What to do??, Dog Days, Toenail Polish, Exclamation Marks!...

January 28, 2011

The Good: It’s Friday, and typically I stick close to home, still feeling the effects of the last treatment...

Today I forced myself to get some air, the walk felt great, and 40 minutes later I ended up at work thinking I’d catch a colleague or two in the cafeteria. 

Not a familiar face in sight, the cafeteria is deserted!

Where is everyone???

What to do?  What to do??

Without much thought, I punched in xxx-xxxx ext xxx on my ancient flip phone (no offense Allan, I really like the phone, I’m just repeating what the guy at Rogers said, and yes, I finally activated it), anyway, back to the flip phone dial... and before you know it someone is in front of me offering big hugs and escorting me upstairs to visit the gang... I was hesitant about intruding the actual office space, haven’t been back since treatment started...

The Bad: New Chemo Treatment, New Side Effects...

I’m lying in the bath hoping the water and salts provide relief to my aching body; my head against the cold tile a reminder I need to stay awake, which is ironic because I can’t sleep.  I remove the plug with my big toe, not moving as the water drains, I envision all the pain and disease swirling away, and I feel numb... 

In the background the song “Dog Days are Over” by Florence and the Machine comes on the radio, it has a knack for making an appearance during those moments I need reminding that these days won’t last... my Dog Days will be over, and I’ll dance to this song when I’m done...

The What the ??: I came across this the other day while looking for tips on coping with treatments...

“There is nothing you can do about your hair falling out, or the fact that after a treatment you feel as though you are throwing up your toenail polish.”

Well put, but If I could change one thing in this statement it would be “...you feel as though you are throwing up someone else’s toenail polish.”

Lessons Learned: Visiting work today, a comment something like this was made... “I read your blog all the time, but it’s not the same as this, I am so happy to see you!”  I use an exclamation mark at the end of that statement because that’s how it was said, in their words and on their face...

I’m so glad I dialled instead of walking away... otherwise I would have missed this and all the other “exclamation” type moments.