Strangers No More

Seems like everyday I meet survivors. Today I was fortunate to meet a lovely woman, I'm horrible with names. She told me hers, but I forgot. I always blame my memory loss on the chemo. Still. Me and my husband were out at one of our favorite fish haunts. We drive clear cross town, and it's worth it. We always get one order and share it so we don't feel so guilty about stuffing ourselves. Man... it's so good! I could go everyday. Anyway, my hubby spotted her. She and her husband crossed the street just ahead of us and went in our favorite place. It took them awhile to decide on their choice, and we waited and shifted as they made up their minds before ordering. It was funny that I chose a table right by them. And I didn't even recognize my sister, though she was sitting there, right next to me, a shoulder away across a tiny aisle parallel in a booth. I glance over as I laughed and talked, but it was to see what they were having. He had gumbo and a rather large green salad, and she had a fish basket. Oh darn! Now you know it's a fish place. But I'm still not saying where. Not yet. Anyway, I woulda missed meeting this sister if it hadn't been for my husband. We had finished eating and he said, "there's somebody who went through what you did, and you need to say something to her." It didn't register at first. We had been gabbing away, like always, talking, rating the fish, deciding it was still good. That meant we'd be back again. Decisions on almost everything in our life now was based on visit by visit. If things went down, changed for the worse, and the place was just having a bad day, that could mean curtains for our patronage there. Anyway, he had to get me to focus on what he was telling me cause there was a lot of chatter. He sort of whispered that he spotted a survivor and I should say something to her. We had finished our meal and they had as well and had pushed their baskets and plates away and the busboy was clearing away their table. I turned and saw her in her scarf, and put it together. Duh...! I turned to her, leaned over and spoke. My husband did the same with her husband. I smiled, reached across the aisle and extended my hand and introduced myself. We talked for several minutes, and I tried not to overwhelm her with my experience or to ask too many questions. She said this was her second round, and she was fighting with the help from her spouse, doctors, some family, and medical staff, friends, and so many she's met. She admited she's a private person, and I could understand that. I might have talked too much, but felt I had to share all I could think of that worked for me. I wanted to tell her everything I knew and heard about; jaumba juice, apricot kernals, oxygenated water... Oh... man.. I forgot to mention that she should lower her acidic level, and make her body more akaline... I probably wouldn't have explained it right anyway... but I think I can if she contacts me. Hope I didn't overload her... Our talk lagged in a few places, but we both worked to keep it light and upbeat. That's what I wanted to do. Cause that's what I needed when I was doing chemo. I needed to laugh, laugh, and laugh some more. I gave her my card and told her to email me. I hope she will. If not I understand. But I'm glad we met and I hope I didn't overdo it. We hugged, perfect strangers no more, and I even gave her a peck on the cheek and told her I'd pray for her. And I will.

On Track

I'm slipping off my much talked about, carefully crafted perch. It was created and held up at that scary time when things got bleak. Remember? That was at the beginning... the diagnosis. I was scared and trying to hide it with denial. It was crazy. But reality bonged me in the head so hard there was no denying anything. I didn't shrivel up and shrink away. No! I got fired up! Ready to fight... and go to battle! No big "shark" was gonna snap me up. I jolted myself back to a right mind set. Now I was ready to fight and kick butt. It was working, and going good, considering. That's when I thought... I got this under control. Yeah... okay... Uh-huh... I got cocky, careless, and started thinking... Look at me! I beat this thing! I'm fine now. And it can't happen to me again. So I blew it off, and reverted back to my old ways. Okay... No... it wasn't too cool or swift. And you know, I even started thinking... Hey... I'm smart... got passed this... and so a little cheating, dabbling, reverting back, getting comfortable... what's the problem? Couldn't hurt. ...started eating that bad stuff again. All that grub I swore off back when I didn't know if I could get though that nasty, horrible, scary trouble. And now I was eating it again. Oooh... You know... I got to feeling like... hey... I'm all right. Sure... I'm looking good. So what if I'm gettin' a little fleshy. It's not good to be so scary thin. And my hair was growing back. Huh... I was more myself than I had been for a long time. Got to thinking... hmmm... that wasn't me. Couldn't a been. Naw! Was just a crazy mixed-up time, a dream even. I musta just got pulled into some freaky dream. Maybe I didn't really have what they said after all. Cause now I felt good... great even. Okay. Yeah. I got the scars. I see 'em everyday... Still... I don't want to think I'm so different from everybody else who never had my challenges. And then I got to sluggin down gut bustin' caffeine, and sucking in sugar; laying around, and not movin' a whole lot. Besides, I'm feelin' and doin' jus fine now. Naw... Hey... Come on! Get real! I know what happened and what I gotta' do. Then the GONG! And then I got to thinking... I'm not the only one to go through this thing. So-o-0... I'd better put my story down, give the real deal. But not just for me. It's for all those others too, at the beginning of their journey and on through maintenance. And yes... I'm still learning, and fighting. And what I'm finding out is that it's never over. As long as you're here, you gotta keep fighting, and learning how to deal with this stuff. You get off course, but you gotta work your way back, maybe a whole bunch of times. The main thing is, when you backslide, don't give up. My Guide gives the whole picture. It's frank, sensible help that works when things gets hard and rough. You learn that you can stick it out, even after missteps. It might not be for you, but you can hand it off to somebody else. It goes from diagnosis, through the fight and the work it takes to beat the odds. You can rebound. Stay strong and on track. Release date soon. Sue

Christmas Do's and Don'ts

Okay, here's what you're supposed to do, and try not to be a SCROOGE!!!
Send this to a bunch of folks you know. Change all the answers so that they apply to you. 'tis the Season to be NICE!

At Christmas... Do you:

1. Use Wrapping paper or gift bags?

2. Real tree or Artificial?

3. When do you put up the tree?

4. When do you take the tree down?

5. Do you like eggnog?

6. Favorite gift received as a child?

7. Hardest person to buy for?

8. Easiest person to buy for?

9. Do you have a nativity scene?

10. Mail or email Christmas cards?

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?

12. Favorite Christmas Movie?

13 When do you start shopping for Christmas?

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?

16. Lights on the tree?

17. Favorite Christmas song?

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer?

20. Angel on the tree top or a star?

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?

23.Favorite ornament theme or color?

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner?

25. What do you want for Christmas this year?

26. Who is most likely to respond to this?

27. Who is least likely to respond to this?

I'll share my answers if you insist... or just keep em deep inside where they can do no harm

Love, Peace and Blessings to All

Sue Adkins, Playwright/Songwriter
P.O. Box 940572
Plano, Texas 75094
Phone: 972.423.7899
website: www.successunlimited1.ws
" Order Children's Music by Sue at: www.cdbaby.com/cd/sueadkins "
" Order Kwanzaa Music by Sue at: www.cdbaby.com/cd/sueladkins "

De-Clutter

Can you have too many purses? Too much stuff? Got gobs of clutter and noise in your life? Save the mind probe. Relax. I'm talkin bout me. Things do break down, wear out and get shabby. Patchin' won't help. And more mindless spending is taboo. You scan the place and see... It's time for some major reinin in. ...gotta fix the cracks, replace, re-do, paint... The rug, floor, furniture, the sink, and even the light fixtures look jacked. No money to vacate till it's all done. You get to stay an see the whole thing through. First hand. Remember that Chevy Chase/Shelly Long House Redo movie? (Sigh) So you get started. Shift things aroun'. Push and drag all that stuff to one side of the room. Now fix up that empty space. Then you push all that stuff back, work the other side of th room... and do the same in all six other rooms. Might take a year. You got it? Right. Ooo-wee! You got clutter like you never thought... more than all those folks and yr family you useta shake your head at and squint, condemmed and made fun of. Now you got the problem. Gobs of junk and stuff you gotta get rid of... Nowhere to put it. But it's gotta go. Junky junk's weighin' you down. Got no workspace, no where to sit, eat, or put anything. So don't even try to justify! Look at it for what it is: Gobs, piles, and stacks of stuff. You gotta move through a trail to get from point A to B and beyond. Unnecessary! Okay... maybe it was fun, silly, with a heapin dash of greed that let you rack up those treasures. Now you gotta think 'balance. Naw... you don't expect things to be perfect and in order all the time. The life-scale's not always even. Gets tipped back and forth. But get control, pull back, refocus. That's what I'm doin. Those stacks and stacks of magazines...? I'm lettin' em go. To the VA Hospital for somebody else to read and enjoy. All those shoes... I don't, can't, and must not ever wear again... purses; some I must have bought "when the moon was in the seventh house..." they take up shelf space in three different rooms. All those pants, dresses, sweatshirts that don't fit no matter how many days I lay off the chocolates and orange juice... All go to resale. De-clutter... the closets, home, and my mind. You try it too. Don't want to do it all by myself. Think! Let's bring peace, satisfaction and a little more breathing and elbow room to our surroundings. So get started with me. And... fingers crossed... we just may lose a little blubber in the process. Join me. ...appreciate the company. Sue

V.O.T.E.

V. O. T. E.

Eligible ones plan to and go vote.

Things gettin spirited, rough, and exciting. Wow! Wee! My decision years ago that helped pull me into the good citizen category... watch the conventions, and debates, vote and work the poll when dragged into it by some needy friend, sister/cousin, you know the ones who sign up to do their civic duty and take their political captain job serious, and always need help at the last minute; so they call in old debts, and strong arm ya... in a loving nudgin' kinda' way (uh huh) to pay up, and come on over and help work the polls. Your excuses: I'm just gettin' back in town (true); I'm tired (true again) Don't have a way to get over there. Of course the site's 38 miles back in the neighborhood at my ole elementary school. Yeah... it's still standing,... bricks shifted and leaning ever so sightly to one side now. She volunteers to come and get you. She'll take care of all the details, anything to get you there. Food... Lively conversation and laughs... more food. So you say yes and try not get too worked up and rabid, or question why you accept her past acts of kindness you now have to repay. And you resist the urge to conjure up schemes of revenge. Now... I can get passionate when I need to. Oh yeah! A calm exterior... but a potential storm lays dormant inside. Bad thing is... that can be toxic, gets you twisted, bitter and leave a bad taste in your mouth, mangle your intestines, and even leave frown lines. That a fate worse than... you know. And nobody wants the dreaded... eek! "Winkles!"

Can't get rid of 'em. Maybe cover 'em over, zap 'em... but you can only go expressionless for so long. Be real. Newsflash! Go into your meditative state... lose the bitter stacado... BREATHE! RELAX! Close your eyes... only if you're not driving... Continue... stay with it... until things smooth out. Feel the tightness in your face release and relax... give a great big sigh. Awwww... Feel the energy work its way down your neck, shoulders... (Knead and plumb) Your breathing's less labored and quiet, limbs less tense, hanging loose, fingers relaxed, tummy, buttocks smooth, not taunt; legs sturdy but soft, fingers, toes relaxed. That exercise saved me so many days on my cancer journey, and now too... when things get shaky, uncertain and crazy. Stuff comes at ya, and it's hard to deflect it all. Gotta' use the armour you've got. For me it's prayer, not always a long labor intensive narrative. Most times it's only a few unintelligible, choppy sincere utterances that only The Supreme One understands. There's no formular, no code. Whatever's on your heart... let it flow. Speak it or just think it. Any way you do it will get it through... is okay. So-o-o... whatever the election results. Know you did your part... life goes on, and you can make it through whatever comes. Keep breathing and don't forget to vote. In love. Sue

Blame it on the State Fair of Texas

Got something new to add to my mile high list of need to's. More good and best foods to eat; what we need to drink; activities we need to do... Good stuff in and bad stuff out. I know, I know... I do get on my tower of righteousness and maybe I mighta' gon a little too far at times. Sure... I can do the salmon, the green tea, the ground flax seed... and even the exercising, though I admit befor' the Supreme One, and Country that I get off course... and... well... I can jus go hog wild at times. Like I been doin' for the last three weeks... There! I said it! But you gotta' understand... The Fair's in town. I mean... THE STATE FAIR...! ...OF TEXAS! And anybody who's from here knows what that means. Newspapers write about it, TV news and bemused shows talk and hawk it. No! Not Football! Although that's big too... Real big! Let's see... There's Grambling and PV. This yr they played the second week of the fair; and Texas - Oklahoma the third week. That's "Huge." We still need a game for that first week... Anybody? And then there's the food... no... not just food... there's a fried wonderland of delicacies... every day and night, and you jes gotta' try 'em. If you don't sample somethin' well-l-l... that's crazy... sad... unheard of... and un-american. So for now... diet, healthy eatin', prudence be darn. And so... even though I keep my ears tuned and open for whatever healthy info I can capture, and I feel guilty 'bout not exercising (walking, stretchin', palates, etc.) like I should and find every excuse not to do it. I know I need it, and that I need to eat right. So even though I'm not exactly on course right now I'll pass these tidbits on with the promise that I'll join you in the circle as soon as the fair's over. In the mean time... add these food to your diet: Beets: eat 'em raw. They fight inflamation. Swiss Chard - can help reduce the incidence of lung cancer. Ground flax Seed - reduces symptoms of menopause. Increases brain function. (Ooo... I know I need some 'a that) Cinnamon - helps with diabetes. Acai Berry - in paste. An antioxident. I'll be back on board soon... but fa' now I gotta' try this homemade cashew brittle. (Crunch!!!)

Just Do It

I took Oprah and her guests up on their call for all viewers, friends, relatives and acquaintances to get busy and do something that can affect lives big time. "Make a Vision Board." Yes. That's right. "A Vision Board. Okay... it sounds kinda' like something everybody oughta know about and just been putting off. But for those like me, I'll explain. Sounds nice and all... but I thought up all kinds of excuses. "They gotta' be kiddin'. More work! Not this girl! No time. I'm already too busy. That stuffs not for me; and too many thumbs down to bore you with. Then I thought, couldn't do any harm, but I still didn't do it. Bet most of the folks watchin' didn't either. Put it out of my mind after that, just like others did. Lots of folks watch Oprah don't admit it, but always chime in talk about something that happened or was talked about on the show, and they get called on it and claim somebody told them about it. Well I watch and my hubby too. He's got time and beats me to the most comfortable chair in the house. Comes in loaded down with snacks, and sits with the remote... ready. Yeah... I looked at it that first time but didn't act and my life went on along it's mediocre path, with a few quirky turns, that got crazy. Some things wound up bad and mangled; other stuff fell off the radar. Hey... I was hanging on. (sniff) I went a few places, met some good people, did my work, managed, with my husband's major help to eat right most times. Made most of my appointments; though not doing much exercising, unless I can count discount shopping and loading up on the best stuff I can find for the cheapest price. Then I saw a re-run of that Oprah show. This time I got serious and paid attentionI was gonna do it. ...started that next day. Got me a couple of boards, and pulled out all those magazines been stacked up everywhere for years, I'm never gon' look at again. I found scissors, and glue; and I made myself sit down, spread all that stuff out on my bed, and get started right then. Hey.. I was serious. ...took me back to the days of paper dolls. And I stuck with it. I cut out everything I thought could apply to me and what I'm doing. Can't even tell you how many magazines I mangled. It took me a couple of long days, but I did it. I finished my board. And I'm planning on doing another and maybe even a few more. I don't know how many I'll end up with. It was work. I'm not gon lie. But it was something I needed to do. It made me think about what I really needed and wanted. I asked myself some deep, for real questions. What's important. what's a want and what's a need. Who's important in my life. How do I get to where I want to go. Where do I want to go? And it helped me think deeper about everything I was going to put on that board. It was the closest I have examined myself in years, maybe ever. I recommend it.