Yesterday I had a really nice lunch with my friend Audrey from The Journey blog. It was a nice day so we jumped on the idea of an outdoor restaurant. We picked a table with an umbrella right near a wall fountain. It was really quite nice.
We spent most of our time in an honest conversation about where we are now, with our cancers and where we are going. Nothing was off limits. We discussed the side effects of our treatment and cancers, we talked about misconceptions about cancer, we talked about misconceptions about what people do when they are facing death, and everything in between.
Both Audrey and I talked about how fortunate we both felt that pain isn’t part of our daily life. Most of the discomfort we have comes from our treatment regimen. We talked about the chills she was experiencing with her chemo. I could so relate because last year Taxotere gave me lots of chills. We talked about cancer cures that are promoted with no legitimate proof. We talked how we felt uncomfortable when people who hadn’t experienced cancer offered strong opinions and advice.
We also talked about facing death and what we wanted to do with our time left. I think we both felt it was important to have something to look forward to all the time … it might as simple as going for a walk to the local coffee shop or it might be something bigger such as planning visits with the family and such. Often when people are asked what they would do if they faced death … ‘well I’d spent my time travelling’ is what you often hear but in reality, our feelings seemed to be that we just continue with our regular life. We might spice it up with a few more interesting experiences or purchases but it seems we just wanted to spend time with our support system … our friends and family.
Those couple of hours went by real quick. I said to Audrey that I am so glad our paths crossed some two years ago at the Cross Cancer Clinic.
4 comments:
Daria, so true. You know I get so tired of people telling me how strong I am.....my husband and son died and then Breast Cancer. I wasn't or I'm not strong Daria, what choice did I have? I think we all do the best we can with the hand we are dealt. I have a friend who has been living with cancer for almost 17 years....she did go into a remission for a few years but now it is back.....we often talk aboout why, who and when. I am so comfortable talking with her so I know how you would enjoy talking with your friend. I think one has to experience life, death and disease before they could possibly understamd something we barely understand ourselves. Have a great day......:-) Hugs
I am so glad you have Audrey. since she is going through the same struggles herself, she knows how you feel more than anyone else and that must be such a comfort to be able to discuss your fears honestly.
Daria, this post is really beautiful. I feel similarly in that my life is the same. I love working, love working with my sister, doing every day things. I wouldn't change a thing except maybe I'd eat more chocolate. I might go to Niagara Falls. But for now, I am happy to be alive in each day and very grateful for this time.
I'm happy that you both had a great conversation and also that you're not in physical pain.
Daria, I love this post! You are right - it was wonderful to have an open and honest conversation about what our lives now look like. Unless someone is sitting in our place, they really don't know what we are experiencing. It can be a very dark and lonely place, so thank you for providing an opportunity for us to speak so freely.
xoxoxo
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