Out of My Head
I’ve been trying to get out of my head all week. Not an easy task apparently. Missing the cat hasn’t helped. Rainy days (day after day after day) hasn’t helped. Not sleeping (the rain doesn’t help the background pain at all) doesn’t help. I know I did some things last week. I maybe even did some cool and important things last week. I just don’t remember much except the grey.
It occurred to me, in a flash of sunlight, how important the little things are. I watered the plants.
I fed the feral cat that took refuge from the rain in my garage. (No worries, he was gone as soon as the sun came out.) I took Orion to Trader Joe’s.
You have to understand that Friday afternoon our Trader Joe’s does wine tasting. Most of the time the wine tasting host is a lovely Italian man named Lorenzo. He teases Orion in Italian and Orion adores him (so of course I do too.) What’s not to like about that little excursion. I get groceries, wine, entertainment, a happy Orion and flirting with an Italian. Life starts looking up.
The other thing I know that gets me out of my own head is helping others. A Gilda’s Club just opened in Minneapolis (practically in my back yard.) Some of you will remember Gilda Radner from Saturday Night Live. When she was dying of breast cancer she found a club for women like herself to just hang out and support each other. She left them a legacy and they became Gilda’s Clubs. They’re scattered across the united states and most of them are open and welcoming to anyone of any age who’s dealing with cancer, supporting someone with cancer, or survived having cancer.
I am a cancer survivor myself. I had colon cancer in my 20’s. My Mom is a breast cancer survivor. My cousin is just clear of throat cancer. There are members of the family who’ve dealt with prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer and lung cancer. My best friend from college died of Kaposi sarcoma, the skin cancer that is associated with HIV/Aids. (It’s what Tom Hanks character had in Philadelphia.) I easily qualify as a member of the club no one wants to belong to.
Since they had their grand opening a week ago I figured I’d stick my head in on my rounds and check it out. It’s a beautiful building, well designed and appointed. I sat in on a cooking/nutrition class that was very well done. I even got a recipe. I took a tour and saw all their group rooms, the yoga studio, the art room, the teen center and the children’s corner. They may be understaffed and marginally attended now, but they have the facility to really take off in a very short time. I put my name in the pool as a volunteer for the front desk. Hey, it’s walking distance from my house.
Maybe I’ve started a new adventure. Maybe I’ve come full circle. It’s not as extreme as Karina’s solution. I’ve become a doggie Grandma to Minnie Mouse. I’m not stuck in my head anymore.
Posted on May 5, 2014, in Acceptance, Bio and tagged cancer, Gilda's Club, pets. Bookmark the permalink. 15 Comments.
As cute as that picture of Minnie is, I saw the real deal yesterday and she’s actually way cuter that that!
Yes she is, and with a personality to match.
I’m so glad to read this, Lisa. I hope you’ll keep us updated about your volunteer duties as they unfold.
I will let you know here and there. It looks like I’ll be starting sometime next week!
Lisa, I enjoyed reading the ways you got out of your head during the week and explored different options. I’ve been doing that, too. Even going to a local fashion show/dinner this week to help a worthy cause. Way out of my box! (P.S. so sorry to hear about your cat…)
a fashion show dinner could be a lot of fun, but defiantly out of the box!
Excellent work getting out of your head. I hadn’t even heard of Gilda’s Clubs, to be honest, but what a wonderful place. Merry May to you, my friend. Hope your out-of-your-head week is going well so far!
Hugs from Ecuador,
Kathy
The sunshine doesn’t hurt! Hope you’re doing well in the mountains.
Such little excursions can be a great time to get away from your thoughts. Little things really do mean a lot and it only cost you well-spent time.
I used to love Gilda Radner. I thought she had ovarian cancer. At any rate, I can’t think of SNL without reflecting on those characters she played. Boy, was she funny.
She was fabulous, and yes she did have both.
You really have had a tough journey. I’m glad to hear you’ve turned a corner.
Thank you. I know this hasn’t been an easy year for you either.
Lisa, here in the Southwest, we could use some of that rain. Feel free to send some my way!
I’ll see what I can do. 🙂
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