generosity is endless

I have to say that I am very glad that I am 1/2 way through my chemo. I know it just seems like I started this whole thing just a few days ago. I guess time flies when you're having fun. Or maybe it just seems to go faster when you're drugged up every few weeks.

But I somewhat digress. This post is/was supposed to not be a nonchalant recounting of my week. It's really supposed to be about all the support that's crawled out of the woodwork. I didn't know how much I could count on my friends. At some level I was still having a hard time believing that we had really settled into Seattle. I always felt like it was just a temporary thing and that I didn't want to get too attached as we would be moving "soon". Well, the "soon" turned into seven years. That's a long time, so it's not surprising that a great set of friendships have developed in that time - whether I was expecting them to or not. I just fell in with some great people. There are many acts of generosity that keep taking me by surprise. My beauty school gals (from the blog post "posse goes to beauty school") arranged dinners while I was in for surgery. Another friend brought over sundries of items from Trader Joe's to stock my freezer and one of my Phi Chapter Chi O sisters sent a delicious meal from Omaha steaks. I was sent homemade biscotti from Minnesota and I have received many touching and funny cards and emails from unexpected sources and flowers from people whose thoughtfulness has taken me by surprise. I received gifts of clothing (from Alyssa the leopard print top and yoga pants already displayed on the last post) and from another friend (code name LNK) a very hot biohazard t-shirt (see right)! My sorority sister advisory group banded together to plan meals for the weeks I am going to be in the hospital for chemo. Another friend is riding in a cancer bike event in my honor. People have changed their schedules to make sure they can "take me for a walk" (yes kind of like how you need to take the dog out for a walk!) When people found out I would loose my hair they eagerly offered to chop theirs as well. Todd did it right away, which wasn't a big change for him since he already kept it at about 1/4 inch. But another friend (DWW pictured right) has gone through with it and I think the look suits him wonderfully.

So I have also learned that as tough as I try to be I am deeply touched by all the outpouring of support that many people have displayed in a variety of ways. I like to make fun of situations and use humor to keep this whole thing in perspective. But, as I sit here to the calm clicking and humming of the medical devices I don't feel alone. I am surrounded by wonderful people and I appreciate each and every person that has come into my life and willingly shared their perspectives, personal struggles with cancer, generosity, or just let me be completely random with my emotions. You're all exactly what I need.