"The warmth of a friend's presence brings joy to our hearts, sunlight to our souls, and pleasure to all of life." ~Unknown
Yesterday, I had planned on my original SPS-friendly workout at the gym, but a friend phoned. I took the call instead. She and I shared some serious talk, exchanged some thoughts, and had some female giggles. Feeling light, I opted for walking practice instead.
Floating on those "feelin' good" vibes, I managed to cross a small section of asphalt to retrieve my mail. (I did hesitate and needed a few test starts to get back over to the other side...Goal!!) While the sun warmed my face, recollecting bits of our conversation warmed my heart. This was one of those cherished moments my body was working reasonably in sync.
A group of us met for pizza last night. Conversation, banter, and laughter were shared, cementing a growing bond. I was experiencing the magical and elusive feeling of being "normal." My often-ignored normalcy was a celebration with friends. Life is good when shared with friends...even better with pizza.
Copyright © 2011
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Shades of Gray
“The photographer's palette [is] a thousand shades of gray.” ~H. E. Clark
Monday was my monthly infusion. Sitting in the waiting room, the window framed a panoramic view of the ocean. Monday was a cold and rainy day--gray. Looking out of the window, I experienced my first-time observation the entire seascape was gray--different shades of gray.
Previously unaware of the multiple shades of gray, the blending made the scene take on an artistic beauty instead of bleak and dreary for me. Mentally I tried to describe each grayish hue: slate, steel, pale, charcoal.
I looked around the waiting room, those who were there for chemo--ashen gray, sickly gray. My name was called to see the doctor. In a delicate dance of questioning, he wondered if I could extend the time between infusions. I told him my infusions were discontinued for a time in 1994 because I rebounded so well. I suffered a major crash.
As I took my seat, the infusion nurse informed me they did not have enough of the IVIG brand prescribed for me. Could I use the brand they had? The hospital was changing their supply brand to another in an administrative decision. It seems they are having difficulty getting my brand of IVIG and several chemos. She did not know why.
So is this the beginning of rationing? The casualties will be the elderly, the chronically ill, and the rare. The possible lack of supply will result in waiting--at the expense of other salvageable lives. It isn't as simple as administrative black or white, but a blending of shades of gray...people.
Copyright © 2011
Monday was my monthly infusion. Sitting in the waiting room, the window framed a panoramic view of the ocean. Monday was a cold and rainy day--gray. Looking out of the window, I experienced my first-time observation the entire seascape was gray--different shades of gray.
Previously unaware of the multiple shades of gray, the blending made the scene take on an artistic beauty instead of bleak and dreary for me. Mentally I tried to describe each grayish hue: slate, steel, pale, charcoal.
I looked around the waiting room, those who were there for chemo--ashen gray, sickly gray. My name was called to see the doctor. In a delicate dance of questioning, he wondered if I could extend the time between infusions. I told him my infusions were discontinued for a time in 1994 because I rebounded so well. I suffered a major crash.
As I took my seat, the infusion nurse informed me they did not have enough of the IVIG brand prescribed for me. Could I use the brand they had? The hospital was changing their supply brand to another in an administrative decision. It seems they are having difficulty getting my brand of IVIG and several chemos. She did not know why.
So is this the beginning of rationing? The casualties will be the elderly, the chronically ill, and the rare. The possible lack of supply will result in waiting--at the expense of other salvageable lives. It isn't as simple as administrative black or white, but a blending of shades of gray...people.
Copyright © 2011
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