Writings of Constance Ore ( 1937 – 2010 )

Today, I completed the second infusion of Chemotherapy in this third round. So far it has not been dreadful; the present discomforts are nausea and bone and muscle pain. There are plenteous meds to ease all of the above, and I have resolved to rest and make the passage through these next fourteen days as easy as possible. Yesterday, while I was watching a wild sky out of the east windows of the chemo room, the sirens sounded the Tornado Warning and nurses came in and took us all to rooms on the inside that were without windows. They were very calm and took the procession of chemo receivers down the hall, each pushing an IV tree with the dripping medications never missing a drop.

Furious winds have been blowing unusual warmth from the south for several days now, while other winds have been bringing snow to the west and north of us. We had some rain and a bit of hail as these systems engaged in a battle of dominance of the skies; fortunately, the tornadoes moved to the east and south of us, and here at Sanctuary, all was well when we returned from Lincoln. Alphie comes to the city with us, content in the back seat of the car until we get into the 25 miles per hour zone. Then, as we slow for the stoplights, he wishes to stick his head out of the window, and if we do not notice soon enough, he will place his nose as close to the ear as possible and “Woof!” One involuntarily reacts and we try to open the window before this occurs in order to avoid driving up on the sidewalk or bouncing the car into the next lane. These trips with all the new scenes and scents to enjoy appear to be a canine high point. Alphie waits at the top of the stairs, and when we say, “You can come along” his joyful rush to the door always makes us smile.

The hymn that I am trying to memorize this week is “Come Away to the Skies”, a Charles Wesley text set to music found in “A Supplement to the Kentucky Harmony” (the tune is Middlebury). The words seem very compelling to me at this time.