Hello, my dears and a Happy November to all! It’s the month of Yu/Liou birthdays, Thanksgiving, Christmas music, holiday movie marathons, and festive treats as the last of the autumn leaves flutter away and gently falling snow begins to dust the ground like powdered sugar on cookies. As I sit here in a short skirt in mid-70 degree weather, I can’t help but feel a little jealous of those of you who are enjoying snow, sweaters, and scarves…but the grass is greener on the other side. November and December have always been happy months for me, but they also bring back memories, memories of a time decades ago when things were not so happy.
It always began with a twisting in my stomach and an impending feeling of something about to happen. I would try to forget about it and go on about my day but without fail, it would get worse, gradually taking over my whole mind until it spilled over, literally and figuratively. I spent my Octobers and Novembers waiting for the twisting to happen, dreading the moment when I knew, once again, I would be whisked away to the hospital for yet another 5 days in the hospital filled with IVs, CAT scans, MRIs, GI tests, and everything in between. Another 5 days of school missed, a solo in a dance recital given away, another family trip ruined by a mysterious condition. It went on for nearly seven years until my doctors finally recognized the symptoms and suddenly, my condition had a name: cyclic vomiting syndrome. With this name came medicines and methods for slowing the symptoms. After 4 more years and my appendix making a break for freedom by bursting like a little balloon, the episodes vanished in to thin air just as mysteriously as they came.
Every autumn is a special one for me but this year is particularly special. It marks the first time that I’ve been CVS symptom-free for more than half of my life. Autumns will never be the same for me, I think I will always feel a sense of impending nervousness during this time of the year and a little part of me will always worry about CVS rearing its ugly head once more. On the other hand, CVS taught me to treasure each day that I am healthy, to never back down from a fight or take no for an answer, and to never take anything, or anyone, for granted.
With each passing year that I have been symptom-free, I appreciate autumn and winter more and more. With each brightly colored leaf, each snowflake, each crisp breath of fall air, and each sweet apple, I remember how far I’ve come since those scary days at Children’s Hospital and it makes me all the more appreciative for what I have and all the more excited for what is to come. November is the time for thankfulness and I am truly thankful for all that I have been blessed with throughout my lifetime, even if that blessing was disguised as a medical condition.
Hoping you are all happy, healthy, and wise, wherever you are 
Jamie, where can you get a turkey dinner in Taiwan for thanksgiving??
Hi, John. I know that most of the bigger (read: more expensive) supermarkets like Jason’s Market and City Super carry turkey dinners. If you’re in Taipei, the Sheraton and the Hilton both have turkey dinners that one can order for pick up. I know that Dean and Deluca in the Breeze by Zhongxiao Fuxing carried turkey dinners but I’m not sure if they do anymore since they changed ownership? Hope that helps!