Session 7

Session 7 March 1
For the first time I’m blogging up to date having keyed in five sessions earlier today on one of my two days off. I'm at Sunnybrook, the Odette Center, The glass roof of the Atrium is lovely with blue sky and white clouds above it. It’s far less busy in the late afternoon as I wait for my call. It’s, 4:40, my appt. time but the digital sign says SYN1 is 40 minutes late. Today I don’t even mind, I’ll just sit here and write. No evidence here of the big hockey win by Canada. We’re all sitting around looking a little glum and impatient or resigned. Mostly we’re old though the occasional younger face can be seen. There’s a table with jig saw puzzles I didn’t see before with half completed puzzles, a communal effort I guess. I wonder why all the glass panels in the roof are clear except for a small section where the windows look absolutely filthy. It can’t be accidental because the surrounding panels are clean as a whistle.

There are names on some of the pillars, contributors to the cost of building the center no doubt. I’m always ambivalent about this custom of awarding people with wealth. I wonder about the many volunteers who contribute 1000s of hours of support whose names will never be seen. There are pillars with no names making one wonder if there could be a system of celebrating volunteers at least for a period of time. Growing up poor I don’t think one ever forgives the rich for being rich or maybe I should make than more personal.

This was an eventful weekend for our family because my younger son came home for awhile after a year away. We moved on Saturday in the rain with slush underfoot. Fortunately U-Haul gave me a truck because the van I ordered wasn’t returned in time. My original request was for a van in the morning. We were late reserving so I was given a 4PM reservation. Getting a truck meant we had tons of room. Three of us, my son, a friend and me slugged stuff down the narrow stairs from his apartment and crowded in the truck cab for the drive to the east end. We had pizza and pasta thanks to Cherie and then I returned the truck and drove my son and his friend back west. Sunday Cherie and I danced and I got upset because I couldn’t remember steps I knew very well. The hockey overtime was intense and ultimately a rush after giving up a goal with the game nearly over. We got home just in time for overtime.

As I sit here names are called and people go in though so far I have recognized only on for SYN1. The call just came so I am saving in a rush. Treatment was uneventful. I’ll have to write about the noises of treatment soon.

I’ve been back at home almost 5 hours. For the most part I haven’t thought about cancer or treatment since. I have been too busy shopping, cooking eating and trying to get my son’s computer connected to the net. After an hour and half including a call to Bell I discovered we are missing an external card for wireless access. It might be back at the apartment or in a box. Who knows? I don’t really care I was ravenous and I ate. I worked on solving problems which I love. My friend Gus called which was a bonus and Cherie is home from practice so I’m secure and it’s time to go to bed. Living life is the best way to deal with this so far. That is both a cliche and the truth.