Reflections on a year in crisis

A year ago I was nervous, exhausted and physically and mentally drained. I'd gone through chemo, radiation and was preparing for major surgery, all while my mom was either hospitalized or recuperating at a nursing center.

Amid my 48th birthday last year, I wasn't sure if I'd celebrate a 49th.

A year later, I did. It was Friday and up to the task that they are, the Ladies of Kohn -- and their men -- treated Catherine and I to a weekend out of town.

So here I am in Titusville with Catherine. We've gone out on the water -- on a casino boat -- and over to the Kennedy Space Center, where we plan to return on Sunday for the space shuttle's landing. We have to get up early to make it to the visitor complex and just the right spot early enough to have a good view. We'll have both cameras, the Canon and the Xacti -- for stills and video, I hope.

The weather's been great, and it seems as though the weather might hold up for the landing.

I can't help but think this year will be better than the last one.