It's time I get to fill you in on my cancer-fun day! And rest assured, today was a cancer-fun day. Today, I had to go to clinic to meet with my doctor. Just a routine check up, nothing terribly exciting. They drew blood; they analyzed the blood; they sent me to wait for my doctor; I waited for my doctor; I waited some more for my doctor; I saw my doctor but had to wait while she clarified something with another doctor; my doctor returned, checked my lungs, checked my heartbeat, told me I looked pale; we decided on a blood transfusion; and I left clinic not knowing when I would be starting the next round of chemo. 90 minute trip stretched to 3 1/2 hours. Woo, inefficiency! I have since learned that my next session of chemo will start one week from today. This means that while I will not be in the hospital for the Fourth of July, I will be smack in the middle of one rough week of chemo. I can't get over how different this year has been so far, and it's not even halfway through yet. But I plan on enjoying this next week of health, maybe even sneaking in some early fireworks at Navy Pier. We'll see how things shape up. At least I'll have some more blood.
And now for another look into the life of me, with cancer. One of the most common questions people ask me is, "How do you keep yourself busy?" I have an array of answers, ranging from a blank stare and halfhearted laugh to an in-depth description of my musical and photographic adventures. But I realized yesterday what it is that I actually do. I read. I read a lot. Over the past almost seven months, I have read 14 books. This doesn't sound like very many, but most of them have been pretty heavy novels. And these are the books I can remember. I have probably read closer to 18 or so, but I can't remember the others. Those would have been the books I randomly picked up while rifling through the stacks at my library. This also doesn't include Vanity Fair or Anna Karenina, neither of which I could bring myself to finish. Or the growing list of poetry. So that's what I do. I only decided to start keeping track of my literary record about three days ago. Hopefully the list will continue to grow, and hopefully I will continue to pick engaging and thought-provoking novels, memoirs, and non-fiction. Suggestions always welcome. Anywhoo, that's about it from me for now. Peace.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
I'm glad we have our literary discussions..lol. I think we should start a "pony-express" book share. Have you read the collected poetry of T.S. Eliot? It changed my life. I might just send you something random....
like a rock! lol
There is an AMAZING fireworks show here on the Detroit river this Wednesday. If I could drive I would go kidnap you for it...it's probably one of the best fireworks in North America (definately the best in Canada I must say). Note the neutral date...lol
Book Share? Thoughts on this=facebook.
:D
I have probably told you this already, but read The Time Traveler's Wife. And listen to the Violent Femmes while reading the second half. Amazing. It's the only book I can think of that has successfully communicated a soundtrack to me.
Let me think, let me think, let me think...
If you feel like some poetry, try Naomi Shihab Nye--I know you're not into all this contemporary shizznat with no rhyme and female voices that aren't Plath wanting to disappear and all that, but Naomi Shihab Nye is so current and raw and hopeful and amazing.
Me & Emma. Down and Out in Paris and London. Shanghai Baby (this one's way trashy, but I love it). The Book of Three and the subsequent books. Right of Passage. The Handmaid's Tale. Ender's Game (Andy and I both endorse this one, so it is a must...also the Shadow series). Hyperion (the sci-fi book, not the poem by Keats [don't worry, it is a literary sci-fi book]). The Complete Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.
And Andy recommends Tom Clancy's "Rainbow Six," although he amends that recommendation with "It's a boy book, she probably won't like it." Hmmph.
And since you share my love of books written for a much younger age group, I assume you've read Tamora Pierce's Lioness Rampant/Alanna series. If not, get on that. Now.
Hey girl, I'm not sure what kind of books you like, but if you wanna raise the number of books read, Dan Brown's books are really exciting with really interesting (mind you, they have some slightly difficult to believe aspects but overall fun to read).
Ummmmm, they're kind of teen books...I read them in Jr High, but still absolutely love them: Philip Pullman's dark materials trilogy. It starts with The Golden Compass ends with The Amber Spyglass. Incidentally, they've made a movie out of the first one that's coming out in the winter. They're really cool fantasy books.
Don't know about you, but I love Shakespeare and just bought a book of his complete works. Those are always nice to read and definitely engaging.
The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien is also really good. The Perks of Being a Wallflower is really interesting but rather depressing so maybe not such a good choice. But it's really fast. The Secret Life of Bees is a little more uplifting. Lord of the Flies and A Separate Peace are books I read in High school that I'd read again. Lolita's a pretty interesting novel...sorry if I went overboard. I love books, although I'm a slow reader. If I hit on any interests, let me know and I can suggest more in that area if you want.
...but read Philip Pullman, those books are a good escape from reality.
Post a Comment