A week and half in the life....

A week and a half in the life of an unemployed, bored but busy, cancer patient.

Today is a day off. How is that, you ask? How can I, who is unemployed, need a "day off"?

The past week and a half has been wonderful for many reasons. I have had dance classes, dance practices, dance performances to keep me busy and focused on something more important than how bored I am. I went to a wedding reception, a bridal shower and a pot luck supper (out of town, even). I have had a pile of follow-up appointments with various doctors and phone calls to arrange things to make life easier in the months to come.

First let me tell you about the social events. The reception and shower were great. I got to visit with some of my co-workers, gripe about work (or lack of), eat some good food and relax with people who I have some things in common with. The pot luck supper that was out of town was great. We visited, learned a bit about Native drumming/singing and dancing. Were treated to a wonderful presentation of Native drumming and singing by a member of the pot luck. Afterwards we joined in drumming just for the sake of drumming. Some people mediated and others thumped away on their drums or shook rattles. It was great. We shared lots of great food, the theme of the evening was to bring an ethnic dish. Which meant we had a good variety of different but familiar dishes. The drive there and back again was quiet and uneventful and provided me a couple of hours of quiet reflection (well not that quiet since I had the stereo turned up as usual).

The doctor's appointments and such are just a part of my recovery and treatment program for the next few months. I discussed chemo and a few other things. Everything is a go. Of course I am not happy about it, but here we go. I start on Monday next week. This week I meet with the lady of the wig bank and see about getting me some hair wear once mine is gone. She has a number of them to look at, one of them is red, two are a medium blonde, and the other is a whiter blonde that is curly and knee length!!! I doubt that long one will be for me but if it was it can certainly be cut. As it is I have waist length hair right now, so I need to work out when I will cut it shorter in preparation for it falling out. My greatest hope is that I will only be mildly tired from the chemo, that there will be no nausea or anything else. Won't know until it starts though so I wait. Also, I will buy or make some head scarves, that way if I can't stand the wig I have something else I can wear. I will go fabric shopping soon.

Now, for the dancing. We danced at the tradeshow this weekend. It was pretty good. Again the conditions kinda sucked, guess I expect too much. LOL The other gals seem used to dressing and undressing where it is possible for others to see them, I am not comfortable with it. The thing that gets me is that there are dressing rooms just around the corner from where we were "hidden" by see-through curtains. Why couldn't we utilize them? The stage was too narrow and there were flat screen television sets that stayed up there with us that had legs that stuck out where we tripped on them or had to step over them. It was not a good set up. From the gals who dance in the performing troupe, they say they have had worse conditions for privacy and performing, but what kind of impression does that make for the children who also participate (especially the impression on their parents). I wouldn't be impressed, and I would certainly raise my concerns with those in charge.
As for the dancing performances themselves, well they were great. We had belly dancers from as young as 4 and as old as 92 (and she did a solo!!). My group and I did ok, but we had some minor malfunctions. I know I forgot a few times what I was doing, or got ahead of the others (nerves cause me to speed up LOL), but everyone said we did great. We ARE our worst critics LOL. Still, I had fun and love performing, just like it better when the audience is farther away than 6 ft from the stage (it was a bit close). Next public performance will be Spectrum in June, I hope I am able to do that this year. I like how it feels performing at Spectrum, very village fair, which is great. Can't wait!