I am a little early this week. Actually, I'm avoiding work but don't tell them okay? But how can you avoid work when it isn't starting time yet? I think that is the joy of working from home. I usually log into work by 6:00 while Philip is getting ready for school. Then I take him (about 15 minutes total), and come home to work. Lately, things have been pretty busy so I dig right in and usually work until dinner time but today? Well I decided to blog first instead. Gotta mix it up...right? Can't have them thinking they get me from 6 am to 6 pm every day!!
I had a really interesting occurrence yesterday. As you may or may not know, I belong to a few online support groups. One is for Myositis (great group), one is for parents of teens (not so great but a reality check that my teen is doing good), and one for people with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. Sadly, we learned one of our active supporters in the NHL group passed away last month. It was quite shocking as he was a body builder and very health conscious all his life. He had some pretty nasty cancer going on and treatment just kept failing. Somewhere along the line, his diagnosis changed from NHL to something more serious. He was doing inpatient chemo trying to get ready for a stem cell transplant. I guess it was just too much for his body (we didn't get many details except that he passed). He had a very close friend in the group so I reached out to her to express my condolences for the loss of her "friend". This was all happening about the time that I was learning of my relapse. She had wished me well on my PET scan and other various messages but no questions or inquiry to keep her updated. I took it as that, just support and didn't write back. Well needless to say, I was chastised yesterday for not responding and that "someone with my experience should know better than to not respond". And she was leaving the support group. I was certainly taken aback. I did write to tell her I didn't mean to neglect her and wished her great health in her cancer journey.
So it got me thinking about online support and just how helpful it may or may not be. I try very hard to be supportive but some people can just sap the life out of you. One of the reasons I use online support is I don't want a "Level 1 Klingon" following me around in real life. When I want to be supported or offer support, I can and when I don't want to do it or I am not in the mood, I just don't log in. I find it interesting she chastised me and was "hurt" by it all. (I know....online drama...."insert eye roll"). I think even more about sick people and how so many search out "caregivers" or people that will support them in their time of need. Some are just downright demanding. I hope I've never been like.
I had another interesting observation last week. I had gone to "Dream Dinners" to prep some dinners for Philip and I to try to eat better while my schedule is so stretched. I somehow got grouped with another woman. We had idle chit chat where she told me she had cancer 2 years ago and used DD that were a gift from a dear friend during that time. I think she told all 10 women there that she had cancer. She wanted to make sure everyone knew she was a cancer survivor. Good for her. Really! But really, that is not me. I like to keep it quiet. Like its a dirty secret or something...I know it isn't. I'm going to have to think more about these different situations and determine if I am doing it wrong. Such an interesting study of human behavior.
Onto fun things....I learned last week my favorite sister in the whole world is coming to Utah for a quick visit. We are going to venture down to St. George to visit our Grandma. We are also going to get together with the other side of the family to celebrate Cindy's birthday! It should be a fun visit and I am looking forward to it.
My life ticks on. I learned yesterday that I am headed to San Francisco in April for a client visit. I love San Francisco and will always jump at a chance to go even if it is a business trip. But sadly, I don't know that we will even see the city and will probably spend all our time in Oakland. Well what time there is in a 24 hour period.
Philip and I are getting ready to head out of dodge for his Spring Break. It seems unreal to try to think about warm weather clothes and being on the beach but we are going to give it a go. Mom and Chuck are meeting us. I hope our flights go okay and we don't forget anything critical as we pack. Thanks to Mars and John for watching my house and kitties.
Another weirdo thing I need to do is finally break down and get my left wrist checked out. It has been bothering me since my marathon knitting in October/November but now it is bad enough it keeps waking me up at night. I suspect it is tendinitis. I finally broke down and got out Philip's spiffy wrist brace we bought last summer and have been wearing that. It seems to help lots but it is a tad tight for me. I might have to go get a bigger one before our trip. Or maybe I should quit typing in my lap. Typing in my lap is not the proper ergonomic position for posture. I wonder if I could file workman's comp for that? Probably not since I work at home and refuse to set up a proper office environment (I'm like a cat...I like to be in the sunshine that streaks through the windows during the day).
Oh and I wanted to let you know...I'm mastering the strappy sandals. I'm still careful walking but no longer clomp along like a baby giraffe with my arms stretched out. I haven't mastered the other new shoes...the slides but those are next!
So that is about it. I know I had something really clever to write about when I started writing today but it is completely gone now. The joys of growing old.
Cancer schmanzer....my life goes on. Have a wonderful Easter Holiday!
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