Little Things

 Here's the Costco Roundup for today.

Mom explaining to her kid that was asking her to buy something "Mom and Dad are a partnership and they have to make decisions together." 

Lady got a sample of the Philly Cheese Steak in front of my Mom. My Mom bumped into her later and asked her how it was, she leaned in and whispered so the Costco Gods wouldn't hear her blaspheme "There wasn't any cheese."

A Mom with her ten month old twins in the front of the cart walked by the Christmas tree display and asked them if they liked the tree. They immediately started to cry. She said "Okay okay, we won't get the tree! This is Walmart behavior, not Costco behavior."

Older Lady on the phone giving directions - "I'M BY THE FISH!"

And the best was a sweet little boy wearing a "Crew Member" t-shirt, sitting in the front of the cart, waiting for his sample. He was doing the "I'm So Excited I Get To Have A Treat At Costco" Dance. 

I think we should all be that excited. Be that in love with the little things. 

I know I'm gonna try.

Miracle Day

 Ten years ago today I was being wheeled into the Huntsman's operating room and having the cancerous parts of  myself removed, from myself. I had set parameters beforehand with my surgeon on what music could not be played overhead during the procedure. The big NO NOs were Reo Speedwagon and Air Supply. Just in case I died on the operating table, I didn't want the last thing resonating through my being to be "All Out of Love" or even worse "Can't Fight This Feeling." I know, I know that someone will wield WHAM! against me. Go ahead. I can take it. I don't mind. No matter how embarrassing "Bad Boys" might seem I will sing that on a loop for eternity if it means to never hear another song from The Bands Who Should Not be Named again. Now, where was I before I got lost in my tirade against shit 80s limp rock? Oh yeah, being amazed and grateful that I am still on this floating blue marble ten years later. 

Ten years. It seems so long and yet, that is just how long ago it was when the last Harry Potter film was released. Yup. Not a lie. I totally remember thinking how lucky I was to live long enough to see all the films. Stephie didn't. Steph didn't live to see a lot. Many haven't. I think that every time I see the leaves change. I get nearly panicked each autumn to pay the change of season its due homage. I owe this life my attention. That I can pay.

My surgery also took place on the Day of the Dead. The day when two universes exist together. Being the nerdy geek that I am, I decided to put my own internal spin on it. I had been watching the last season of Torchwood where no one on Earth was able to die. Skipping all the horrible plot holes (and literal holes) in the show, I held on to that theme as mine. My own Miracle Day. My Day of the Dead where no one was allowed to die. 

Ten years later I am just as dorky. Still hold the leaves changing just as sacred and I will joyously hold in contempt Ear Worm Supply and URA Jackwagon. 😉😜

Getting used to the miraculous. I could get used to that.

Reunion of the Scrape

 This months marks the 10 year Anniversary of my Cervical Cancer diagnosis. Kind of a big deal. At the outset of it all they gave me a five year survival rate, with high probability of the cancer returning since it had spread to my lymph nodes. Still, it never did return. Not to say during the first year of my treatment that there weren't hella snags and bumps and plain old disasters. Even so, I'm here, 10 years later, for what I'm calling The Reunion of the Scrape. Today was my yearly pap smear and when I alerted my Gynecological Oncologist and his team of the particulars, they thought that was pretty damn funny. I am so lucky to have had The Hunstman Cancer Institute and their staff during all the original treatment and my follow up care. And just like before, today The Moms was there. Supporting me. Reminding me how loved I am. How grateful I am to BE HERE! 

After the stirrups, scraping, and reminiscing were over, Mom and I went for a treat. Nothing too fancy, being with my Mom is fun enough of a celebration. I ran into Sprouts and picked us up some lunch. A turkey wrap for Mom and veggie sushi for me, that the sweet kind lady made fresh because I asked if they had any without avocado so she made some! We ate in the car and had a great time of people watching. 

Not everyone gets to celebrate such milestones. They didn't get ten years, not even five. They don't get to make up silly crude names like Scrape-Aversay. Stephie didn't. So do me and Stephie a favor, go get your hoo-ha checked, your boobs squished, your testicles inspected and regularly get bloodwork done. The people that love you will thank you and you'll be thanking yourself. 

Here's to ten more years. 

Things I Need

 List Of Things I Need To Do

1. Dust
   
2. Vacuum
3. Go Through Mail
4. Shred Mail
5. Organize And File Mail That I Didn't Shred
6. Reorganize Cupboards (Dry Goods/Staples)
7. Clean Bathroom
8. Laundry
9. Write
10. Read
11. Sort Memorabilia Boxes
12. Organize Memorabilia 
13. Get Out Knitting And Restart (Relearn Casting On)
14. Continue Paint-By-Numbers
15.  Colour
16. Write
17. Tune Guitar
18. Learn to Play Newly Tuned Guitar
19. Send Cards
20. Rearrange Bookshelves 
21. Sweep
22. Mop
23. Write
24. Detail My Car
25. Be Grateful For My Mom
26. Tell My Mom I Love Her
    

 

List Of Things I Have Done Today

 

1. Compiled This List 
2. 25 and 26 on repeat
   

 

 

 

 

 

Buying It

Costco Stories

Shopping at Costco with The Moms and a friendly lady stops us, points at our MEGA FULL cart and says "You're spending all of your inheritance!" We all giggle and then I say, "More like MY inheritance!" And we giggle some more.

These are moments I live for. Strive for. Random, silly, human breakthroughs that pierce the veil we use to protect us daily. Sometimes all it takes is a comment, a question, a smile.

Mom with her kiddo in the basket of their cart, eating the sample they just picked up, is next to me and I joke with her "Whaaaaaaat? They have kids on sale today?" She laughs, "Oh yeah, soooooo cheap. Wait, I mean free!"

The Moms and I take breaks when we shop at Costco; my leg, her knee. We sit on the couches or the recliners on display, and not only do we get back some of our energy, we enjoy top notch people watching. Our favorite is peeking into the World of Carts.

You can tell this couple is Keto, this couple is most definitely not. The single guy with only many and various meats probably has a BBQ planned and most likely will not be inviting the young lady in the yoga pants with only protein drinks and a watermelon. So many people and so many carts full of stories.

All this. In one Costco. In one city. In one afternoon.