My skin cancer tumour surgery # 2 was yesterday morning. Arrive at the hospital with my chauffeuring niece, check in, get my wristband for the sold out show, and go sit and wait. Was feeling a little nervous, resentful at having cancer, and worried about the ‘what ifs’ running through my head. Yeah, yeah, blah blah blah, whatever. And then I glance at the table in front of me to see what magazines are available to distract my wandering mind and these are the three my eyes first land on …
Brilliant! I can read about Cancer Care Ontario’s current 5-year plan and how to live with my cancer and look as sincerely(?) happy about it as the gal on the cover of Lives. Perfect reading material for all us cancer patients coming in for day surgery like me or other treatments such as chemo, don’t you think? OR …
I can let Maclean’s inform me that this is how I’m going to die. Hmm, tough choice here. Which shall I pick up?
Answer: none of them. I started laughing so hard I think I alarmed the nurses at the nearby station and my co-conspirators in the fight against cancer down the hall. Perhaps they all thought I gave myself a little over the counter dose of my own pain killer in advance of the surgery. Or, that I had arrived in the wrong section of the hospital. I dunno.
I sent out the pic of the lovely spread of reading material to a few folks who also got a good chuckle out of it. And by the time I was done that and laughing hysterically about it, it was time to go in and make my acquaintance with the knife. Thanks for helping me kill some otherwise fraught with nervousness time God. Your sense of humour yesterday was spot on.
[really bad skin cancer pun intended]
After I was home, I showed my eldest the pic and vowed to go gather up as many other types of magazines as I could find at our local thrift stores and take them back to the hospital to replace the ones I saw. And any others that don’t exactly have the most fitting headlines for folks to see right before their cancer treatments. Probably won’t find exactly what I would have liked to read but we’ll see. If I can find any with the following cover pages, I think I’ll have some winners.
Vanity Is Fair
Best Social Media Captions For Surgery Selfies
#ItTakesSkillToTripOverAir
Rolling Stoned
Taking A Ride Under The Influence Of Anaesthetic
Hospital Geographics
New App To Help You Find Your Way Back To Your Room
Patient’s Digest
Post-Surgery Constipation Cures Now At Your Local Hardware Store
Sports Injuries Illustrated
This Year’s Top 10 Epic DIY Surgical Fails
National Inquirer
Waiting Room Footsies Cause of Nation’s Hand Foot Mouth Disease Epidemic!
Maximize
Turn Day Surgery Into An Appointment With Dr. Summer-Off
Cosmo In The Hospito
Wearing Your Hospital Gown With Sex Appeal
Yeah, I know, my sense of humour here is a tad against the grain. But I’m cool with that. Through all of my lifetime ails and injuries, good ole Reader’s Digest has always been there to remind me that laughter is the best medicine. Bottoms up to that. With a gown on of course.
“The heart prefers to move against the grain of circumstance; perversity is the soul’s very life.”
John Updike, Author
Postscript:
Thanks again to all the readers who sent well wishes. The surgery went very well. Tumour is now gone, or at least almost entirely gone. Yeah, it’s gonna grow back but who knows when, we’ll deal with that when the time comes. Recuperating at home with a few days off work. Livin’ and lovin’ life and lettin’ some laughs be the medicinal elixer of it.
In response to today’s Daily Prompt: Grain
I love the sense of humor during difficult times. May all remain well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Yvonne. I’m hoping for the same!
Blessings … Marianne
LikeLiked by 1 person
God has a wonderful sense of humour and so glad your operation went well. You were in our prayers yesterday and we wish you well in your recuperation. Love from us all 💜🐾🐾
LikeLiked by 1 person
God is the best stand up comedian I know of. Great at improv too. 🙂
Thank you so much for the prayers Xenia. They worked!
Blessings … Marianne
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad your surgery went well, your sense of humor is wonderful and those magazines were awful to have there but your lightheartedness helped to change the whole nerve-wrecking vibe! Thank God! Peace & Blessings to you!!!
BTW… the hospital gown one was funny!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you LiMarie. And yes, I do thank God too. He intervened at just the right moment.
Blessings … Marianne
LikeLiked by 1 person
❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow speechless. good ole Reader’s Digest has always been there to remind me that laughter is the best medicine. Bottoms up to that. With a gown on of course.
I don’t know what to say, but congrats on your bravery and sharing. all the very best for everything
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Bella. And you said it all already with congrats. The surgery success is something to be celebrated. 🙂
Blessings … Marianne
LikeLike
Dang. Sometimes, some dark humor saves the day. I appreciate that about your post, and you!
I’m glad you’re recovering well, and that you’re pushing through, it seems, with flying colors.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you petitewise. Pushing through I am and with much gratitude to the support of readers like you. 🙂
Marianne
LikeLike
Oh, I’ve been wracking my brain trying to think of magazine covers as clever as yours! Just one! All that comes to mind is this: Dumbo was never accepted by his peers until he got drunk and learned to fly.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great one! A few of us could probably start a whole new blog site just for these haha. Marianne
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sanity be damned! Pass the insanity!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ll take a double please!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Damn this phone! I kept trying to post that and it said it wasn’t posting…. If I posted it too many times just delete them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Only one extra came through, don’t worry about it. When I do WP stuff from my phone, I just give it a little extra time. You’ll get used to it, hang in there.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for the skinny (pun intended) on your day. Best of luck with your recuperation. Keep laughing and you will vanquish this unwelcome foe.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Love the skinny. Forgot that was even a saying once upon a time. Will have to use it soon I think.
Thanks for the best wishes. I’m trying my darndest to laugh that cancer right out of my body completely!
Marianne
LikeLiked by 2 people
Awesome sense of humor! Glad everything went well!! You exemplify how to meet life’s challenges head on and with a dose of laughter!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you prettyfly. Laughing at cancer right to its face has been an excellent coping tool that’s for sure.
Blessings … Marianne
LikeLiked by 1 person
All the best to you … your sense of humor is great (which is an unfunny way of telling someone that!)–a fan, Mark
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah but you being you, you made it funny anyway.
Thanks Mark … one of your fans too, Marianne
LikeLike
May the best be yours always; or at least most of the times.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Ngobesing. And you’re right, most of the times sounds good to me. Otherwise, I’d be too close to living a perfectly boring life haha!
Blessings … Marianne
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sweet you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
😄 You Rock Marianne!!! 👊 Happy to hear all went well!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks lady. And for being part of the rollin’ to my rockin’!
🎸 😎
LikeLiked by 1 person
Anytime 🙃🙃🙃🙃🙃
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wishing you a speedy recovery. Your sense of humor is great.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks very much Sheen. The chuckles here and there are healing I believe.
Blessings … Marianne
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wonderful that even in that situation, God could make you smile, rather laugh! Hoping you won’t have to walk that road again.
LikeLiked by 1 person
He is great with the improv comedy in the unusualist of situations I think! And I too hope this road isn’t ventured again but alas if it is, I’m sure there will be more chances for chuckles along the way.
Thanks Barbara for the visit and note. Hope you’re having a kindness-filled kinda day … Marianne
LikeLiked by 1 person
Same to you!!!!!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Enjoyed your post, you have a wonderful attitude. Been there had cancer 3 times. Hope your on the mend!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much Gail. Sorry to hear of your encounters with this nasty disease. Here’s to no more of it for both of us! With a little chuckle along the way too on any account!
Blessings … Marianne
LikeLiked by 1 person
You have a terrific attitude and sense of humor. I’m glad the surgery went well, I will hold you in thought and prayers. You show Cancer that you are bigger than it! Love and hugs!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Susan. The attitude and laughter I believe goes a long way in the fight. Loving the prayers so thank you for those too.
Blessings … Marianne
LikeLiked by 1 person
“Post-Surgery Constipation Cures Now At Your Local Hardware Store”? OOOOOOOOOO I needed THAT article 3 1/2 months ago!!! 2 WEEKS of AGONY LOL!! Rest up my friend, and gently laugh yourself back to health (but don’t laugh too hard, as it may still be painful).
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh no, sorry to hear that Meg, not a fun place to be I know. Resting is going well and laughter all the better but yes you’re right, since the surgery was over my ear it does kinda hurt so laughing inside more than out for a few days haha.
Thanks for the good thoughts, hope you’re having a kindness-filled kinda day … Marianne
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are too funny, Marianne! I am glad to hear the surgery went well. Do you have to do any chemo? Or just follow up for regular check-ups and tests?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Loisa, I’m pretty grateful I have some sense of humour right now. Nope no chemo or radiation, surgery got it for now and likely will be the ‘cure’ for future growths too thank goodness.
Blessings … Marianne
LikeLiked by 1 person
Marianne, you have an amazing sense of humour, it’s what keeps you from getting depressed. All the best to you, hope you’d get better soon.
Ranu 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re right Ranu, humour probably is one of my saving graces. I’d rather laugh than cry any day, better yet I’d rather laugh so hard it makes me cry haha! 🙂
Recovery is going well, thanks for your good thoughts, they’re working … Marianne
LikeLike
Gee, that magazine spread is pretty uproarious. Can I cackle vicariously? Laughter is better than valium! 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Uproarious eh? You’re trumping me with that one. You go ahead and cachinnate your way to wherever you like however you like Capital Q. You’ll do it in style I’m sure, with or without a hospital gown on!
Blessings … Marianne
LikeLiked by 1 person
Blessings to you too. Love it when there are new words!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Gallows humor – I love it. Spitting in the eye of adversity and laughing are the best medicine.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Darn right Bernadette, it is the best meds and for me at least it seems to work so I’m gonna keep doing it!
Blessings … Marianne
LikeLiked by 1 person