Christmas Daze

December 23/11.

Almost Christmas.
Not a single gift bought. No food purchased. Nothing cooked.
As Santa says in the old TV special Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, "We'll have to CANCEL Christmas!" (Such is the life of an elf).

Then, all of a sudden, things change, the red nose steers Santa into place and everything is golden. (Miracles CAN happen I suppose)!

My son, Max, helped me pack up all the canned goods collected during the carolling party the other night, to take them over to the Broadview/Danforth Loblaws food drive. I was happy about the contribution, but feeling down about other things. Tough to concentrate on Christmas.

One neighbour donated $5 on carolling night. Upon arrival at Loblaws, I decided to use the cash towards their "Extra Helping" cause. You pay five dollars to buy a box of PC Blue Menu macaroni and cheese, and the store will put together a package of nutritious, non-perishable food (including the box of mac & cheese) for the local food bank. All you do is pick up a box, pay for it at the counter, drop it in the collection bin and the store takes care of the rest. (It brought tears to my eyes when Max promptly opened his wallet and paid $5 of his own because he wanted to help out too).

Following the Loblaws visit, Max took off to visit his girlfriend, Robyn, while I went to see my family doctor. I've been frightened for the past two weeks by the unexpected return of breast pain. (The exact pain that hit me this past February just before the diagnosis of breast cancer). My next follow-up appointment with my breast surgeon, Dr. David McCready at Princess Margaret Hospital, isn't till late January. He advised I see my GP, so I did.

In the words of my late friend, Patrick Spence-Thomas (and the Monty Python gang), "Always look on the bright side of life"! Trying to. My Doc tells me she can certainly feel the lump I'm referring to, - (which may only be scar tissue), but when I asked her to please file her findings/report on to the hospital, she asked, "Well, who would I SEND it to?" Filled with anguish, I sighed, and suggested, "Hmmmmmmmmm, perhaps, could it be, the SURGEON?? Dr. McCready"?

Reminded me exactly of that line from Dana Carvey as Church Lady on SNL, "Could it be...............SATAN???"

My Doc responded she wouldn't do that and I should just go home, take Tylenol for the pain and wait for my appointments at Princess Margaret. I explained that yes, I can take Tylenol, but that's not my concern. I want to know the REASON for the return of the pain. Is it a recurrence? She told me to come back and see her in a week. In the meantime, I've also received confirmation of a new years appointment with radiation oncologist, Dr. Koch to check on things. Makes for a scary holiday season. On top of that, I've been so caught up in the drama of my close friend (who wants to remain anonymous), after a horribly traumatic fall from a rooftop, which caused severe injuries. Today is homecoming day, which I'm happy and relieved to hear. I'm thinking of you and praying for a speedy recovery.

On the drive home, I was kinda dazed.

I just Twilight-Zoned out on colourful Christmas lights, trying to blot everything from my mind.

Thank God for family and some very special friends who've helped me cope, one drama-filled day at a time.
(You know who you are)!

Somehow, you always manage to keep me smiling when the going gets rough.

When I got home, decided to do just what THIS doctor (meaning ME), ordered! Laughter is the BEST medicine, right??

Invited some old animated pals for a visit,

sat down in the den with my daughter, Kate and her boyfriend, Damian,

and hung out with a doctor of a DIFFERENT kind. - The Charlie Browniest!!!
(THIS doctor is REAL IN)!!!! Happy holidays everyone!

Exciting!

June 8/11

After my big news, (see entry before this), I said I wanted to go out and, "Do something exciting!" Thought about sky-diving, space-walking, sin-seeking, skinny-dipping, - but in the end, opted for visiting a friend, followed by grocery shopping. (No Frills, you owe me, BIG-time!)

Had a small trinket/gift to drop off to my friend, Mary (sister of my
bro-in-law, Garth). She lives five minutes away from our place, in Cabbagetown, so drove over, rang her door bell, got attacked by her two crazed dogs, (barking their heads off), got a big hug, (from Mary, not the dogs), gave her the little gift and asked her to check the always-at-the-ready-on-the-counter-computer, to read the latest update on the blog. We looked at it together online - (& I held my breath, waiting to see her reaction!) Once she spotted the words, "NO CHEMO!" - she let out a yell and gave me another big hug! (Mosbaugh family members always instinctively know EXACTLY the right way to respond! - Watch & learn!)

Mary has sadly lost SO many special people in the last year, - her Mum, her Aunt, her significant other, the incredible Jim Reed, (ex-CBC and CTV/W5 reporter/anchor), and not long before that, her husband, our beloved Patrick Spence-Thomas - (soundman extraordinaire and all around AMAZING man). She couldn't have been more thrilled about MY news if she'd been my own sister. (right Carrie?)

We "celebrated" by attempting to take a "self-timer" photo together in her beautiful Wysteria-laden backyard, - (camera perched on her barbeque!) Turned out pretty zany. (so, naturally, PERFECT for my blog!)

I know I COULD have cropped the pic, but decided it's way funnier THIS way. (Peekaboo!) Mary liked the idea of hiding behind, um, well, - whatever that thing is! Her yard is so pretty and it was nice to see it in person (instead of just eyeing shots on Facebook!)

(Almost as much wysteria as in "Wysteria Lane" on Desperate Housewives!)

In Mary's garden paradise!
After leaving Mary's, high-tailed it over to the REAL location of ALL my fabulous fantasies. (I KNOW you know what I mean. Speak it slow, soft and sexy in my ear....."NOOOOOOOOOO FRILLLLLLLLLLLLLLS.") Just can't take it. - So hot!

Gave up on the skinny-dipping-dream-drama, got to the checkered checkout counter, spun around, spotted a sweet, unsuspecting young man and couldn't seem to stop myself from asking if he might consider taking a picture for my blog. This very nice, about-to-be-photographer, Aaron, kindly agreed to snap a shot with my Fresca. (wondered what he thought he was getting INTO here!) But WHATEVER he thought, he rolled with it and did it anyway! (Aaron, you're the COOLEST!!)

I actually think Aaron did a GREAT job with the shot, somehow managing to capture my wonderful checkout clerk (who was feelin', "This woman is INSANE"), PLUS all the big sale signs in the background! - WINNING! Thanks Aaron! After that, we chatted, I told him about the blog, the "no-chemo event" and probably WAY TMI - "too much information"!

But then Aaron let me know about his Mum, who has just come through a 10-month ordeal with cancer and chemo, so he completely understood me "jumping for joy" over NOT having to endure chemo-therapy. (perhaps we hit the checkout counter together for a reason).

Before saying goodbye, I thanked Aaron for his fabulous photography, gave him the blog address (so he can "check his credit"!), and asked him to please pass along my very best wishes to his Mum. Just talking to him, I realized how lucky I am to have avoided the chemo part of this ordeal.
(Somebody up there likes me).

Oh, and Aaron also asked me WHY I was at No Frills instead of drinking champagne at home? - Told him, "Going home right now to crack open the Henkell!" Cheers!