TGIF

Tech support

To the rescue.

Even modems

Get tired.

Port Authority

Fine, fine, fine.
I have to remember
I really am fine.
In spite of the
Tumultuous emotional
Roller coaster ride,
I really am fine!

Indian Summer

The warm sun
On Autumn skin,
The cool soothing
Trail of an ice cream
Trickle down the throat,
The purr of delicious,
A sigh of relief,
A perfect fall day.

A Different Take

I have to start seeing

These chemicals

As medicine

Not poisons.

As medicine

They flood

Healing power

Into my blood,

Pumping energy

And recreating

Like a cleansing fire.

A Phoenix reborn.

New life

From the ashes.

First Yoga

Reconnecting
With my body
After months
Of protecting it.
Stiffly hugging my pain
To my chest.
To finally let go
And feel the suppleness
Of warm skin
Over brittle fragility.
To connect the
Inner peace
With the outer fear
Bringing it
Into balance.

Sunday Sermon

Fear of life

Is death.

Opening

To the moment

Even if it's painful

Is being present.

Appreciating

The touch

Of sunlight

In the midst of clouds

Or understanding

The dark patches

In between

Is sympathy

For the human spirit.

Fever

Burning up

With chills.

Chemicals

Like a frying pan

Cooking up my insides.

Scrambled eggs

For brains.

This is what

Your brain looks like

On chemo.

TGIF

Hamburger

I remember
Mom wanted
A California Hamburger-
After weeks of ice chip drama
When she could finally eat,
She wanted a hamburger
With the works.
The small bites
Didn't go down well.
And the joy of food was lacking,
But I understand
The idea
Of getting a Nook Burger
Just because
It represents normal.

Next Level

Brain

A giant gyroscope

Spinning like

A washing machine.

Suds cleaning out

The insides

Scouring things fresh.

Agitation

Spiraling out of control

Until it tilts

Up against reality

And bumps up

Against the new normal.

Made it!

Day 5

Trying to find

The silver lining,

The bright side

To these dark days.

Maybe split me open

Letting daylight in

To soak the stomach

And dry up all the toxins.

A small crack

To let the neausea out

And my mind back in.

A reminder

That it's all temporary.

Sunday Vikings

Hope they do better than me!

Saturday

Day 3 I guess

Will just be like

The Saturdays

When you were little

And had the stomach flue

And watched mindless TV

And mom brought

You ginger ale

And waited

For the next day

To be better.

Chemo Brain

With help from Gary

Went to school

It was cool.

Ate yogurt and jello

It was mellow.

Came home tired

But wired.

Wrote a blog

Slept like a log.

Chemo #2

Wrapped in a blanket of love
Watching videos of scenery
In Alaska.
Eating friend made chicken soup.
Talking to family and friends
And being with the one I love,
I feel at peace.
Or maybe
That's the double dose
Of Ativan they gave me!

Target

Big night out

Stocking up on snacks

And things to keep

My stomach cushioned

Against the onslaught.

A new scarf, a helmet

To cover

My rapidly vanishing hair.

Lip balm

For the dry sore mouth

I know is advancing.

Now I'm ready

With my weapons of war.

The Apex

The nadir is suppose to be

When my white blood cells

Were barely registering.

But I bounced back

Enough to do it again Thursday!

The good thing is

I know what to expect this time.

The bad thing is

I know what to expect this time...

9-12

Remembering 9-11

Let's also remember

We're still at war.

We still have soldiers

Around the globe

Fighting for a terror

That began 10 years ago.

"Fighting" for peace.

Let's remember

And work for peace.

Weekend Off

I forgot

I forgot my blog

I forgot what day it is

I forgot about school

Or kids, or weather

Or cancer.

I just forgot.

A moment's vacation.

TGIF

We use to say

There's nothing tireder

Than a teacher

On Friday night.

We have to amend

That to except

A teacher with cancer.

Head Ache

The literature said
"You may feel
A slight tingling
Before hair loss."
I think I felt
Every follicle die.

Grade 3/4

They can grow

So much in a year.

Silliness slides

Into humor.

Immaturity

Takes root and blossoms

With their good qualities.

Egos look outward

And see a world of friends

And opportunities.

What a wonderful

Chance to see them grow.

Back to School

Friends Are Like Flowers

Thanks for all you've done

To brighten my days.

Thanks for the flowers

And sunny smiles.

Thanks for the good days!

A Fair Alternative

People watching

And entertainment

On the river-

Skateboarders

On a barge!

Then Fair food

At Roosters on Randolph

Cheese curds

Pronto pups

French fries-

A mini Fair!

SFU

Words slid out of my mouth

Like the cards

From the deck.

Ativan loosened tongue

Or just fun with friends

On a Saturday night.

The healing power

Of 500

And laughter!

September

The dog days are over.

No more lazy days of summer.

It's time to get to work.

Like cats prowling in the dark

So many things to attack.

But like the cat

My body needs to remember

Sometimes it needs

To stretch out in the sun

And absorb the energy.

Missing the Fair

I read with relish

The Fair food descriptions.

Greasy tempting treats.

I look at photos and imagine

The sights and sounds.

The people watching

Without me.

Too many people

Too low blood count.

The Doctor said maybe

By Sunday....