Blog # 6 of Hard to Swallow.
Title: Characters you meet and the music that they bring, sitting in a chemo chair.

Temperatures were rising quickly when I arrived at the Frankston Intergrated Care Centre to have my 3rd Infusion of chemo. I walked across the pathway's to the Centre with an umbrella up looking very important to protect me from the sun plus my 50+ sunscreen spread everywhere else that may be exposed. People might think whose is this bloke with his mate/assistant carrying a bag of books, earphones and stuff.

So yeah, the usual anxieties heightened but its the thread of life and I'm ready to go and in good shape, so you deal with it.

Weight down a bit at 75.9kg from 83kg over 5 weeks, however no sugar, no pizzas, no more the 'occasional' potato cakes, fried dim sims, chicken strips, donuts, sweet biscuits, ice creams (long for a choc top) no dairy (really like soya milk now) and small big 'm's all shelved.That's all due to swallowing difficulties with the cancer plus recommended delete's from the researched side effects of the chemo, it works, but hey I'm in good shape and still have much energy with yoga, walking, bike riding and garden time.

Into chair #4 this time with a different array of chemo recipients before me in chairs 1, 2 and 3 and what characters they were. 

First off was a gentleman named Laudio late 60's maybe, he left no doubt he was an experienced recipient, bringing his own esky with cereal and soya milk, home made muffins, nuts and fruit and of course a flask of expresso coffee. I was intrigued, curious and it was a 'lay down misere' I was going to speak to him, his cheeky smile was so welcoming.

But he was first, my hands were tapping on my book as I was listening with my blue tooth earphones to the brilliant drumming in the song 'Push' by the Cure, so Laudio sings out 'what you listening to young or younger than me old boy'. I said The Cure, 'good choice' he said 'I listening to Pavrotti, ah you are the only flower of my life' and is wife walked in, a moment to savour, reflect and understand the important things in life, your loved ones above all.

To my right a woman, in for the first time with her portal swinging into action with the chemo drip streaming along. She pulled her earphones off and asked what music we were talking about. Her name was Angie, early forties, this mongrel disease has no discretion.

She said the Stones but not Angie she thinks that song is to sad, so she said she was stuck for a song or saying about her. I said to her 'whats your favourite part of the day' she said 'the morning' I suggested you could consider 'Just call me ANGIE of the moning' we had a laugh and earrphones went back on. She left earlier than I and said I'm going to down load that song, smiled and left.

The last couple before me were Billy and Tilly, his first time in his early 70's his earphones carried the Doobie Bros, again this miserable low life disease catches the coolest people.Tilly had been listening to the converations on music and gigs she nudged a rather nervous Billy to respond with all the music he loved, we nodded approval to Jackson Brown, Peter Frampton and Eric Clapton so he happliy returned his earphones to his head. 

This trio of chairs with music heroes before me may never happen again, but be rest assured if one or more of them are in the same room as each other or I, we'll have no trouble mixing music yarns and gigs and merrily passing  the time as our life's threads decide our future.

Me, I'm ok the aftermath is the hardest in the first days post infusion, but I'm strong, positive in mind and body so once side effects come I'm a little better to deal with them.

Next infusion and the 4th is in 2020, January 8 once done we head to the scans as the first marker of progress, a fairly important juncture I suspect, but what will be is, I can't change that, power of positive thinking in play helps. Outcomes by January 15, then 4 more infusions to go, regardless..

Pies still lead Carlton by 15 points heading to half time(for you Wayne).

To you, thank you for your kind thoughts, they mean much to me and help drive me to my goal of remission. All the crap, exhausting as it may be (great choice of words by Dawn) that I go through is going to save my life...

Believe and Rise...

Have a great Christmas with family and friends and cracking start to the New Decade, does 2000 seem that long ago..?

See you in my chat room with the 7th Blog in 2020, be well and content, remember the morning is your friend embrace it, keep your neighbour in sights they might need You.

Boxing Day Cricket to come.
Stella short film festival
Trips to the country...

Dont stop planning things.

Oh and Daniel the The Go-Betweens Anthology Volume 2 is an outstanding masterpiece. The Rarities in particular. Thank you for organising this to be sent to me.

Love from me
Charles 2019 into 2020..