Journal of a Living Lady
#171
Nancy White Kelly
I write this column on an early deadline. It would have been understandable to have skipped this week since I am in high gear preparing for the wedding. Even so, I got a jolt from my morning email that inspired me to write. I was reminded humorously that some of us, even experts, aren't very good prophets.
My friend wrote: "EVER HAVE YOUR WORDS THROWN BACK AT YOU? WELL ... YOU'RE ABOUT TO." He went on to give his response to random statements made in former columns or taken from my recent book, Journal of a Living Lady.
This was written soon after the initial treatment for the recurrence of breast cancer: "I had been writing a computer column for over a year for the Sentinel. It was inevitable that this had to stop also. Stress, chemotherapy and a foggy brain does not produce good copy." WANNA BET?
A reaction from my oncologist: "Let me know when you think I am down to my last six months," I said. She didn’t hesitate. "Quite possibly you are there now." I THINK IT WAS GEORGE BURNS WHO, WHEN ASKED WHETHER HE LISTENED TO HIS DOCTORS, SAID HE HAD OUTLIVED THEM ALL SO THERE WAS NO ONE TO LISTEN TO.
When the cancer spread to lungs and bone:
"That was doctor number three who had indicated an expiration date before
the end of year. Yet, there is a bright side to this. Most likely I won’t have
to contend with any Y2K problems." ONE
OUT OF THREE AIN'T BAD.
In my very first column I wrote: "Each week or so I will give you a first-hand account of winding down. It won’t be grossly morbid, I promise. My funny bone still works." His response: OF COURSE IT ISN'T REALLY A BONE, BUT A NERVE. AND IT DOES STILL WORK. AND YOU STILL INDEED HAVE A LOT OF NERVE.
When I prophesized: "Besides, I intend to live
forever. So far, so good." CAN I
GET AN AAAAAAAAAAAMEN?
My response: Amen, my dear friend. A.....a.....men.
For now, I choose to forget about the cancer. I am trying to survive the wedding. The final count-down has begun. By the time you read this column, Charlie and Tori will be in wedded bliss. All the hoopla will be over. Another milestone will have been passed. Miraculously, I have lived to tell about it.
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nancyk@alltel.net
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