Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Cancer at Christmas: A Post From Christmas Past

Years ago it was cancer at Christmas. The first surgery. The news about chemo. Having hope at the holidays. I found this blog post from Christmas Past tonight and I’m sharing it here. It’s good to remember that we were able to be so be happy even then, even in the thick of it, and that we found serenity and sensuality even in those first few steps into CancerLand.

Here is the old post:

“It’s all here. Love and carols, candlelight service at the United Methodist Church last night, sleeping late and making love through the morning, a sponge bath then washing his hair over the side of the tub—he cannot get the stitches wet for three more days—a walk in the neighborhood, opening gifts—books and music, and tickets and clothes for both of us. These are the things we have shared and talked about from the first day we met. Cashmere and satin and a collection of erotic poetry keep the love alive. We cook dinner together: Cornish game hens with smooth small breasts, artichokes to slide through our teeth, potatoes soaked with butter and garlic and chocolate mousse. Christmas together. We never thought we’d see this. But here it is. We have both cancer and Christmas and it is enough.”




This year’s Christmas Eve is a little different: Adopt-a-Family gifts, cooking, wrapping, (cursing the tape dispenser), texting the kids, cajoling the siblings, turning off the phone for private sensual solitude. Both of us laughing; we are this grateful.

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