Well, friends, we've made it through the 6th chemo treatment! I still have the next 7-10 days of feeling bad, but the chemo infusions are done. I can hardly believe it.
Just a couple of quick and sleepy thoughts:
My dear friend, Mary, is with me from Tulsa. Her reverence and strong presence and calm are a gift. (I credit Something bigger for getting her here right now.)
Jen T came to visit the infusion center and I asked her for a poem. She recited "blessing the boats," by Lucille Clifton, and delivered it in the solid, clear, lovely way that she reads. It was the perfect poem for that moment. Please, for me, google and read it now.
Finally, Ringing the Bell is a rite of passage at the end of a chemo cycle. When I did it today, I was all drugged and sleepy and forgot the words of the quote I wanted to say, but got close enough... What I wanted to say: "All will be well, and all will be well, and all manner of things will be well."* What I said: "all will be well, and all will be well, and everything that matters will be well." Close enough, I guess. :)
Now, time to sleep.
Peace and love,
Sara
*from Julian of Norwich
blessing the boats
(at St. Mary’s)
may the tide
that is entering even now
the lip of our understanding
carry you out
beyond the face of fear
may you kiss
the wind then turn from it
certain that it will
love your back may you
open your eyes to water
water waving forever
and may you in your innocence
sail through this to that
Lucille Clifton (1936 - 2010)