Last summer was WILD! After my double mastectomy, I had restrictions and limitations. My doctors expedited the process so my husband Danny and I could fly to Barcelona, Spain. We picked up our daughter Courtney from her Study Abroad program and drove to France.
While in Paris, we took a bike tour through the heart of the city. Courtney had traveled there with her friends a few weekends earlier and found the tour to be the highlight of her visit.
The fact that I took these photographs outside the Louvre weeks after major surgery reflects the power each body has to heal itself. They also remind me of the courage and strength of my daughter.
While studying in Spain, Courtney contracted tonsillitis. That weekend, the rest of the students in her apartment traveled to the South of France. She stayed home with a high fever, a painful sore throat and wasn’t able to keep any food down. Of course, I was freaking out from thousands of miles away. She dressed and hailed a taxi to the nearest doctor’s office. Without speaking Catalon, the doctor examined her and wrote a prescription. She found a pharmacy, taxied back home and took care of herself.
She recovered and went on trips to Amsterdam, Prague, and Paris. The bike tour was the highlight of her trip to France. Through her experience abroad, she matured into a very responsible young woman and became the ultimate tour guide. I was in a pretty hazy state and could not have navigated out of a paper bag.
She’s scheduled to have a tonsillectomy next Wednesday during her spring break.
That night in Paris was special. Watching this incredible city transform from day to the City of Lights is something I’ll treasure always. This trip gave me the hope, strength and courage to prepare for my final reconstructive surgery.
We all go through transformations in our lives. The hardest times can bring about the most wonderful changes and can be reflected in the people we become.
Do you find vacations change your outlook?
Click on photos to enlarge.
Weekly Photo Challenge – Reflections
Susie Lindau's Wild Ride 
a very beautiful post on many levels. it is clear where your daughter gets her strength and will from. best recoveries for both of you. beth
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Thanks so much Beth!
Courtney chose her last break before graduation to get them out. Her tonsils have “gone south” according to the doctor and have become germ collectors. She’s looking forward to being healthy again! I’m probably more nervous than she is!
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Absolutely – I always look forward to the breaks in the school year – they are restorative.
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They are! For some reason, I always gain new perspective on my life. Thanks for stopping by Clay! Enjoy your spring break!
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Fabulous shots of the Louvre, Susie. And yes, vacations do tranform my outlook. Being in a different environment helps me to reset and rebalance my life. I love my life here in Colorado, but I also love traveling.
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Thanks so much Cathy!
That is so true. I always feel like I have a fresh point of view when I return!
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Your daughter sounds like a very inspiring person, Susie. Yes, vacations definitely change my outlook. For me, Paris was elegant and isn’t standing outside the Louvre almost hard to take in?? Rome made me take a step back and relax, while Venice was downright magical. It’s good to see how others live, because it gives me a sense of perspective and appreciation for their lives. Travel on!!
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Courtney is inspiring!
I haven’t been to Rome or Venice, but hope to gain that perspective and appreciation some day. Sounds like you’ve had some wonderful vacations!
Thanks for stopping by!
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Great pictures and story of the courage and strength of both you and your daughter! Would love to know more about the bike tour — my daughter and I will be in Paris at the end of May!
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Thank you so much Laura! What a fabulous trip you will have.
Here’s the link for the bike tour. Enjoy! http://paris.fattirebiketours.com/tours/paris-night-bike-tour
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thanks for this! I’m just having a chance to investigate now! xxxLaura
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Travel always has a huge impact on me–maybe that’s why we live abroad. Unfortunately, I have never been to Paris. Sad–I know!
Hugs from Ecuador,
Kathy
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Something to look forward to, perhaps! I told Danny today that travel is one of my favorite pastimes. I miss the spring breaks with our kids, but hope to travel this summer.
Ecuador sounds very exotic!
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You managed to write so much of how you felt during all these events ( writer’s skills – nicely done)
Great match of photos to reinforce words.
Fun to see your kid grow up to be what you hoped – and more. She must have had someone to watch along the way.
(It had to be leaving that CO fresh air that did the tonsils in. Hope recovery is smooth.)
I think vacations are critical – to step out and look at normal routine/life from a different – a bit detached – view. And to allow time to breath and look around.
Good choice of topic for the time of year! Should be a popular post.
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You made my day Phil! I think we both have very exhausted guardian angels. 🙂 You’re right. Spring break was the inspiration for the post. I love looking back at vacations, but love going on them even more! Thanks so much!
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I do miss travelling! It dounds like your daughter takes after you. I’d love to go to Prague!
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I love travelling too! Courtney loved Prague too. There are so many wonderful places to explore and each time we bring a little piece of it with us.
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Lovely. Thank you for your honesty and courage, and for all the fun!
We’re traveling every chance we get these days — our kids just finishing college and getting first jobs, everyone knock-on-wood healthy, we know this window is a gift not to be taken for granted. April 5 — New Orleans.
Hope your daughter’s surgery and recovery are quick and trouble free!
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Thanks so much! I will pass your kind wishes along to Courtney.
New Orleans sounds fantastic, in fact we plan to travel there the end of May. I would really like to go back to Europe, but like you, will be traveling as our daughter looks for work! Thank goodness, she is only looking in California, one of my favorite places!
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That’s beautiful and wonderful, Susie. It seems like the women in your family are pretty tough. Fantastic photos.
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Thanks so much! You can’t keep us Lindaus down for long, there’s too much fun to be had… 🙂
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great new look at an “old” icon
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Thank you! I had just bought my camera and had no idea what kind of pictures it would take, but it’s a workhorse!
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My first question was going to be “How are you doing?”, but you seem to be doing wonderfully. All the best with your continuing health journey! My favorite photo is that top one. It’s so tranquil. As for travel, I love to travel and would do it more if I could. I’m blessed to be able to travel more than many people, although not all over the world, mostly in the US and in Europe. I did get to Costa Rica this year, a marvelous trip.
janet
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Thanks so much Janet! Yep. I’m all back to normal, whatever that is!!!
I loved Costa Rica. It was the one place I’ve surfed since the waves come in at small, medium, and large at regular intervals. Yes. I surfed the baby waves! I hope you get to travel again soon!
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I hope 30 days in CA has the same effect on me as your daughter. I just need some of that special Lindau blood that flows through your family’s veins. So glad she was okay though and you guys are just powerhouses.
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I bet it will be great to be back home again! You must be leaving soon. Yep. She survived, but her tonsils were never the same. She will feel a lot better in a couple of weeks! She’s sick of being sick. Tonsils can become germ traps…
Thanks so much Linda!
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Susie, wonderful pictures. Happy to see you’re getting prepped for the next step. Changes are difficult. They take us out of our comfort zone and toss us onto a playing field where we’re not sure what the score is or at worst what the game is. My change? Dating services. A lot of searches by me but no responses. Wait, one, but she scared me away ’cause she told me what I wanted to hear. Hence, running shoes and distance between us.
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Thanks so much Tom!
Love the dating service idea. I can imagine you’ll meet all kinds of women! Running shoes??? You crack me up!
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Sorry, spaced. Hope your daughter comes out of her surgery with flying colors. Hint: orange sherbet is a wonderful get-well gift.
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Thanks so much! I will pass along your kind words and will buy the sherbet!
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Well, now we know where your daughter gets her determination from!
Hope her tonsilectomy goes smoothly.
The great vacations always change my outlook. the good ones are just fun.
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Oh thank you Guapo!
She’s looking forward to getting rid of the little germ collectors.
That is such a great way to put it. I love when I come home and everything looks different!
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Great photos and words… your daughter so obviously takes after you! I wish you both well and hope recovery is quick. I think travel is wonderful (not that I’ve done that much myself so far!) my daughter who’s been living and teaching in Madrid since last September has grown and changed so much through the experience and speaks almost like a native now which is fantastic! The next stop for her is Chile which although exciting for her is a bit of a worry for me! 🙂
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Thanks so much!
That is so exciting. I can imagine the worry, but she will use her experience and thrive. I’ve known a few Boulder students who have done a semester abroad in Chile and loved it! 🙂
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Don’t know that vacations necessarily change my attitude, but I certainly enjoy traveling. However, with the exception of cruises, which I absolutely love, I prefer traveling in the U.S. and Canada. No interest in Europe except for a cruise up the coast of Norway.
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That’s great David. It sounds like you’ve done your share of traveling. I would love to go to Norway someday!
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Oh, I love these photos. Gorgeous! That trip must have meant so much to you after your unexpected news. I hope your daughter recovers quickly from her tonsillectomy. How nice to see the transformation she has made into such a lovely young woman. (goose bumps over here). 🙂
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Thanks Maria! I was lucky to have doctors who let me squeeze it in between surgeries. The doctors are saying that Courtney will be back to normal activity in two weeks. I am going to be religious about her medications!
Are you watching DWTS now that The Bachelor is over?
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Good, I’m glad it’s only a two week recovery period. I feel a bit naked & afraid without The Bachelor, hee,hee. Right now my daughter has taken control of the Tv and is watching, “Bad Teacher”. I am missing DWTS!
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That is the worst movie EVER MADE!!!! The plot is so dumb I can’t believe Diaz and Timberlake are in it!!! There’s one scene which will always be burned into my retinas. I’ll never look at Justin the same way again… 🙂
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I’ve never seen it and have just moved my buttocks over to my bedroom to watch the rest of DWTS. 🙂
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There you go!!!
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Stunning photos, Susie! Vacations help recharge my physical, mental and spiritual batteries. I’m much in need of one, but nothing on the horizon. Thanks for letting me escape for a few moments and join you on yours!
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Thanks Suzanne! How are you doing? You must be back to normal too.
I love vacations and although we go to the mountains a lot, there is nothing like a full out destination vacation. I hope you get a chance to escape sometime soon!
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Hi Susie. Doing great. Back to 100% normal activity, and saving up for 2 weeks in Spain next year! *hugs*
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EXCELLENT!!!!!!
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Lovely words, lovely pictures, lovey family. Congratulations to Courtney for taking care of grown-up business so well! (Good luck to her for the surgery – Dr. Peg-o prescribes plenty of Mint Chocolate Chip Ice cream.)
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That is my FAVE ice cream. Maybe she’ll share. Thanks so much Peg! I am proud of Courtney for taking care of herself. She has been sick a lot since last summer.
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It’s been a while since I’ve taken a vacation. I need to take one and see what happens to my perspective, which is always so askew… 🙂
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You have a unique perspective on EVERYTHING!!! 🙂
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Awww…thanks. 🙂
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Aside from visiting my family on the West Coast a few times a year, I seldom travel, Susie. It’s a luxury that is not withing my means. As much as I enjoy my visits with my family and best friend from college, these visits, however rejuvenating, are not getaways that have much impact on my outlook. I find that after a few days of mellowing out in the Bay Area, I am itching to return to the hustle and bustle of the Big Apple. Maybe I’m just addicted to crowds and soot.
I hope that Courtney’s tonsillectomy and your reconstructive surgery both go well.
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That’s how it is with going back to visit family. It’s not the same as exploring new territory.
Courtney’s surgery is the day after tomorrow. Mine was last August. 🙂 I’m all bionic and all healed up. I’m as reconstructed as I’ll ever be. Thanks!
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I was confused because I thought you had completed all of your surgeries. Glad that’s over with — and I’m sure that you are, too. Now you’re free to visit more picturesque places as well as to nurse Courtney during her recovery. I enjoy the time I spend with my family, but “exploring new territory” for me is confined to what I see on the stage or screen. Milton and I will soon be seeing plays set in Vienna, Berlin, the Catskills and Louisiana; our way of traveling without ever leaving Manhattan or encountering any turbulence.
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That sounds Like fun! We are overdue for a trip to NYC!!!
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Maybe this is the year! I’m hoping that since it was such a bitterly cold winter (and a slow to start spring with snow in the forecast tomorrow, joy of joys) that this coming summer will not feel like the inner workings of a furnace.
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I told Danny today that I fear we will go right into dry heat. Out here you never know. I do think we’ll see some super storms…
I will definitely let you know if I even have the germ of an idea to come to your neck of the woods!!! 🙂
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We have a storm in the forecast that’s heading here tomorrow night at rush hour and spilling into Wednesday.
Absolutely let me know if you guys head out here!
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DEFINITELY!!!!
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