When the cashier handed the cup over, she said,
"Enjoy, Sweetie."
Okay.
I thought, Oh Lord. Now I've really reached the
senior level. Then I remembered all the times I'd also called a lady,
"Sweetie." I felt bad. Bad that I had possibly caused some tic in a
perfectly nice person's day.
Anyway, I completely understood the cashier's
comment. Here I sat, no make-up and a gray streak running through the front of
my hair. At a younger age, I'd have never, never even gone to the mailbox
without make-up. Boy how times have changed! Once back at home, I took a good
look in the mirror. I barely recognized myself. You know, it's that memory we
have locked inside our heads that we're still as fresh and great looking as we
were at an earlier age. Twenty-something or just topping thirty. Well, that
lady didn't stare back at me. I was older, not getting any younger.
I went about my humdrum day and started the next
thing in my day. I stopped and considered what would happen if I didn't do
"that next thing." Nothing. Nothing would happen. "That thing,"
would be there the next day staring me in the face. So I didn't do it. Sure
enough, the next day I had to add it back into my chores. No matter, I got it
done without a hitch.
The following day I had an appointment with the
dermatologist. Hubby had gone the previous week for a mole removal. I was tense
about the mole, as it looked strangely like some of the cancerous moles I'd
researched on the internet. So the nurse called me in and when the doc came in,
I proceeded to show him the reason I was there. He checked out different areas,
and was about to begin the procedure. All of a sudden, he pulled back my collar
and said, "What about this?"
"Oh," I said. "I forgot to show you
that one." I smiled, and thanked him for finding the spot. I'd wondered
about it for a couple of months, but didn't really think much about it being
serious. I'd actually forgotten about it.
"What you have there is skin cancer."
A light breath would have knocked me over.
"No problem. I'll burn it off and if it comes
back, make an appointment and we'll get it taken care of again."
Okay. All was well with the world again, I'd simply watch and wait. I could do that. For such and unexpected diagnosis, I was perfectly
calm after I left the office.
About two hours later, the phone rang and it was the
same doctor's office calling for my hubby. They wouldn't give me a message
other than for hubby to call them. Well, my heart jumped in my throat. Could
hubby have cancer too? If so, it would probably be worse than mine, because of
the shape and size of the mole and the fact that another doctor had suggested he have it checked out.
Hubby called me back with great news. No cancer.
I was thrilled. I thought about how ironic it was
that I was so concerned about hubby, yet I was the one with bad news. Except
the bad news had a positive prognosis. I was thankful. I have too many books to
write. No time for that old nasty cancer.
The rest of the day, I didn't concern myself with
the removal of a cancer. I looked forward to doing my chores, my errands, everything
that crops up to take up my time.
Now, my time is used for positive. I won't let the
negative mar what I have to do, what I want to do. If cashiers want to call me
"Sweetie," so be it. I won't even let it register.
I have time on my side.
Enjoy your time and make the best of each day.
Carol DeVaney
If you'd like to check out my books, you can find
them listed on my website.
