Perspective
I had an
appointment for today at 2pm to consult with the oncologist…finally. It should have happened two weeks ago but
they “lost my paperwork.” Today at 1:30
pm I received a phone call postponing the appointment until tomorrow
morning. “Sorry for the last minute
cancellation,” she said.
I asked
about whether they were doing the markings and set up tomorrow too. “Oh no,” she said, “that will be sometime
next week, if we can find a slot for you.”
“Oh and then I’ll begin the radiation?”
“Well no,
then we’ll have to see when we can fit
you in to begin sometime in the next month.”
I wondered
why, and felt a little sorry for myself; sorry that obtaining treatment would
take so long and be so vaguely planned.
Then I remembered.
I have a
home, un-burnt and un-flooded. I have
electricity and heat. I can do laundry and can drive where I want to
go. I don’t have two hundred year old
Black Oaks falling on my roof while I wait over a month for a tree company with
a crane to come and cut them down. I have
fresh food. I don’t have to worry about
the temperature dropping outside and my pipes freezing. I have Medicare which will pay for all or
most of my treatments, whenever they happen.
I’m a lucky
woman.
It helps to
keep the problems in perspective.
Photo and words are copyright © Carol Steel
