Journal of a Living Lady #145
Nancy White Kelly
The Christmas decorations are in the attic. The last of the leftovers have either been consumed or sent to the garbage pen for the rodent task force. The outdoor varmints need to hurry though as the trash man makes his rounds today. Otherwise, it will be 2003 before they get another chance at sweet potato soufflé.
December
was a very busy month for this family. Charlie graduated from college. As most
of you know, living to see this event was one of two personal goals I set when
the cancer recurred. The other goal was to see the publication of my book,
Journal of a Living Lady. That happened in late summer. The book has done quite
well and apparently was a popular gift for the Christmas season. One lady bought
21 copies for her friends.
God
gave me a continuance and I am deeply grateful. However, the day after Charlie’s graduation my blood counts
dropped. Apparently I am beginning another scuffle with this disease after a
nice respite. A transfusion is likely. Some time in the next few days Buddy and
I will make the trek to Emory Hospital for some sophisticated scans. That is,
if the insurance company and business office come to terms. Right now
neither will budge from their corners. I have been KO’d repeatedly in this
insurance quagmire. It is bad enough to fight the disease medically without the
stress of being a financial pugilist as well.
Ironically,
I have resisted most tests for several months. Why bother? I intended to make it to Charlie’s
graduation… period. No toxic chemotherapy was going to hold me hostage in the
bathroom. I took just the minimum to keep going.
With
a settled stomach and a full head of hair, I sat briefly on the front row of
the college auditorium directly across from the pontific podium. There the
college President would soon call our son’s name. It was such a victorious
feeling.
Friends
and family cheered as Charlie accepted that piece of paper that made him an
official college graduate and a certified teacher. His short white tennis socks
looked funny under the formal black robe. What will it matter in the annals of
history that he forgot his dress socks? Charlie graduated and I lived to see
it.
With
both goals accomplished, what is next on my agenda? Well, I will always have something
to strive for. I call it Operation
Infinite Goals.
Once
more, I would like to sneak off with Buddy and verify that the ocean is still
there. I want to see Charlie and Tori wed in June. If possible, I’d like to break bread someday with Billy Graham.
After
crossing those goals off my list, there is still one to go. The last item on my
to-do list is to cross River Jordan, that great divide between this life and
the next. My ticket is punched and I am patiently waiting for the upper-taker.
In
the meanwhile, I will keep on keeping on writing, laughing, and trying to get
answers to life’s puzzling questions, like… did the ancient Romans ever shop
at the VII XI?
*********
nancyk@alltel.net www.angelfire.com/bc/nancykelly
