Of Dandelions and Sunshine ...

Tuesday, August 31, 2021

Words for Wednesday

This Writing Challenge was started by Delores a long time ago. Computer issues led her to bow out for a while, and now Words for/on Wednesday is provided by a number of people around the world and has become a movable feast, with [Elephant's Child in Australia] acting as moderator.

Essentially the aim is to encourage us to write. Each Tuesday or Wednesday (depending on time zones and hemispheres) we are given a choice of prompts: which can be words, phrases, music, or an image. What we do with those prompts is up to us: a short story, prose, a song, a poem, or ignoring them. We can use some or all of the prompts, and mixing and matching are encouraged.

Some of us put our creation in comments on the post, and others post on their own blog. It is always wonderful if as many people as possible joined in this fun challenge, which includes cheering on the other participants. You may post on Elephant's Child's blog, here, or your own blog. If you are posting on your own blog - please share a link on Elephant's Child's blog or here so that I, and other participants, can come along and applaud.

The Challenge: They say a picture is worth 1,000 words. Paint us a picture with at least 100 words of your favorite vacation spot.

harold

First off, do you know how hard it is to find an appropriate image of poop without being gross? One that doesn't have big eyes, a cute smile, or has a unicorn reference? It's nearly impossible. So be grateful I found this one and was able to wipe that silly grin off its face.

I have read and heard that being able to "name" your cancer helps to focus your thoughts on eliminating it. So meet harold, my colon cancer. No capitalization, it's not important enough to me to be respected.

A friend suggested I name it after my ex-husband (because he was a piece of poop), but calling it david just seemed too familiar and affectionate since that was the name (his middle) that he went by. So harold, his first name, it is.

I'm now taking applications for an appropriate name for my liver cancer that won't be offensive to write about, and that I can find a humorous image for that isn't alcoholic or Blake Lively related. I was going to call it Ryan, for her husband Ryan Reynolds, who owns a gin company but felt that wanting to kill off Ryan was open to misinterpretation. He is an actor who never fails to make me laugh, so it would be difficult to send cleansing thoughts to "Ryan" without laughing or thinking of a Deadpool joke of his.

Sunday, August 29, 2021

stage 4

The visit with the oncologist was positive, in spite of him telling me that he believes I have Stage 4 colon cancer that has spread to my lymph nodes and liver. When he called me the afternoon before to find out how soon I could get the colonoscopy done, he told me that he felt I had cancer there also.

My liver biopsy will be done as soon as possible, hopefully within the next two weeks, and also the PET scan. He wants me to get started on chemotherapy before the end of September.

As of right now, his plan of attack is to do chemo for about three months and then when the masses have reduced in size, do surgery to remove both masses at the same time.

The doctor was honest with me. It is rare that someone beats it at this stage. But it has happened. People have been cured.

It will happen again. I have a lot of people praying for me, and I believe in God's healing touch, and the power of prayer. Even if healing me is not His will, I know I will be going home, and I will get to see Trooper again. It is a win-win for me no matter what.

Tamarack

Friday morning I went to see the oncologist in Beckley. It is about an hour's drive from here, and after the appointment, Nancy (my friend who drove me) and I went to [the Tamarack Center.] It is a large art gallery featuring West Virginian artists. It was amazing!