YES I’m all in. I like everything but peanut butter, though. That shit is the bane of my existence. I’m not allergic, just everything about it is disgusting. We can huck *that* off a bridge
Great post - always makes me smile/laugh. I’m on the stage 4 bowel cancer trail so appreciate a lot of what you say. I’m at the “bloody hell, life is amazing” stage, having gone through the “this is shit, I just want to go to sleep and not wake up” stage. This one’s better…
You've got incredible perspective and a wise head on your shoudlers, Viv. Sending all the good vibes and thoughts and everything else (it takes a while to arrive from Australia but it'll get there).
I feel sad thinking about the poor potatoes that dreamed of being McDonalds fries and succeeded, only to be squandered and uneaten at the bottom of the bag. A moment of silence for those lil guys..
Words to the wise, for sure, Porter. Here’s some food advice in exchange: 1.) DoorDash is the devil’s forceps. It’s draining your bank account and causing you to waste food. Put yourself on a DoorDash diet: no more than once every two weeks. You’ll be amazed at how much money you save. 2.) Start composting. Turning food waste into plant food alleviates guilt over wilted lettuce and stale bread. 3.) Freeze your over-ripe bananas. When you get three, make banana bread. Life is pointless without it.
One of the few who can get me to read long form stuff.
Anywayyayyyy,
There's so much to say about this post.
But the tldr for me is that these are things it took me SO LONG to learn, understand, and THEN actually practice. I do enjoy reading it from a different scenario perspective. While on mine, I was not potentially dying, but my baby was dying. So kinda same. But anyway, it was an instant shift in perspective on how short life can be. I needed that gut punch at the age of 24.
Too bad it took another 5 years before I actually understand and practice 🙄🤣 oh well.
Could you just smile and make me a #vegemite sandwich? At Cancer in Detroit, I've written about how I caroused the night of the day I was declared No Evidence of Disease. It's just that I don't reach the humor level you hit. If anything, hold the cringe humor and lead with the brighter stuff. #CancerInDetroit #Detroited #WilboTheTourist
And I will just start writing letters to all the groceries that I took for granted to deal with my shame attacks when not consuming what I planned for (and it is just the weirdest thing that fish gets fishier!).
Oh very enjoyable read, love the line, You might not have everything you want, but you have everything you need, because it is true (and if you don't you can find someone to help!). It is easy to get wrapped up in the internet age of everyone has more, we need more and the comparison and need for more stuff, things, better jobs, glossy stuff when in actual fact, we have everything already. Thanks for the reminder.
Love the last one about Don't force it, so true, again, not an excuse not to try but you can't make anyone do something and perhaps the job, relationship or 'insert thing' maybe wasn't the 'thing' anyway!
20 year ALL survivor. Post cancer, at least for me, has been just as wild of a ride as cancer. Get that mental shit going after remission that you gotta do more. Irrational? LMAO! Don't quit your job, and run off to China without a degree and $1000 usd in your pocket. Never had a gf before, so got a crash course on that. Advice to anyone going through the dating game, make sure you have a stable income before you play otherwise every girl will leave you or, for financial reasons, you'll have to leave them. Oh, my experience in China wasn't pleasant. First time deported for expiring my visa, second time took a fool's advice to fake the degree to get a basic ESL job (babysitting), and third time I was legal but the job screwed my visa during the 2-month Shanghai lockdown in 2022. Also, side note, had gallstones second time to China and when I left I ended up literally sleeping on the street in Hong Kong 2014 as the Umbrella Revolution was taking place. I wish I could be living in luxury with a supermodel wife, kids, and a nice paying job, but instead I seem to be experiencing life from the bottom rung of society. Get through it all by thinking, "at least I'm alive." I'm back home in the USA now. Unemployed. Stumbled upon your blog on Reddit because last night I was pondering what other cancer survivors are doing with their lives? Am I the only one struggling to have that Life of Pi happy ending?
A part of you thinks, "well, the worst is behind me, it must get better from here" and then the post-cancer life isn't all sunshine and rainbows. My challenges have been on the mental side where as you sound like you've had a ton of practical problems!
We're both running uphill, but in a way, I appreciate the burning feeling in the lungs as I climb that metaphorical hill, because it is damn nice to still be here.
All I can say is a massive CONGRATS on 20 years as a survivor, that's so damn cool - and that at least we have a bunch of great party stories!
I'm getting in the van. There better be candy.
As much as you can eat (don't throw up in the van!!!)
Don't worry, Alex. Your long-deceased food will forgive you.
And, you absolutely don't need to be forgiven--at all!--for the very wise advice given out by you, our resident guru. :)
Am I the only one getting stone-cold food or do you sometimes get an order that's seen better days too???
Hmmm. I MAY have eaten French fries that have been sitting out for hours, fried in old oil. . .
Is there cake in there too? This was amazing, but I’m not a fan of candy. I’ll go anywhere for cake.
It’s the second gross nearly bedridden day in a row, but I think there’s a light. And cake.
Shelley, for you I'll make three different cakes to make sure we have your favourite (and we'll throw the rest off a bridge at 80 miles an hour).
YES I’m all in. I like everything but peanut butter, though. That shit is the bane of my existence. I’m not allergic, just everything about it is disgusting. We can huck *that* off a bridge
I wish I had a witty comment, but my brain is mush today. Can the van pick me up, at least? Today’s a bad morning so far. 😅
There's a spot for you in the van. I'm on the way! Hope you like candy.
I love candy!
"Perspective isn’t just a high-scoring Scrabble word; it’s a reminder to appreciate everything I have." 🦄 Gold.
Also, you play Scrabble?!
I don't just play... I win.
And sometimes I lose and flip the board and storm off.
Life is about balance.
Great post - always makes me smile/laugh. I’m on the stage 4 bowel cancer trail so appreciate a lot of what you say. I’m at the “bloody hell, life is amazing” stage, having gone through the “this is shit, I just want to go to sleep and not wake up” stage. This one’s better…
You've got incredible perspective and a wise head on your shoudlers, Viv. Sending all the good vibes and thoughts and everything else (it takes a while to arrive from Australia but it'll get there).
I am crushed. I thought all Aussie’s swam competitively, surfed and ate vegemite on toast. Serious recalibration going on in my brain . . .
I feel ashamed to have let you down...
Glad I subscribed, very enjoyable read
Thanks for taking the time to check it out, Annika :)
I feel sad thinking about the poor potatoes that dreamed of being McDonalds fries and succeeded, only to be squandered and uneaten at the bottom of the bag. A moment of silence for those lil guys..
They'll always live on in our hearts and our cholesterol 🪦
I too, am grieving the bag fries.
Words to the wise, for sure, Porter. Here’s some food advice in exchange: 1.) DoorDash is the devil’s forceps. It’s draining your bank account and causing you to waste food. Put yourself on a DoorDash diet: no more than once every two weeks. You’ll be amazed at how much money you save. 2.) Start composting. Turning food waste into plant food alleviates guilt over wilted lettuce and stale bread. 3.) Freeze your over-ripe bananas. When you get three, make banana bread. Life is pointless without it.
The DoorDash Diet.
I like how that rolls off the tongue, Denise!
Denise's DoorDash Diet.
That's even better!!
We all know I love your writing.
But your humor is off the charts 👏👏
One of the few who can get me to read long form stuff.
Anywayyayyyy,
There's so much to say about this post.
But the tldr for me is that these are things it took me SO LONG to learn, understand, and THEN actually practice. I do enjoy reading it from a different scenario perspective. While on mine, I was not potentially dying, but my baby was dying. So kinda same. But anyway, it was an instant shift in perspective on how short life can be. I needed that gut punch at the age of 24.
Too bad it took another 5 years before I actually understand and practice 🙄🤣 oh well.
It's internet hyperbole to say "This made my day", but this actually made my day. I'm sorry to hear about the challenges you've had along the way!!!
Awe my cold dead heart! Thank you! I'm so glad it made your day!! I'm doing pretty well now :)
Posted at 4:20 a.m. I have questions...
There are no coincidences...
Could you just smile and make me a #vegemite sandwich? At Cancer in Detroit, I've written about how I caroused the night of the day I was declared No Evidence of Disease. It's just that I don't reach the humor level you hit. If anything, hold the cringe humor and lead with the brighter stuff. #CancerInDetroit #Detroited #WilboTheTourist
Here's to ongoing health and happiness for us both, William!
Kindly publish your binges ... even if you have to make them sound fictional.
I just might (publish them, that is - not make them up, haha).
Man, this candy is dope - once again!
And I will just start writing letters to all the groceries that I took for granted to deal with my shame attacks when not consuming what I planned for (and it is just the weirdest thing that fish gets fishier!).
I wanted you in the van, and I hooked you!
Excited to see this upcoming post you had waiting in your drafts but you now feel ready to publish (or is it published already??).
Yep...bad girl. My mum told me not to even talk to strangers in a van...
You just left a comment to the post😀
Oh very enjoyable read, love the line, You might not have everything you want, but you have everything you need, because it is true (and if you don't you can find someone to help!). It is easy to get wrapped up in the internet age of everyone has more, we need more and the comparison and need for more stuff, things, better jobs, glossy stuff when in actual fact, we have everything already. Thanks for the reminder.
Love the last one about Don't force it, so true, again, not an excuse not to try but you can't make anyone do something and perhaps the job, relationship or 'insert thing' maybe wasn't the 'thing' anyway!
Lovely stuff, great reminders! :)
Linsey, you're a bloody delight for saying this lovely comment and I'll fight anyone who says otherwise!
No fighting please ha ha but cheers for the cool comment, it was a delight to read!
20 year ALL survivor. Post cancer, at least for me, has been just as wild of a ride as cancer. Get that mental shit going after remission that you gotta do more. Irrational? LMAO! Don't quit your job, and run off to China without a degree and $1000 usd in your pocket. Never had a gf before, so got a crash course on that. Advice to anyone going through the dating game, make sure you have a stable income before you play otherwise every girl will leave you or, for financial reasons, you'll have to leave them. Oh, my experience in China wasn't pleasant. First time deported for expiring my visa, second time took a fool's advice to fake the degree to get a basic ESL job (babysitting), and third time I was legal but the job screwed my visa during the 2-month Shanghai lockdown in 2022. Also, side note, had gallstones second time to China and when I left I ended up literally sleeping on the street in Hong Kong 2014 as the Umbrella Revolution was taking place. I wish I could be living in luxury with a supermodel wife, kids, and a nice paying job, but instead I seem to be experiencing life from the bottom rung of society. Get through it all by thinking, "at least I'm alive." I'm back home in the USA now. Unemployed. Stumbled upon your blog on Reddit because last night I was pondering what other cancer survivors are doing with their lives? Am I the only one struggling to have that Life of Pi happy ending?
Mate, I feel you!
A part of you thinks, "well, the worst is behind me, it must get better from here" and then the post-cancer life isn't all sunshine and rainbows. My challenges have been on the mental side where as you sound like you've had a ton of practical problems!
We're both running uphill, but in a way, I appreciate the burning feeling in the lungs as I climb that metaphorical hill, because it is damn nice to still be here.
All I can say is a massive CONGRATS on 20 years as a survivor, that's so damn cool - and that at least we have a bunch of great party stories!