The Church Christmas Bazaar - Saturday November 21, 2015

Yes, it is an annual event....the wee church where my parents were married, I was baptized into, Bill and I married at and Bryce was christened into. My childhood friend Laurie, our friend Wendy and Laurie's Mom Barb seem to make this an annual event. This year was different, the same ladies were on door, the same ladies were serving on the floor, the same types of sandwiches were on the tables and the same fancy tea cups were at their appropriate places...something just wasn't the same! This basement was where I spent every Sunday for the first 14 years of my life. Sunday School, where every second word I heard was "SHHHHHH"  as apparently I was loud and the sound filtered up through the floor and into the main church area.  Something just seemed different this year and I was trying to put a finger on what it was. Then it happened, the first of the apron ed church ladies addressed me with a big hug, then questioned, in a concerned voice "How are you feeling?" Ah yes, there it was, this is the first time I had brought my cancer into the church. That was the difference; last year and all the years prior, I wasn't the one with cancer. I told everyone who asked that I was doing well, that treatment was tiring but I only had 22 left. It was so nice to see and talk to old friends and friends of my parents. Then I spied my Aunt Dianne, my Moms sister. She was helping out on the baked goods table. I went over to talk to her, as crowded as the area was. I couldn't get to her to hug her as there was a big long table between us, but I held her hands and told her I was doing ok. She said she knew, as other people who were on facebook were keeping her updated. Then she said "You know, I pray for you every day, and your name is on our prayer list here at the church"  That's where I lost it...the tears started slipping out, and I quickly wiped them before others could see.

Once I got back to my table and sat down, another childhood friend Michelle and her sister Cindy appeared. I had toughened up by then so when Michelle also mentioned that she prayed for me everyday, I was able to thank her sincerely, no tears, no Kleenex:) This year we didn't go for our usual walk through the cemetery, where Barb told us stories about some of the people that are buried there. We traveled on to Bath Public School for the big craft sale that was happening. The school was packed with vendors and silent auctions and all sorts of goodies. I even ran into a friend from Amherst Island there who invited me to a Kitchen Party at her house tonight:) Then a wave of something hit me and I was instantly tired. So I bailed. Not very nice of me, but I did explain to Laurie and she understood.

This seems like the longest week ever. Starting off with the scary mammogram and ultrasound on Monday and ending with a two hour visit at the cancer center yesterday. The sweet lady who is driving me everyday surprised me with a gift as I was getting out of her car yesterday afternoon. I didn't look to see what it was as I kept thinking, "How in the name of God can I ever repay her?" and now a gift? Then I realized that paying her back is not what it is about. Its the BIG picture: You reap what you sow!  She will go to heaven, that is a fact! As I walked in the door I heard someone calling my name, it was my friend Miguel's Mom, Sarah. She had just finished her radiation treatment for the day and was waiting for her ride home. Sarah also had breast cancer, but she had to have chemo and radiation treatments. What a strong, brave lady she is. After my treatment I had my weekly meeting with the Radiation Oncologist; unfortunately he wasn't there so I met with his Nurse Practitioner, Carole. She noticed that after three treatments my skin was starting to re-act already. She advised ditching the bra and buying men's small 100% cotton undershirts.  Which I did today, how silly they look on me. This will be interesting to see how they will look under my work clothes!

In the midst of what was a very crazy week, a friend spotted my mug in the Heritage newspaper. The picture was taken while we were waiting for the Wolfe Island Ferry to arrive back at her slip a few weeks ago:

I am trying to decide if I can stay awake long enough to enjoy the kitchen party tonight. My friend Judy is catching the 630 boat so I have to let her know by 5 if I'm going. Do I have time for a nap?