Tumbleweed and Alligator
​Thoughts and Ramblings of a West Texas Native and a Cajun Poser
August 6, 2021 - To Tell or Not To Tell
August 6, 2021 - To Tell or Not To Tell
I had a friend ask how Ed was doing with the chemo. So far, only minor issues. The sensations with anything cold, more tired than usual, and he thought he was constipated, but turns out he wasn't - right before he was planning to take a laxative! Whew!
His normal routine is up at 4:30 am, lets the dogs out, says the Rosary, comes in to take a shower and get ready for work. He's at work by 5:30 or 6:00. He comes home for lunch, lets the dogs out again, and takes a power nap for about 30-45 minutes, and then returns to work. He usually gets home around 5:00-5:30. Lets the dogs out again and feeds them around 6:00 pm. Checks his Facebook, plays solitaire on his phone, smokes a cigar and might have a drink of Scotch - no longer "on the rocks", but "neat". From then, he comes in and maybe eats, watches TV, and off to bed about 8:00-8:30. He is a creature of habit and rituals; predictable and reliable. Some adjustments are having to be made due to doctor visits, and his "nap" schedule might have to be extended to longer or more frequent short naps. He is slowly realizing that his routine may be interrupted, and when it is, there's the "sigh", the under-the-breath "Oh, shit" or "Fuck!"
As mentioned before, Ed has been adamant about keeping all of this a secret. Anyone who lives in Arnaudville is well aware of, and is resolved to the fact that the gossip mongers thrive and are exhilarated by any tidbit about anyone that can be planted and nurtured into the biggest live oak imaginable. We both choose our confidantes carefully, but even those most trusted fall prey to the tactics used to share and glean information. Having said this, he decided to share his cancer with his employees, telling them that what he has is treatable and that he expects to beat it. He asked that they respect his privacy (yeah, right!) and to refer all inquiries to him. So, his change of heart - another side effect of chemo?! Or maybe, he just figured why not tell them; they're going to speculate when he is out, when he is tired, when he loses weight, when he wears gloves to pick up something cold. Oh, and there's that neuropathy that may impact his ability to shoot his gun.
Today he goes to pre-admit at the hospital for his medi-port procedure. We don't know when that will be, but he'll be ready when they call.
A former volunteer from our 20-year Haunted House died recently. Emily is going to a memorial for him in New Orleans at the bar he owned tomorrow, but we are debating whether to attend, flip-flopping on our decision depending on Ed's condition. I'm learning that any plans we make are subject to last minute alterations. The Chinchuba Haunted house operated from 1988 - 2008 for the benefit of a private school for the deaf, Chinchuba Institute. As director of the school, I started this fundraiser, never anticipating how it would grow and develop as a major event in the lives of our teen-age volunteers. 250+ volunteers from around New Orleans came from high schools and colleges each year for several months, building and operating the house for the thousands of patrons who came to be scared and terrorized. Our volunteers were like family and today, thanks to facebook, we still celebrate each of their milestones - marriages, careers, children, and when forced, we mourn their untimely deaths. Going to this "celebration" of Pete Sanchez's life will bring many back together to a reunion of sorts. For this, Ed wants to go, but we also must be aware of the pandemic and it's role in our own lives. Stay tuned.
Each day I learn something new - learning means growth. I am growing stronger in my faith, stronger in my resilience, stronger in my devotion and love for this man.