Hello

Day three of radiation; day five of chemo.

Side effects update:

• Nausea: A little at first this morning, but not bad. No "praying to the porcelain god" or anything like that.
• Hair: Still there; no mange yet!
• Fatigue: Just the usual, plus some extra from having insomnia
• Etc: I feel like I have a mild sunburn on my right temple, and behind one of my eyes it feels like I stared into the sun too long or something. But in general, so far, so good - things are pretty tolerable. (Except the cancer itself, of course!)

Today the kind ladies at the cancer center remembered that "Hello" was my favorite Lionel Ritchie song, so they had it playing when I arrived for my radiation appointment. I loved being taken back to those early days of falling in love with my husband, as this was "our" song. And then I started to really ponder the words. They always seem relevant to the time when I was falling in love, but today they had a haunting relevance to the "if and when..." Wherever this process takes me, I know I will be thinking about, and "singing" these words in my mind to my husband until we are together again:

I've been alone with you inside my mind;

And in my dreams I've kissed your lips a thousand times.

I sometimes see you pass outside my door -- Hello, is it me you're looking for?

I can see it in your eyes; I can see it in your smile.

You're all I've ever wanted; my arms are open wide;

'Cause you know just what to say, and you know just what to do

And I want to tell you so much, I love you.

I long to see the sunlight in your hair,

And tell you time and time again, how much I care.

Sometimes I feel my heart will overflow -- Hello? I've just got to let you know...

'Cause I wonder where you are, and I wonder what you do;

Are you somewhere feeling lonely, or is someone loving you?

Tell me how to win your heart, for I haven't got a clue.

But let me start by saying...I love you.