February 16, 2006
When I went in for my Neupogen shot yesterday morning the oncologist’s waiting room was completely full. This time it was mostly older people looking exhausted and pale, and in the time that I spent there, I noticed three different delivery people coming in with large boxes with markings indicating that medications were inside. It made me consider all those IV bags – each with different formulations determined by the doctors to be the best suited to the individual sitting there. Just before I proceeded into the back recesses of the place, a couple came out and the woman sang out to the receptionist, “The doctor says he dosn’t need to see me for six months!” There was such relief and pleasure in her voice and body language. Yes. That is why we gather here. This afternoon I return to get the blood draw which in turn will determine whether all is well enough for me to resume the chemotherapy. Two shots, one on each side of the abdomen, then the arms, and continuing. . .
Charles came back from his Michigan concerts yesterday, and when he said with a smile, “You would have liked them a lot” I knew that they had gone very well. My requirements for enjoyment of these events are large audiences, good choirs to sing Charles’ music, fine organs to play, and at least several standing ovations.
My friend Linda and I also went to retrieve our dear chocolate lab, Alphie, from the kennels where he had spent the five previous days. I was anxious to hear the report about how we might deal with his behaviors. When we got there, the very nice man said, “Can we talk?” We assured him that yes, of course. . . he continued, “The first time the other trainer (a woman somewhat smaller than myself) took Alphie out, he knocked her down and drug her”. Our Alphie. . . it obviously was not the correct way to start his experience. I told Charles it made me think of taking your child to Kindergarten on the first day and hearing that not only had he flung Tempera paint all over the teacher, but that he had also attacked the janitor. The man went on to say that Alphie is head strong and very intelligent, hence able to quickly learn behaviors, good (pause) and bad. He estimated that our lab will reach 90 pounds as an adult.
It appears that we must send Alphie off for a month’s work (Reform school) in order to have a dog that can be a member of our family. We got him home and he was dear and sweet and looked at us with those soulful eyes so that we said perhaps it would have gone better had we told them about the tree branches he needs to carry about for his walks. . . .