make sure you have moisturizer and water Face moisturizer, hand moisturizer, make sure you stay moisturized. Then the other thing that I have. So that's my, my, carry on. I, when I don't travel with Craig and I travel alone, I do check my carry on, mainly because I have bad shoulders and getting things up and out of that is not something I'm willing to risk. I have a torn rotator cuff on my right side, so it's just not worth it. So I do check it. But I do have my secondary suitcase that I always travel with. It looks like a backpack. It's a suitcase backpack with wheels and a handle that goes up. It's not a wheelie backpack, but it's kind of like that. It's a little bit more. It's got the nice strap on the back so it goes over the handle. So those are the two things I travel with.
Speaker 1:So now I've told you where everything goes in my suitcase. In that I have all my electronic cords and such. But it leaves me a whole lot of place. Number one my purse, which is my cross body when you're only allowed to take two bags on the plane fits right in there. You don't have to see it. Also, when I check my bag, it has wheels, so I don't have to carry it and hurt my shoulder. It has wheels. So it's great and in that I can put whatever I want.
Speaker 1:It's left me a lot of room. I have usually a pashmina in there type thing for the plane because they get cold. I'll have snacks in there. I love hard candy so I usually have cinnamon candy, cinnamon bears, butterscotch candies. Leaves me a little bit of room if I find something on the trip I want to bring home. I don't carry a book because I listen to everything. I always carry an extra charged battery for my phone. That's something else that I carry in my electronics that you should know about. But that extra little suitcase that I roll, that fits right on top of my suitcase and we roll through the. It doesn't have my cosmetics, it doesn't have anything that's in my suitcase. So again, it leaves you with a lot of extra room for a lot of different things. Think about it, think about what you might need in there. You can put a pair of shoes in there if they're not fitting in your suitcase. It's a great extra thing and if you pack right, it's not going to be overpacked either. So it gives you some wiggle room and it fits right under the seat in front of you or if it's in the overhead either way. So that is my, those are my packing tips and I'm looking forward to this great trip.
Speaker 1:On Friday we'll be flying to Switzerland. We'll have a couple of days in Switzerland, get on our ship on the second day in the afternoon, our our river cruise, viking. It's the second Viking river cruise. We've taken two ocean Viking cruises and this will be our second river cruise. Looking very much forward to it. I think it should be a lot of fun. I think it'll give me a good time to clear my head, relax, not stress about what's going on with me.
Speaker 1:I will have answers today from the oncologist. So that's, I'll be going with answers. Whether I like the answers or not, I'll at least be going with answers, and when you go with answers, you have power. So hang in there. I have a little, did you know? I hope you all have a wonderful and happy Thanksgiving. Craig will be running in the turkey trot on Thursday morning and then we'll be at home just enjoying the day. I'm going to make a loaf of bread, have some soup and we're going to pack. So again, happy Thanksgiving to you all. I have so much to be thankful for this year, having my family back intact. No matter what happens to me, my family is where it needs to be Well.
Speaker 1:With Thanksgiving come up, I thought we would have a did you know turkey fact? Did you know that the United States consumes between 4.88 billion and 5.26 billion pounds of turkey each year, and it depends on the year. It seems like it's gone down a little bit over the last, but it has doubled since the 1970s, and we are the world's largest producer and exporter of turkeys. Turkeys are raised in farms in Minnesota, north Carolina, arkansas, indiana, missouri, virginia, iowa and California. On Thanksgiving, about 88% of Americans eat turkey. I do not. I am a side Thanksgiving girl. Not one piece of turkey hits my plate. The average weight of the turkey purchased for Thanksgiving is 16 pounds. And with that I wish you all a very happy Thanksgiving. We'll have a repeated episode next week. I'm going to try to pull up an episode from my podcast, aging A for Sissies, if I can. That's the one that's going to be up, one of my old episodes. So again, happy Thanksgiving everyone and remember, go out and do something positive.
