Cycle # 5: Days 4 - 7

The side effects of Taxol - bone and muscle aches - started at the top of my body and worked its way down. Friday was the first and worst day of side effects - a horrendous headache; swollen eyes and face; and upper body aches. On Saturday the aches moved to the low back, hips, and thighs. And yes you guessed it, on Sunday the aches were focused on my shins, ankles, and feet. There are still some mild lingering aches around the lower half of my shins, ankles, and feet – sometimes I barely notice these remaining aches and for some reason at other times it is more noticeable.

Most important is that by mid afternoon on Monday I felt like myself again. I can best describe it at this time as a “Yahoo!” realization – as if the heavy fog that has been present for several days in my body and brain has just lifted and I can fully feel and think again. Happy songs about shouting, singing, and dancing run through my mind when I realize the fog has lifted!

Of course the first thing I did when the fog lifted was to have April and the kids come over (Bret was working overtime at the lake). The picture above was taken Monday evening.

Sometimes the fog lifting coincides with a return of my taste buds and appetite; the results have been frantic food cravings or the realization of how wonderful a particular food can taste. On Monday – it was that food tasted good period. I am unable to recall the exact comment April made but it was a remark about the quantity of food I was eating. Yum…the cookies were very tasty; the roast beef was delicious; the tomatoes were full of flavor; the ranch dressing was wonderful; even the carrots I shredded for the salad were delectable! I’m pretty sure I nibbled and ate my way through the evening.

I am so easily pleased – family, friends and food or sometimes is it food, family and friends? Either way they simply go together for me. Hmmm, maybe I should consider a career change and do something with food. Too bad I could not earn a living cooking for family and friends – oh yes, I need to have a good health benefits package also. I have heard that an employee is eligible for health benefits at Starbucks when working twenty hours a week. I may have to consider Starbucks as my next employer.

Actually, if I found the genie in the bottle and was granted three wishes I would wish for enough money to open my own place - a cozy hangout to enjoy good food, music, friends and family. An extensive coffee selection, homemade soup and killer desserts would be some of the daily menu items. (It could be big enough for the Homeless Collaborative to meet there – I really miss brainstorming and working with all of you.)

Then I would wish for enough money to go on two cruises a year – “enough money” means enough to pay for Randy and I and also our cruising buddies because it would not be as much fun without them. Oh yeah, and air fare to get to the departure point, cabins with balconies, and of course we would only cruise with Holland America.

For my third wish – well I think I need to do some serious thinking about that one before I decide what it would be.

I could wish for world peace; wouldn’t it be great to watch the evening news and it only contained stories of people all over the world who acted upon God’s greatest commandments – Matthew 22:37-39?

Or I could wish for the cure for cancer – wait, make that a vaccination for cancer so that it is only a past icky thing suffered like polio or small pox.

I could wish that every person would truly know their value and would have the opportunity to live a full life and contribute greatly to their community. Ah, if the genie allowed run on sentences/wishes I bet I could work this one into the world peace wish.

According to 1 Kings God gave Solomon wisdom, great discernment and breadth of heart “like the sand that is on the seashore". I’d probably better read his look back at life (Ecclesiastes) several more times before I decide what the third wish should be. And then I might admit that I really should change wishes one and two also. I think I’ll get something to eat and do some reading….. What would your three wishes be?