My Chemo BFF

So, I have already kinda sorta mentioned that I am the youngest, hottest, most stylish sweet thang in the chemo joint.  I might have totally told a lie .  On certain Wednesdays I am the hippest chick stuck to a chemo pole. But every other Wednesday the crown of cuteness goes to my chemo b. fry, Grace.  She hunkered down next to me in the blood and bodily-fluid resistant mint green recliners on my very first chemo treatment.  And she put on her fox socks, and I knew right then that I was no match for her in terms of youthfulness, looks, and style.  She definitely was the cutest  and youngest patient in that cancer carniceria.  I could tell  just by looking at her.  Also because patients have to state their birthdays infinity plus one times.  I had three years on her. Dang it!

Now remember, I just found out about my cancer and had just made it Facebook official.  I was racking up the "likes" and my attention whore-ometer had just measured a 9.9 on the Richter scale.  I was a category 5 attention whooo-re and was sickly relishing every bit of sympathy that came my way. And now it was obvious that I had cancer competition.  I mean, my first fifteen minutes there and I was already winning the sympathy vote from the senior citizens with my heartbreaking story.  "Advanced stage breast cancer, three little kids, school teacher, yada yada yada."  Anyhoo, I can't quite remember, because I was doped up on my first chemo cocktail, but I think it was my friend Amber who struck up a conversation with Grace.  I was probably being a snot because of the rivalry between us.  The rivalry that I cooked up in my mind the first five minutes we were seated next to each other.  The rivalry poor Grace did not know she was engaged in with a complete stranger.  I am so thankful Amber was nicer than me and started chatting, because Grace is such a precious gem!!

From the first conversation we had, I knew that Grace was going to be my chemo BFF.  And I told her that she was going to be my BFF.  Thank God she didn't fight me on that one, because I would have really been bored and without snacks for the past couple months.  But back to our rivalry that Grace did not know existed.  I started out our first conversation the way every mother starts out a conversation, by asking if she had any kids.  Mind you, I was expecting an answer like "Yes, I have a 7 year-old named Harper,"  or "No, I am child-free" because Grace looked way too put together to have a baby or a gaggle of kids.  She was also very cool.  So I figured she would have an only child with a trendy, hipster name like Harper.  And her only child had to be around the age of 7, because anything younger than that is a lot more work and again, this girl appeared to have her $h*& together, so no way could she have toddlers.  I was seriously gearing up to tell my favorite shocking mother story--how I birthed three single kids in 2.5 years after she was done telling me all about "Harper." But then she dropped a bombshell.  She said that she had FOUR babies age 5 and under!!  Say whaaaaaaaaaaa???!!!!!  She just totally one upped me in a category I didn't think I could possibly be one upped.  It's like we were in the Miss America pageant, and she had already demolished me in the evening gown and swimwear categories, but I was going to redeem myself in the talent competition by juggling three flaming swords.  And then Grace came strutting in in her sequined gown with FOUR flaming swords AND singing Yankee Doodle Dandy at the same time!  Thunder stolen.  Game over.  She won.  But I no longer cared about losing because OMG, she had cancer AND four babies and I just can't even.....

To make it even more obvious that we were destined to be besties, I found out that she was a teacher and we had a common principal.  So here we are, cancer patients, mothers, teachers, Cheetoh and chocolate lovers.  A match made in oncology heaven. Obviously we (I) dropped our rivalry and  know that God put us together in the same spot at the same time for a reason.  To be friends.  To support each other during a really rough time.  To have girl time talk for hours while poison is dripping into our veins.  Grace has the perfect name for her.  She is extremely gracious, kind, humble, patient, and calm.  She knows just the right words to say or write to make me feel better.  And she was always checking on me!  She makes me want to be a better person.  More like her.  And now I know that I sound like I have written marriage vows to her.  But tomorrow is her last session!  And I am really going to miss her!  And she gets to ring the bell!  (You get to ring the bell when you are all done with treatment.  It's kind of emotional for everyone. )  So congratulations Grace!  I look forward to Moms Night Out without the chemo pole!

Amber, the nice one.