Friday, September 18, 2009 1:45 PM, EDT
My co-workers took me out to lunch today to celebrate the end of treatment, and gave me a gold shamrock with this poem on it:
One Leaf is for Hope
And one is for Faith
And one is for Love, you know
And God put another in for Luck!
Doesn't get more fitting, I'd say! I'm a bit of a dork, I was totally surprised, even when I saw them sitting there, and it was a glaring clue that I haven't let myself accept that treatment is over. Strange I know, but when every waking moment, and most of the sleeping ones, are consumed with cancer, and killing cancer, and fearing cancer, and fighting cancer...I guess it takes a little time to wind down from it all. I am still not even used to just looking more normal; a woman I met said to me yesterday, "I love your haircut" and just like in Atlanta it was great to be percieved as if I had chosen my look, instead of my head being one big chemical catastophe. For someone who likes predictiability, and security, and to be in control, this whole transformation thing is quite a trip. Now I get to re-start Tamoxifen again, so I'll get to add hormone rushes, hot flashes and old-lady aches for the next few months until it wears off, so if I turn into a blithering idiot [moreso than usual] cut me some slack and cross your fingers that the side effects wear off soon!!
On another fun note, the Komen Race is coming soon, let me know if you are meeting us there, if you are coming to brunch [post race Bellinis!] and if you want in on the T-Shirts - Leener is still working on the design, so it's a surpise so far! Take care all, have a great weekend, thanks again for always holding me up.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009 4:26 PM, EDT
My Kroger has turned Pink. Everything is pink ribbon. Not sure how I feel about that; you read other people's cancer blogs and there is alot of controversy about the whole pinktober thing - many are pleased with the publicity and focus, after all, research probably would not be where it is without all the hubbub. Many are not so thrilled, feeling that marketing departments are profiting off the disease but putting a ribbon on their products during this month [or possibly they are just not handling their recovery well and hate being face to face with that ribbon everyday for a month...]. I, of course, am in a stranger place about it. I was getting my groceries in my usual frugal manner, and each time I did not buy the brand name pink ribbon product I felt like I was being a traitor by not supporting my own cause and purchasing pink products. Then of course reality set in and I realized that I am paying plenty to my own cause via medical bills so who the hell cares if I don't buy the pink ribbon dish soap and pink ribbon razors? The most appealing schtick I saw that I would possibly buy into was the "buy 2 packages of pink M&M's and get a pink flower bouquet free". That sounded more appropriate - give the survivor a bucket load of chocolate and some pink carnations to help her feel better about life! Maybe it's me, maybe it's Tamoxifen, but that one gave me a chuckle. I know, my mind can be a scary place to visit. Hopefully as October comes I'll embrace my ribbon wearing status and not be so guilt ridden that my cart isn't filled with pink promotional items - my frugal sensibilities won out last night!
Less than two weeks for the Komen Walk and the "Murphy Girl's brunch" - I'll post more info when we decide on a meeting place...Go Jugs!
Wednesday, October 7, 2009 3:05 PM, EDT
Komen Race Day Update!!
I have been informed that my original plan to meet was a pretty bad one due to the number of people at the event, so here we go with a more specific location: we are going to meet on Witherspoon, East of the start line, which means closer to Preston St where the Folk Art [large colorful animals, chickens I think] is – the folk art is supposed to be hard to miss.
For those who signed up as team members, I have your packets [St. Joe’s folks I’ll have them Thursday and Friday in my office] with the Komen T-Shirts. For those who signed up for Irish Jugs Shirts my hope is to have them beforehand too, otherwise we’ll get them to you race day as well. Don’t forget the post-race brunch/party at Eileen’s house around 11ish...
Thanks a bunch, our novice little team raised over $1300 to find a cure…a very cool way to come out of treatment, and your participation means a lot as I celebrate my first Pinktober as a survivor. See you Saturday!
On another note - these updates and entries seem to be winding down as life gets back to normal, or my new normal, or whatever - but I broke down and joined Facebook to fill the void...cross over and come visit me there, or God forbid keep in touch directly! I'll keep the Caringbridge open for a while, and will post pictures of race day, and after that, we'll see how it goes. Take care all!
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