“Some changes look negative on the surface but you will soon realize that space is being created in your life for something new to emerge.”― Eckhart Tolle

Friday, October 26, 2012

We Interrupt Our Regularly Scheduled Program ...

... to bring you breaking news.  Well, really, nothing is broken.  Actually we are hoping it is fixed.  The news is that the Goatmother had her last radiation treatment today.

This is good news, but we meet it with mixed feelings.  You see, here's the thing.  When you get that diagnosis - when you hear those words - suddenly your life changes.  Forever.  Not just for a day.  Not just for a week or even a month or a few months.  It. Changes. Forever.  Cancer takes away a lot of things, but the worst is probably your feeling of security.  Suddenly you come face to face with your mortality - a thing we all know we have to face, but a thing so easy to ignore.

And then there is the time.  This took six months of precious time.  Never, ever, wish a person with cancer a 'speedy' recovery because there is no such thing.  And six months is minor in comparison to what many people with cancer have to face.

Chemotherapy is probably the hardest to endure, but make no mistake about it, radiation is no cake walk.  Everyone says, 'Oh, radiation.  Well, that's SO much easier', then they smile and go merrily on their way because, let's face it, it's just radiation.  You can just go on about your normal life now.  Wrong.  There's the exhaustion that no one escapes.  There is the disruption of your life from having to go to appointments every single day.  And then there are the burns.  Nope.  A cake walk it ain't.

No one that has cancer has an easy time.  And, you know, it doesn't matter if your cancer is Stage 1 or Stage 4.  Every person's experience is difficult at best.  Granted some folks have more to endure than others, but it doesn't make any difference.  It's all difficult and it's all important.  Don't make the mistake of saying things like, 'Oh, well, you didn't feel so well, but I can tell you stories ... '  Never denigrate someone else's experience.  What is that old saying about walking a mile in someone else's shoes?

But for all that cancer takes away, fortunately it gives too.  Suddenly the brightness of other peoples' souls shine out like lighthouse beacons on a stormy night.  Safe and warm and all-encompassing, helping to guide you through.  What would we do without them?  I certainly do not want to even entertain the thought.  Faith in and love of your fellow creatures on this mercurial and unpredictable journey we call life.  That's what cancer gives.  And it gives you new eyes with which to see.  Suddenly some things don't look quite so bad, and others look too wonderful for words.  It gives a new appreciation of so many things we previously took for granted.  It's all important and it's all good.  Remember?

And so, my friends, the journey doesn't end here.  We've only really  just managed the ever so rocky beginning.   We want to thank each and every one of you who have stayed the course along with us.  Our thanks and our words will never be enough to truly express our gratitude.  We have been graced, blessed, and honored beyond what we deserve.  And if you are one of those folks who puts off having those yearly tests because they are just too much trouble , or you don't have time, or you don't want to be 'exposed' to too much radiation, or any of the other one million and one excuses we manage to come up with, trust me.  It isn't too much trouble, and you do have time, and the amount of radiation you receive in an x-ray or a mammogram is just a drop in the bucket compared to what it could be.  Just. Do. It.

Special thanks to our friend,  Mrs. Micawber , for providing the most appropriate quotation for this post:

“The realm of Sauron is ended! The Ring-bearer has fulfilled his Quest.” And as the Captains gazed south to the Land of Mordor, it seemed to them that, black against the pall of cloud, there rose a huge shape of shadow, impenetrable, lightning-crowned, filling all the sky. Enormous it reared above the world, and stretched out towards them a vast threatening hand, terrible but impotent: for even as it leaned over them, a great wind took it, and it was all blown away, and passed; and then a hush fell."

Welcome to the hush ... 


29 comments:

* said...

Glad that you've got to the end of the radiation....i'm sure the hush is very welcome right now...take care.x

Auntie sezzzzzz... said...

Oh my Dear, I am so glad this last 6 months is over. And believe me, I would never denigrate anything, connected with being diagnosed with cancer. It hit us, in our Daughter, as you well know, by now. Words are never so lacking, as those, to someone thus diagnosed.

Hold onto the "gifts." Rest, from the treatments. Smile, into the hush...

Gentle hugs,
"Auntie"

Terry said...

A hush is good. Then again, not too hushed. You still do, after all, have to ask for peanuts. Perhaps for awhile you could whisper your requests? I think that the Goatmother will hear you.

Grammy Braxton said...

I came over by way of Mrs. Macawber. I am always interested in hearing about and reading about people who have triumphed over cancer. Anyone who does that is a hero in my eyes. I will go back and read past blogs but for now, congratulation for the "hush".

Hugs,
Sharon
grammybraxton.blogspot.com

Marigold said...

Dear Faith,
Yes, the hush is welcome. Though rather hard to come by as long as those stupid UrDuck H'ai live in the pond. Oy.

Marigold said...

Dear Auntie,
You bet! We be smilin'. :) (We know you would never denigrate anyone's experience. No denigrating bones in the Auntie body! :))

Marigold said...

Dear Auntie,
Get it? 'Auntie Body'? 'Antibody'. I crack me up.

Marigold said...

Dear Terry,
There are other ways to get people's attention. Goats are very inventive in that way. Chickens? Not so much. :)

Marigold said...

Dear Grammy,
Welcome!!!! So glad you stopped by and hope to see you again. Triumph we did...at least so far. :)

Snowcatcher said...

Yay! Yay! Yay!

Perfect quote. It has been a very dark cloud and quite scary, and I'm so glad the wind has blown it away now.

Many happy days! You deserve it!

Marigold said...

Dear SnowCatcher,
Yes! You can do the happy dance now! :) Thank you! Now we feel like going out and catching some snowflakes with you. :) Well, maybe not just yet, but we'll have the energy soon. Plus if the Woolly Booger sightings are any indication, we'll be having the snow to do it with this year. :) You are much appreciated, by the way.

goatgirl said...

Let the Peanuts flow.....

Hindustanka said...

Wishing you all the very best, the journey is tough, but you have to keep the head up and believe that everything's going to be all right. Hugs and best wishes from Anna.

Mimi Foxmorton said...

Ahhhhh.........sweet hush.......

My dear, I wish you peace, I wish you love, I wish you time..........

xo

Um....does this mean ALL that tea is gone? Goodness, but you really MUST have to pee! ;)

Smiling with you!

love,
Mimi

Marigold said...

Dear GoatGirl,
Oh YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!

Millie said...

What a wonderful bit of news. We all hope that this will slay that monster. I bet you'll get more peanuts now for all the work you did helping the Goatmother to butt the hay out of that cancer!

Marigold said...

Dear Anna,
Thank you and thanks for stopping by! Please visit again! :)

Kelly said...

Dancing in circles here in Maine. Deep breath. Got a little dizzy there for a moment. I think people say things without thinking how they sound. Heck, there are just plain stupid people in this world. Next step is learning your new normal. Much love.

Marigold said...

Dear MiMi
Thank you! Now then, the Goatmother did share some of that tea with me. I ate it, of course, instead of drinking it, but it's all good, remember? That's our motto. It does still have the same effect no matter how it goes in, though. Now, if you'll excuse me ... gotta' RUN! :)

Marigold said...

Dear Millie,
I guess that's one good thing about the journey not being exactly over...more butting and more Peanuts! Can't be a bad thing, eh? Thank you for helping us Butt the Hay Out of this Cancer. Keep up the good work. :)

Marigold said...

Dear Kelly,
Thanks so much for dancing! I'll dance with you. Four legs make for much better dancing than two anyway. :) Ah, the new normal. That's a good way to put it. You are very wise for not being a goat. :)

Queen Quattra said...

Please forgive us if we said insensitive things like radiation is not so bad or talked of other's stories...sometimes we know not what we say...even if we are very, intelligent goats...it was never meant to denigrate...only to think we were making you feel a little better! Ugh, see? Words sometimes just don't cut it!! I do however have to disagree with one thing you said...that you were graced, blessed and honored way beyond what you deserved....Noooo, you and Goatmother deserved every single peanut of it and more!!
Hush now!!

Marigold said...

Dear Queen Quattra,
Never fear! Not one person here EVER gave us anything but encouragement and love. There was an incident that prompted us to give that advice, but it was from outside beautiful 'Blog land', as Auntie likes to say. :) Many thanks for being along for the ride with us. You are very much appreciated! But don't go away! There's so much more to come. :)

Queen Quattra said...

Oh, I'm not going anywhere...there's too many peanuts here! :)

Marigold said...

Dear Queen Quattra,
Yay and YAY! :)

Mrs. Micawber said...

So very, very glad that the Shape of Shadow and its vast threatening hand have been blown away.

My mammogram is scheduled for next month. I will think of the Goatmother, and remember not to complain when that plate comes down! :)

Marigold said...

Dear Mrs. Micawber,
A little squishing is just a small inconvenience. Just think about Peanuts the whole time. I can tell you, you won't even remember anything else. :)

Candy C. said...

YAY! for the end of the treatment! I am so glad the Goatmother no longer has to endure that and we hope, hope, hope that it has done it's job and the dark shadow has been blown away FOREVER!!

Marigold said...

Dear Candy,
For sure, for sure!!!! :)