The quieter you become the more you can hear ~ Ram Dass



Saturday, August 14, 2010

Saturday Centus #15

 It's Saturday Centus again - in a nutshell, Jenny Matlock gives us a prompt from either herself or a guest submitter and then we have to write 100 or words less related to the prompt (the prompt doesn't count toward the 100 words)  Then link it up to her blog.  It's open until the following Saturday, so that means you have all week to participate by either reading or writing a Centus. http://jennymatlock.blogspot.com/2010/08/saturday-centus-i-listened-to-them-cry.htmlLook for a little explanation at the end why I chose to write this.  The prompt is in bold..



"Do you think Mom's going to be okay."?  "Hopefully, this chemo will take care of everything and she'll be fine". 

"I don't know if I could go be as tough as her".  "Yeah, me either.  She looks so sickly especially with the bald head and the dark circles under her eyes".  "I hope this doesn't sound mean but she reminds me of Uncle Fester from the Addams Family" and they howled with laughter.

I listened to them from my perch on the top step and didn't know whether to laugh or to cry  while they sat on the front grass not knowing I was there. 

I could understand though.  Sometimes you just have to laugh at yourself and  I chuckled.   
 *************************
 I don't want anyone to think I am making fun of someone with cancer.  When I was going for treatments, I had my husband take pictures of me only one time.  When I saw the pictures, I told him I looked like Uncle Fester that's why I came up with this.  

16 comments:

Jenners said...

I hate that you drew from real life for this ... but it was very well done. Very touching and captures the realities of life just a little too well in some ways.

jeff campbell said...

Wow...powerfully funny...poignant...well done...Peace

People Who Know Me Would Say: said...

That you know this first hand literally hurts my heart. But it helped you bring something extra to Centus this week. Well done!

Kim Lehnhoff said...

I think it's common for cancer patients to use gallows humor to cope (and family members use it, too).

My brother, after losing his kidney to cancer, remarked that he listed to one side when he stood now, since he weighed less on one side than the other.

Bookie said...

Humor helps... and your story shows the pathos but the humor too. I had two firends with breast cancer, one more serious than the other. They went for treatments together asking the tech if they could get a cheaper price since there was only 2 1/2 breasts between them to treat!

Susan Anderson said...

I really liked this one, though I'm sorry it had to come from such a hard experience.

Humor is always a big help to me in getting through whatever hard stuff comes my way. Thanks!

=)

Cheryl said...

Beautifully and poignantly written, Viki. Knowing this came from a place deep inside brings so much more sweetness to the the piece. So glad you're a survivor.

noexcuses said...

I agree with you and most of your friends, here. Humor is what gets us through the hard times.

Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. It's always nice to meet women in my age range. I feel like we see many things in a similar light!

Have a great rest of the weekend!

RockiBottom said...

it's true... sometimes you really MUST laugh at yourself to get through. wonderful work with the prompt.

Kat said...

I hate that you had to have personal experience, but it makes your story for this week that much more poignant. My mother is battling cancer right now, and her Dr. told her that if she lost her sense of humor, she had lost half the battle. And she is finding that to be very true.

Koby said...

Like the others said, it is too bad you had to suffer the horrors of cancer, but so happy to hear that keeping a sense of humor is a very healthy thing to do. (Great job with the prompt)

lissa said...

I think it's uplifting and it takes a lot to laugh at yourself, wonderful writing

Malisa said...

Laughter is the best healer! Great conversation between the kids and great reaction by mom! Wonderful story! Thanks!

Malisa

Tgoette said...

Humor does wonders in lots of situations, which is why I always have some at the ready as a defense mechanism! This was a wonderful post, full of warmth and heart. I salute you!

ReformingGeek said...

Uncle Fester. **snickering**

Yes, humor makes life so much easier.

Nice job!

Jenny said...

I admire you. Laughter is always my method of coping with horrible, too. If you can't find humor in the situation then all you have left is the pathos.

And, really, what fun is that!?!

This was a great use of the prompt.

Hugs and admiration to you!