Getting Ready for Camp, 1966
June 26 marked the 7th month since my diagnosis of stage 3b non-small cell lung cancer. Life expectancy from date of diagnosis, with treatment, is 12-18 months. So, I’m a little shy of half-way there, if we’re going by the more optimistic figure. Of course, statistics are only statistics, not a finite rule applied to everyone fighting cancer. A number of people survive far beyond that bleak prognosis; I’ve met some who’ve passed the 7 year mark, a few even making 10 years and beyond. But, that’s rare.
With this in mind, I feel I should be getting ready for something substantial, like a journey to some unknown destination for which one isn’t quite sure what to pack. True, I feel fine, except for the cough and some shortness of breath. Much of my energy has returned, I’m sleeping well again, don’t have a fever and my scalp is sprouting baby-fine fuzz which just may turn into a full head of hair. Joan and I had a small crowd over for a barbecue yesterday. All day I received compliments of, “You look great!” Each sounded sincere, if slightly surprised. The unspoken sub-text seemed to be, “and YOU have cancer?”
The other thing people openly marvel at is that I continue to work. Since I do have a job, along with the financial responsibilities requiring me to keep that job, what else would I do? With exception of the few days recovering after chemo treatments, there’s been no good reason to stay home. Life is comprised of the whole experience, not just the vacations away from work. I’ve never been much good at compartmentalization. While I don’t share all my personal life with my work colleagues, work and the charactors populating it are very much a part of my life. While one tries to refrain from taking the stress of work drama home, work is part of it all. And…it really does make these long weekends extra special.
All my life, I’ve eagerly anticipated trips to places I’ve never been. Joan and I are planning a road trip to Mt. Rushmore in September. We’ve been pouring over maps and travel guides we picked up from AAA weeks ago. We’re even practicing erecting and breaking down our pop-up tent in preparation. By the day we leave, we’ll hopefully be well prepared for the trip ahead. We take as much pleasure in the planning and preparing as we do in the actual travel.
So, whether or not I’m half-way to whatever comes after this, or not, my focus is on getting ready. I’m not completely convinced there’s an afterlife, or reincarnation, or anything at all following this life. None of that is within my control. What is within my control is how much care and pleasure I take in preparation for the journey…which might not be a journey at all. And that would be true whether there were 5 months or 50 years left until day of departure.
Thanks for sharing your journey, Joyce… love you…
Very tender, very real, Joyce…thank you for always sharing what’s in your heart.
Thanks, Ladies! Hope you’re enjoying the weekend.
thanks Joyce, have a great trip..what a beautiful heartfelt note to all
….what is your diet consist of? Rollin just recieved this diagnosis
Blessings & Love
Debbie
Hi Joyce–Yes, I was sincere re: you look great. Cancer or not. RE: your Mt. Rushmore trip. I’m with you. I love the planning part. It’s like waiting for your lover to enter the bedroom and musing: Hmm…what WILL we do? Delicious.
After reading your ‘planning a trip is like musing over the great love-making about to be experienced’ analogy, I’d say your employment as a travel editor and writer is the perfect fit. ;-D
I just want to make it all better for you, and George and Patrick and I can’t, and that makes me frustrated and saddened.Being supportive just doesn’t cut the mustard for me. I don’t know It was a lovely, fun afternoon yesterday and I think eveyrone enjoyed themselves..thank you for Sharing!! You provided the sparklers and we kept them going…a good time was had by all!.. Just sayhing…Thank you, TThank you!! for inviting us. I so enjoyed it all.
I don’t know what to say other than it’s completely frustrating watching my dearest friends having to cope with this crap!! Not fair. Hopefully you will find your grace and comfort and get through all this. Too much to worry bout. Too many regrets. Just toooo much. My sleeping pill is kicking in…nighty-night………………………………………………..
Happy Trails, you cute little Girl Scout. A card is in the mail with further response to this entry. Your courage along with your strength along with Joan and your dogs and parrot ??( I remember that parrot sleeping in my atrium some years ago) will get you to MT. Rushmore. And there is a thread at work that fills a certain part of life. I still find that piece of my ” embroidery” important after many years of retirement so I’m glad it still fulfills you. Happy 4th. Bonnie
Hi Joyce,
I’m glad you and Joan are planning a trip to Mount Rushmore. I think planning a trip is half the fun of traveling, poring over maps and potential places to explore.
I still remember your letters to me at camp included fizzies to cover up the iron taste of the water. Also included were clippings of the first lunar landing, must have been 1969, or three years after you went to camp. I even think we went to the same camp, in different years, of course. I had a crush on a counselor with the camp name of “Frog”. She looked a little like Mary Martin’s version of Peter Pan.
What I don’t remember is if we had camp names.
love from your formerly fizzy loving little sister,
Kathleen
That would have been Camp Menzies (http://www.girlscoutshcc.org/gshccadmin/site1/girlscouts/camp/residentCamp_tour.asp). I vaguely remember something about Frog. When I attended, only counselors had camp names. Only person I remember well was the Camp Director, who was very tan and ‘athletic’…AKA: butch. ;-D
Yep, it was Camp Menzies, kinda a strange name for a girls camp.
Thanks for the link!
K
The Croker Girls were Girl Scouts!! I can’t remember which Council Menzies was. My good friend might have been there when you were. She was neither tan nor athletic, but there was a Frog on her Staff. I was Camp Director for a GS camp in Idyllwild, above Palm Springs, for two summers after we met, Joyce. I was never tan or athletic, but I certainly know about all the crushes. I always wished to be tan, but I was born to be freckled. Yes, Staff all had “camp” names. Some of the old ladies I know have kept them….never got past the next passage. I dropped mine long ago….embarrassing, to say the least.:):):)
Holy Mole!…I’ve responded to this blog, which I am just now reading, and have no recollection of responding, and my response makes no sense to what you posted….so, I must be truly losing it, whatever “it” is. Well, at least I’m laughing about it. It could be depressing. As the others said as well, I really did think you looked great at the party…and love all the new toenail colors!! Hard to believe you’ve passed the 7-month mark since diagnoses…seems like just yesterday, and a million years as well. You’re doing damn well, Joyce, all things considered!! I honestly don’t think there was any sub-text to the compliments…we all know you have cancer, but don’t paint you into a corner with it. You are You, with or without it…if you get my drift. You’re loved for who you are, warts and all, just like the rest of us!! And you’re off to the Dakotas in September!! Should be a lovely time of the year to go there!! Love your writing, love you!!! Sleeping pill kicking in….au revoir!! Ta Ta!!
Good Luck, I can see you are a Fighter
Hi joyce,
i read your article in the la times health section and i had to respond because i saw many similarities. I too have stage 3b lung cancer.Like you, i was never a smoker. I was also diagnosed last year around the same time as you. I had my upper right lobe removed in dec. by Dr. Chang.@kaiser. followed by chemo. I too live in atwater village! My family and i are also planning a trip to Maui the first week in aug. I hope you continue to stay strong. Thanks for your blog.And best wishes to you and your family………..Teresa
Wow! Glad to hear you were able to have the surgery. Enjoy Maui!
I like your words in the last para, do whatever is in your control to prepare for the journey. I would say, as I wrote in my blog, BE THE MASTER OF YOUR OWN HEALTH. Know your body and learn how to heal your cancer through your own body. Read my articles.
Hi Joan
I just discovered your blog. I haven’ read all of the entries yet but I sure do plan to. Your inciteful comments are a must for all former and current cancer patients. Heck, for anyone.
Thank you,
Diane
I’ve stumbled across your blog and truly enjoy reading it…my good friend’s mother and a VERY close friend just passed from lung cancer so you have my sympathies…
On a different note, I attended Camp Menzies for 10 years between the ages of 7-17 and plan to be a counselor there for the next 3-5 years. It’s named after Charles Menzies who donated his land to the girl scouts specifically for a girl scout camp as designated in his will.
I knew Menzies has been around since the early 50′s or so but it’s really cool to hear about it from way back when. I’d love to hear anymore of your camp experiences if you could share! I’m trying to research the history of the camp, actually.
Happy trails!