Mixed Feelings

Yesterday I was pretty down about being here and it made me introspective. Today I'm quite elated (bluey is already on the road and my stats are good to go) but I'm still introspective.

I was walking another 5 laps to get my sugars good for the before lunch test and I stopped to chat to a fellow in a bed in a quad ward. He's there by himself and that's like me except the large room makes it so obvious that he's alone. Anyway I teased him that with a room so big they could at least give him a lounge suite, big screen TV and a pool table.

We talked and Noel told me a bit about himself. 4th round of cancer, got home last time for only three days of remission before he was back in here. He's doing radiation and chemo but "nothings working this time" He was pretty matter of fact about his prospects and had a very calm demeanour.  I shook his hand and told him I may see him when I'm next in on November 10th. Maybe not.

I'm put in mind to tell you my patented method to getting through a hospital visit. I did this years ago and I won't look up the list but you can, its somewhere in the back chronicles Feb,Mar,April 2007 maybe. I'll do it fresh.
1. Get off your ass. even if it's only a walk to the door of your room. Do it once a day at least.
2. Wear your own jammies. Its depressing being in those hospital gowns. If they say it has to be the weird   gowns....buy your own in bright colors.
3. Even if you have to wear jammies all day change in the morning have a set for night time and set for daytime. Serves several purposes. You feel cleaner even if they are just last nights ones, its moving from day to night. You are marking progress! People notice that you are making an effort and they are encouraged and then they encourage you. "Get up out of the bed your lazy slob and get dressed!" My mother voice in my head.... but she never said it like that, more like "Don't you think you would feel better if you got up and changed". Thanks Mom.
4.Wear a loud shirt if you can I recommend Mambo you can still get them online. The louder the better. It absolutely works. Bright on the outside bright on the inside. The benefits are many fold:
-you make people smile that makes you smile.
- you feel as if everyone (they are) is looking at you and that means that you are being monitored and kept safe.
-Little kids visiting are made to laugh and smile and it makes their scary trip to the hospital better and that makes you feel better.
-It opens up a conversation with nearly everybody and that's one more moment that you are thinking about something else.
5. Be especially nice to the staff . Smile and chat to the cleaners, the catering staff and especially the nurses. They don't always have time to chat but when they do they can be most unexpected in their amusement  value. Besides they have the keys to Kingdom. Cinnamon on your porridge, making sure your favourite herbal tea is on the trolly, extra towels  and mostly just smiles.
6. Always and I mean ALWAYS order the soup! It can be a sauce for the main dish. It may be the only thing you want to eat. it may be that its just the extra nourishment your need to get strong and get out.You don't have to eat it but it there is you need it.

more later
Chris