Category: Bladder cancer

Good morning, evening, or afternoon! I never know what time zone anyone is in. I’m in the Mountain time zone in Wyoming USA. My answers for Cee’s questions for Share Your World are:

1. If I’m by myself, only once. I’ve been known to sit there thinking of something else, without pushing the button. I guess I think it will just magically appear. Those are usually doctor appointment days when transportation is least on my mind.

2. I am not a planner for my own activities. I love spontaneity! However, if it is an event of some kind, I do thoroughly, carefully plan.

3. Four uplifting words to describe myself? You’ve got to be kidding….is that you, Lost? Uplifting-well, I am a two time cancer survivor so that’s pretty “up” there. I try to be positive. I encourage others, especially my children and their children. And lastly, I try to be humourous…..I know, but I said “try”. See? I added the extra u for the dictionarian.

4. I wouldn’t mind any of the locations except the hot tub. Not for me. But probably my favorite would be the fresh water lake, with a cabin. Private. No ski resort type. I like mountains as you know, oceans, beaches, deserts, all. But my absolute fave would be a cabin in the woods with a lake and mountain view. Ahhhh.

I am grateful my grandsons ages 14 and 17 came to bug me this weekend. I love their company. We watched Ironman2 again and generally fooled around. Also had fun shopping for silly stuff and snacks with my daughter. (Items for a care package for her oldest daughter who is studying for the MCATS in May).

This week I am looking forward to watching, possibly helping, my granddaughter make Leprechaun Bait for her fourth grade class. We shopped for the ingredients and just need individual bags to put it in.  

http://ceenphotography.com/2017/03/13/share-your-world-march-13-2017/

There they are again. You’d think he would be sick of her by now. She’s all over him. I wonder if guys ever get tired of that clingy type. Probably not. They’re just guys, after all. That would be funny if I didn’t like him. Or want him. Maybe it’s the fact that he doesn’t seem to notice me, not that I stick out in a crowd, certainly not like she does. Why are guys attracted to such blatant output of sexual “readiness”? I can’t watch any longer. I’m going to the library. Time to read Edna St. Vincent Millay.

https://bikurgurl.com

Beautiful sunset

The birds pausing to reflect

On their day of flight

Hovering close to the sea 

Hoping to find their supper.

https://allaboutwritingandmore.wordpress.com/2017/03/12/daily-picture-prompt-89/

I have this feeling often, hollow. It’s been in and out of my mind and body since my husband died in 2013. Married for almost fifty years, the Esophageal cancer that took his life was a complete surprise. He was not a smoker and not an alcoholic. No relatives of his had it, but his mother died of breast cancer. Like most men of his generation, he was “too tough” to go to the doctor. Even when he kept losing weight, we couldn’t force him to go. I was sick myself at the time, so probably couldn’t have dragged him to the doctors even if I was strong enough.

This cancer has a ten percent survival rate no matter what you do. The trick is to catch it early. These are the symptoms:

Esophageal cancer symptoms

One of the most common symptoms of esophageal cancer is difficulty swallowing, also known as dysphagia. Other common esophageal cancer symptoms may include:

Reflux symptoms

Abdominal pain

Pain or burning in the throat or chest

Unexplained weight loss

Heartburn or indigestion

Vomiting

Chronic hiccups

Chronic cough

Fatigue

Frequent choking while eating food 

Please be aware of these. For years my husband ate Rolaids like candy. So I’m sure these symptoms were present for quite a while. After radiation and chemotherapy, we encouraged him to go to Denver for an operation. We were hopeful he might get at least five years more. Complications caused a second operation which he did not want. He ended up with pneumonia and after a month in the hospital, he called to say he was done. Hospice attended and my middle son was with him at the end.

As for all types of cancer, you need to be aware of the different symptoms and not be afraid or too nonchalant to check them out.

https://allaboutwritingandmore.wordpress.com/2017/03/12/daily-word-prompt-35-hollow/

The old man was quiet, unusually so

They liked him to mumble so they would know

He was still alive.

 

The nurses kept watch if his breathing decreased

So his meds were not botched and he’d end up deceased.

But he survived.

 

All their watching and treatments tortured the man

Had murmurations of how he will do what he can

To not be revived.

 

He was tired of this life, being unaware

His family conspired to put him there.

How they connived.

 

His insurance provided them his money

They fed on it like a bee on honey

So they kept him alive.

 

One day the old guy had had enough

He took hidden meds and other stuff

Then happily, took his last nosedive.

 

 

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/murmuration/

Trying to use a sewing machine

Seems to make me want to scream

Patterns you use are made out of tissue

So light that it makes pinning an issue

Speaking of pins, ever notice they’re picky?

Need the right tip or pinning is tricky.

You lay out the pattern over the fabric

Then expect to cut it out just like magic

But the pattern moves even with pins

And scissors are causing the fabric to spin

So everything turns out a bit wacky

And your finished product looks quite tacky.

Save yourself the frustration honey, 

Shop and purchase clothes, spend the money!

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/pattern/

When I was seventeen years old and still living in the seaside town where I spent my childhood, I would go for a few hours every Sunday morning to the home of a retired teacher of English literature to talk about books. –My Life in Middlemarch by Rebecca Mead

In a small one room school in Vermont, I learned a lot from Mrs. Tessier.  She was a beautiful woman from New York City, NY, and had a big German Shepard she would bring to school often.  He would sit in the desk like a student. She taught much more than English, and we all loved her like a second mom.

I was not always enamored of Mrs. T.  When I was in sixth grade I was told by the eye doctor to wear glasses to see the chalk board only.  Mrs. Tessier made me wear them constantly, which of course I didn’t like.  I’m sure she thought it was best.

The other confrontation we had was about drinking milk.  I guess everyone drank milk at lunchtime but me.  I grew up on a dairy farm but milk made me sick.  My mother used to put molasses in it or cocoa so I could down it quickly.  I don’t think she would have made me do that unless Mrs. T. had insisted.  I’m not sure what they decided, but every morning I had to stand up in front of everyone and draw a milk bottle on the board for every glass of milk I drank the past day.  Naturally that made me love milk even more.  To this day I hate the smell and I never drink it.

Don’t get the wrong idea.  I loved my teacher.  Especially when I was eleven and received what they used to call “my little friend”.  Hilarious when you think of that terminology today.  But she had all the supplies hidden away in her desk and would take you aside privately and explain what it was and what to do.

Growing up in the country, first to sixth grades with only four people in my class, created a warm family atmosphere.  We had a pop belly stove in the corner and you hung your wet from snow jackets and ski pants on a line near it.  The only playground equipment was a swing set. I remember the girls used to go to the big trees and the roots were divided rooms for houses and we’d play the whole recess using our imaginations.

English, reading, and penmanship were my favorite subjects. Since all grades were in one room, usually the older students helped the younger ones when needed.  All in all I believe I was privileged to have this experience.

 

 

 Prompt #2025 First Line of the Week – Rebecca Mead

https://thewritingreader.com/prompt#2025/

“To the casual observer, these people seem to be sitting around a warm campfire, enjoying the relaxing atmosphere of the outdoors.  Of course they don’t realize, they just entered the Twilight Zone”.

https://allaboutwritingandmore.wordpress.com/2017/03/11/daily-picture-prompt-88/

Try as I might

To use the word light

My head is aching

My creativity shaken

Imagination taken

So a bad poem I’m making.

https://allaboutwritingandmore.wordpress.com/2017/03/11/daily-word-prompt-34-light/

I have written a bit about being in a wheelchair.  Basically, the wheels are my feet.  Therefore, I am closer to the ground and might see things others miss while walking straight up.  I have to keep myself rolling on the sidewalks, so I have to make sure to watch where I’m going so I don’t get too near the edge, etc.  That involves “keeping your eyes on the road”.  Unfortunately the road isn’t always so pleasant to look at.

Living in an apartment complex that allows pets is pleasant in lots of ways.  I love dogs and have no pets of my own.  You can see what’s coming, I’m sure.  This complex has “poop” stations everywhere that provide bags for it, and a place to put the used bags.  However, people do not for whatever reason, take advantage of these stations.  I think they just let their dogs poop wherever – whether a foot away from their door without actually walking them to the designated area, or they are too lazy to walk to the end of their sidewalk, possibly a few yards, to use the station.

This causes a problem.  Not only do I have the enjoyment of viewing poop anytime I use the sidewalks, sometimes I can’t avoid it like you can with your feet.  The wheels on the chair take up most of the sidewalk, and unlike your shoes, I can’t leave it outside.  If you happen to misstep and have the unpleasant experience of soiling your shoes or boots, you can take them off.  I can’t take off my wheels.  I also can’t clean them myself.

Where is the thinking of these people?  Where is the courtesy to pick up after your pet?  We’ve had lots of pets over the years.  We used to buy the cheap, non ziplock plastic sandwich bags and carry some with us when walking our dogs.  If needed, you could just fold it over your hand and pick up, and dispose of it at home in the trash bin.  Easy.  We also use someone else’s yard.  

Here there is gravel and snow.  Amazing to me that people can’t just scoop up and dispose, instead of leaving it on top of the snow for everyone else to see, smell, and step or roll in.  Where is COURTESY?

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