A couple of things ....completely random (naturally). I thought for sure The Big Chemo Drugs would have arrived by now. They were to have come by mail and when Mon Amour et moi met with Dr Cheemo on May 8 - the day he was in navy blue from head-to-toe unlike the first time we met him when he was resplendent (can a man be resplendent if he's not gay? Discuss) in a mint green shirt. So so bold for a straight man. I digress. Naturally. In any event, Dr Cheemo and his capable nurses advised us that they were going to order The Big Pills and that they would take 7 - 10 days to arrive. Hmmm. So, each day, I await the arrival of the ever efficient US Postal Service - they deliver on Saturdays here (although not sure for how much longer. Sigh. They are just mildly, um, in debt! So so sad ...letter writing, cards and the like is such a lost art. Sigh) and I check our mailbox to see if the Pills-That-Will-Make-My-Hair-Fall-Out have indeed arrived. Now you may be wondering why I may be anxious to receive said Pills? Well, I suppose that the sooner I get those dang things, the sooner I can start them and The Nuke Fest also known as The-Event-That-Will-Make-My-Hair-Fall-Out-In-CHUNKS can simultaneously begin. Until then, said countdown remains in mild limbo.
A shot of our poor lonely empty mailbox....(and fyi, the weather was mildly crappy here this past weekend; hence, no planter flowers yet ....)
So....speaking of the post office, my oldest brother Dan worked for Canada Post as a letter carrier for 35+ years and retired a few years ago. (I know there is an awesome photo of Dan on the first day he started work, all decked out in his uniform but I do not have that pic to upload - DANG - it's classic!!) When my dad died, suddenly overnight, Dan was Big Man In Charge of me - an overweight, hormonal 14-year old and our dear, more reserved brother Paul, who had just turned 16 at the time. Dan was so so unbelievably kind-hearted and generous and loving to stay and look after us, and although he says that any decent man would have done the same thing, I'm not so sure about that, especially since Dan was at an age when he was just embarking on his own life. The sacrifice and unwavering love and devotion to both Paul and me is something for which I will be always be deeply and eternally grateful, indebted, humbled ....how do you repay someone for years of their life? What an amazing gift.
Paul and I were 16 months apart in age and literally grew up together ...I have very early memories of being in hospital with Paul with whooping cough when I was 2 and he was 3, of potty training at the same time (couldn't resist!) :-), of walking to school together, hand-in-hand, of being inseparable during our childhood. He was my playmate, my best friend, my confidante ....Paul was a sweet, kind, gentle soul but sadly, he did not have an easy life - he struggled with mental illness most of his adult life, and yet, he maintained an unwavering faith that was inspiring and humbling. My dear brother Paul passed away last year - Thursday, November 1, 2012, All Saints' Day in fact and although it may sound trite, it was indeed fitting; he was one of the kindest, most generous-hearted people I have ever known and that inspires me daily to be a better person - and that is the God's honest truth....
The love that I feel for my brothers is difficult to put into words - it is literally fathomless and all-consuming; when Paul started having some other issues last March 2012, there was simply no question between Dan and me that we would do everything we needed to do to make sure Paul was looked after. That unspoken bond admittedly had seen its share of ups and downs over the years, and yet, there is simply no love like I have always felt for them both and always will. Despite the heartbreaking loss at losing Paul to this world, there is comfort in knowing he is in a better world....
And....on a happier note, how's this for a happy shot of the two of us? ;-) Hubby and I have this vintage stereo in our house and it brings back fond memories ....
Thanks - as always - for reading, "listening", commenting, hugging, loving, supporting, giggling ..... means the world to me and to Mio Marito - truly, honestly, from the bottom of my heart ....and whatever happens with This Thing, I have a sweet, loving husband; a beautiful loving, family; supportive, loving friends....lots of love ....what more could a gal want? It's true....my heart overflows with the love I feel and it is a gift for which I am so grateful and that I do not take for granted. Thank you all...so so much ...for your love.
Stay classy, Guelph.
Cancerella and Hubberello
xoxoxoxo
Guelph?! LOL
ReplyDeleteIt's the real life name of a city...my home town, in fact. :-) Gosh, I remember going to a comedy club in my youth with my dear sweet - and sadly, departed - friend Maureen and the comedian asked the crowd: "Hey, is there anyone here from Guelph?" Naturally, being eager to be both in the spotlight (that was my MO in those days) and to highlight my home town, my arm shot up enthusiastically. "Me!! Me!, I'm from Guelph!" I yelled enthusiastically. The comic then proceeded - of course - to diss Guelph is every imaginable way. The one I remember the most vividly - and that still - I confess makes me giggle to this day - was "Guelph? What kind of a name is THAT? Sounds like something you step on in the park after it rains." (rim shot)
ReplyDeleteTrue story. :-) Thanks for giggling! :-) xoxoxx