The Rain Has Stopped

Jon and I talked. Turns out I'm a weenie for doubting he'd throw me out over a disagreement. Much more staying power than that. Things are, once again, copascetic. Ahhhhh....

Being middle-aged doesn't help romantic hook-ups. If you haven't become an out-and-out cynic, you at least have years and years of being let down and rejected for what seem to you, the most ridiculous reasons. Unless you've got an ego the size of Godzilla, you're never sure when the other shoe may drop. Gun-shy? You got it!

With Jon, each day the shoe stays put, I'm more hopeful I may end up with a complete set--good ones!

A little about my story...

In February of 2001, I went in for some medical tests. Decided that while I was at it, to have a long-overdue mammogram. All turned out bad.

They found an abnormal addominal mass and wanted follow-up mammograms.

First, I had the mass removed. Turned out to be a pre-malignant tumor growing on my intestine. The wound got infected and my recovery was long and slow. Finally, I went back to work.

My boss informed me they'd decided to lay me off. Nice homecoming, huh? The next day, I went back for the follow-up mammogram, thinking it routine. It wasn't. The radiologist informed me he was very sure it showed a malignancy. A biopsy confirmed it.

I had a lumpechtomy, my margins were clear (no spead into tissue beyond the tumor) and lymph nodes were clear (no indication of systemic spread of the cancer to other organs). However, because of the type of tumor, chemo was recommended.

I was in the middle of lovely chemo--baldness, nausea and all--when I found out my mail went through the Brentwood post office--the one where two people had contracted Anthrax and died. My immune system was down to nothing from the chemo. Talk about being scared! Chemo was followed by seven weeks of radiation.

After treatment was completed, I still had time on disability for recovery and hoped there would be work for me upon my return. Then the sniper attacks started.

A young boy was shot at a school at which I used to teach, a few miles from where I was living. The next day my landlord informed me they'd decided to sell their house and move into mine. Oh, and disability decided to suspend payments for review of my condition.

Here I was with no income, no home, and was to be laid off, (it was going through), when I returned to work. (Probably illegal, but I don't have money for an attorney to fight it. The crudballs!)

I don't know where I found the stamina or sense for a solution, but I did. I was able to buy an RV where I'm living with my 11 pets. It's hardly ideal, but it's a roof over our heads. I've been, somehow, managing on unemployment, but that's about to end.

In May, Jon and I reconnected and things looked brighter. Unfortunately, he's not in a much better situation than I am. We've decided to see if, together, we can manage to find our way out of the pit we're in and into a brighter and more successful future.

Stay tuned...

Comments

[sachet aka fon]

I'll tell him. Took me a minute to figure out what BOSH was. Duh! Battle of Shaker Heights. Good acronym, don't you think?

Jon has been an actor in Hollywood for many years, done coverage, the works.

He claims he's not the jealous type. Glad to hear the wife is cool with the drinking. I don't much because it gives me screaming headaches. Also, allergic to all opiates, so have a built-in defense against these afflictions.

Now, if I could just do something with the smoking!

Hope you drop by for the next chapter!

[wasabi]

Hi Sach,

Interesting little site. Nice photos of you and Jon. I read your story...tough one, but it looks like you'll make it through. BTW, I drink a little too much sometimes which accounts for some of my, ah, more caustic posts. Sometimes I will read in the morning what I posted the night before...and I want to shoot myself. Unfortunately, I'm not a very good apologist. Tell Jon, in case you and I make it to a BOSH premiere, that I am very, very happily married (32 years).

Cheers,
w

[Amanda]

You'll be fine babe! Somehow, like yourself, I always end up on top. Blame it on our guardian angels working overtime. I'll have mine whisper some good thoughts over to yours.

Chin up!