Time marches on....

Milestone: An important event; a turning point.

                Back in September, I promised Dr K I would get something for flu prevention. He said my immune system was still pretty much shot and although it is getting better each day, he wanted me to stay that way.   He said shot and I said spray, but I agreed.  After all, I did get the spray last year and never got the flu.  Got breast cancer, but never did get the flu.

            So on Monday, 328 days after the last time I had sat waiting for Dr Jones, I found myself in the room where it all began, waiting on her.  She walks in, looks at me and says “I know you are thinking it—back to where it all began.  Tell me about it.”  So I did.  I told her I owed her so much for giving me Dr Lynn who in turn gave me Dr K and I had been so lucky and blessed with my medical care and all those involved.  I then told her I drove Dr K nuts by ending up in the hospital so many times, and how Portia ruptured – she said I bet she  (Dr Lynn) was ticked- I assured her ticked was not the right word, but she was already laughing thinking about it.  (She knows my crazy surgeon).  And I got a physical.  A normal physical.  NORMAL!!!!!  She then asked me about all those normal things—glucose, cholesterol, etc and I told her I had not had labs in ages and did not know.  As it was an afternoon appointment, she knew I had eaten, but she asked just in case we could work around it.  I confessed to eating  Big Mac—something I have not had in months and will not have again for a few more months and of course she says—did you have fries?  Why yes, I did have a few.  Then damned if I did not get the look and the you need to lose a few pounds talk.  Well crap.   I tried to tell her how Dr K always told me I was at a good weight (I forgot to mention I always yelled back at him a good weight for who) but she was having none of it.  So much for the cancer excuse. 

            Anyway, while we were talking, I remembered I had been a wee bit sick when I got the flu spray and since elections are so close, and I cannot be sick as it is going to be a long day (Chief Judge here..:)), I mentioned not getting the spray for a week or two.  She says fine and then says she needs to think about me getting the spray. “Why?”  I ask—“well” she explains “the spray is live and the shot is not.”  Double crap.  She laughed her head off when I said (under my breath but apparently loudly) “the hell with Dr K… I am NOT getting a shot. Besides, I don’t see him until March.”  However, as I was leaving I was told I WOULD be getting the shot when I came in for blood work.  Lovely. 

            It’s been a while since I updated, so here are a few things—milestones if you would—I have conquered?!  First, while Pia is still an open wound, I am now packing it myself.  When I informed Dr Lynn of this on Tuesday, she said “oh, your poor mother.  It was her job.”   I told her Mom was now able to more freely about her life.  She then told me it was about time to do it on my own. I told her to make up her mind.  By the way, apparently Pia is going to take a while to heal due to my compromised immune system courtesy of the radiation.  We are talking January.  Lovely. And she will not let it close until she is ready.  Translated that means she will be opening it again (in the office) in the near future.  I will say her near future was Tuesday and my near future is November 29.  I won that battle.  Of course we all know how I am.  Bet I will be calling her in a few weeks.  Then I will have to hear how she is always right…

            I also ditched Scarlett and Lizzie.  I was hoping to do it October 1 for Breast Cancer Awareness month, but I walked into work on Saturday, September 29 and told Gaye it was driving me nuts.  She said take it off—so I did.  Funny, I always knew I would lose the wig while working with Gaye.  Have not put them on since.  Liberating, but scary at the same time.  It was very short those first few weeks and the reactions were amusing at times.  The one that killed me was “I love your new haircut.”   Seriously, do you really think I did this on purpose was all I wanted to say to some people.  But I refrained.  My other response was “my oncologist made me do it.”  I tried that out a few weeks ago on one of my patrons who laughed and laughed and then it turns out she knows Dr K.  Great… just great was my thought!  Many people did not know I had been sick, they just thought I was working different hours—tells you how great Scarlett and Lizzie really were!  The real hair is coming back nicely—thick and curly.  And it is at that stage in which people just want to touch it—makes me laugh. 

            Drum roll please….. I worked 40 hours last week!!  The first time since the week before Thanksgiving of last year!  Yes, it just about killed me, but it would have been a nice kill.  I am basically there.  Yes, I am probably overdoing it—not just at work; I am getting my life back.  It is a wonderful feeling. 

            Life has gone on and I am so thankful I am still here for the ride!