Elaine

One day, a guy was in town picking up supplies for his farm. He stopped by the hardware store and picked up a bucket and an anvil, then stopped by the livestock dealer to buy a couple of chickens and a goose. Now he had a problem: how to carry all of his purchases home. The livestock dealer said, "Why don't you put the anvil in the bucket, carry the bucket in one hand, put a chicken under each arm and carry the goose in your other hand?" "Hey, thanks!" he said, and off he went. While walking he met a fair young lady with rather large beautiful breasts. She told him she was lost, and asked, "Can you tell me how to get to 1515 Mockingbird Lane?" He said, "Well, as a matter of fact, I'm going to visit my brother at 1616 Mockingbird Lane. Let's take a short cut and go down this alley. We'll save half the time to get there". The fair young lady said, "How do I know that when we get in to the alley you won't hold me up against the wall, pull up my skirt and ravish me?" He said, "I am carrying a bucket, an anvil, 2 chickens, and a goose. How in the world could I possibly hold you up against the wall and do that?" The young lady said, "Set the goose down, put the bucket over the goose, put the anvil on top of the bucket, and I'll hold the chickens.

From Walls And Other Things Friends don't let friends take home ugly men. ---Women's restroom, Starboard, Dewey Beach, DE Remember, it's not, "How high are you?" it's "Hi, how are you?" ---Rest stop off Route 81, West Virginia No matter how good she looks, some other guy is sick and tired of putting up with her. ---Men's Room, Linda's Bar and Grill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina To do is to be - Descartes To be is to do - Voltaire Do be do be do - Frank Sinatra ---Men's restroom, Greasewood Flats, Scottsdale, Arizona Make love, not war.-Hell, do both, get married! ---Women's restroom, The Filling Station, Bozeman, Montana A Woman's Rule of Thumb: If it has tires or testicles, you're going to have trouble with it. ---Women's restroom, Dick's Last Resort, Dallas, Texas Watch out for Gay Limbo Dancers ---Inside toilet stall door, Men's restroom Express Lane: Five beers or less ---Sign over one of the urinals, Ed Debevic's, Beverly Hills, CA You're too good for him. ---Sign over mirror in Women's restroom, Ed Debevics, Beverly Hills No wonder you always go home alone. ---Sign over mirror in Men's restroom, Ed Debevic's, Beverly Hills The best way to a man's heart is to saw his breast plate open. ---Women's restroom, Murphy's, Champaign, IL Beauty is only a light switch away. ---Perkins Library, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina. At the feast of ego, everyone leaves hungry. ---Bentley's House of Coffee and Tea, Tucson, Arizona What are you looking up on the wall for? The joke is in your hands. ---Men's restroom, Lynagh's, Lexington, KY

He is just incredible! And so are you! love and fortitude elaine

When the pub is open, I'll toast to the end of Joel's chemo and a speedy recovery from those nasty shingles! love and fortitude elaine

Tina, Happy things are shaping up. Will keep you all in my thoughts. love and fortitude elaine

Dean, Ouch! I hope your healing goes smoothly. Take care of yourself. Thank you to Gay for being a life saver. love and fortitude elaine

Rich You really have always been there for me. I appreciate it more than words can say. love and fortitude elaine

I am so sorry. May your memories of better days sustain you in the days and weeks ahead. love and fortitude elaine

Jana and Karen I am hoping things turn around soon. I wish I could give you more than a cyber hug to help you through. love and fortitude elaine

Good thoughts headed your way! elaine

Been thinking of you all day. I hope things went well. I can only imagine how you feel, emotionally. Just the disappointmen alone... But I just know that you will again beat this monster back--radiation or tumor. You will beat it back. love and fortitude elaine

I am sorry the news wasn't better, but I am glad that you two have a battle plan in place. I am hoping Tarceva is the ticket to NED's place or at least to NED's STABLE. I am not sure the above metaphor works exactly, but I hope the meaning is clear, lol. love and fortitude elaine

Melanie I am sorry to hear about your grandma. My grandma passed from pancreas cancer. It was caught very late. One thing about being older and wiser (not that most people are as wise as you) is that we do know what really is of value. Now you will put your mark on the treasure. May the quilt keep being passed on into infinity, just as memories can and will. love and foritude elaine

Wendy Great news. Rest up! That stress waiting on results zaps me, too. SOme people want to go out and celebrate. I just want a nap!!! love and fortitude elaine

I am happy to see you again, but sorry you are going through more scary times. The Doctor can probably tell by looking at the spot if it is the highly aggressive form of skin cancer or not. It is harder to tell something completely cancer free from a basal or squamous, but it sounds like it was caught early since it is in a prominent place. I will pray for your aunt and for all of you. love and fortitude elaine

I am sorry it has taken me such a long time to welcome you. Your post brought back so many memories of the first months (about 2) after first receiving my first DX. Coupled with that another member posted a link to the following writer who chronicled his lung cancer journey in a Canandian newspaper. One of his articles is entitled something like the top ten ways my DX made me feel. It is very close to my own reaction and I would venture to say many people's reaction. I will put the link here for you. As it might give you some insight into your husband. It sure struck a cord with me. And brought me to tears, I will warn you. http://www.canada.com/national/features ... 50ff2e7edb I am very lucky. I was given 6-12 months--then the Dr had the wonderful idea to zero in on his estimation of 9 months as if it were an office pool. So I set out on what I thought would be something like a pregnancy in reverse. That was 16 months ago. He and many others were wrong. I did not have the kind of cancer they say I had. But, it is still hard for me to really trust that they were wrong the first time. Many people here have outlived predictions or statistics. Many. Not all. But those first weeks are the worst. There are many stages of grief--and those of us who are Dxed go through the grief of the possible loss of our lives. Loved ones,especially6 caretakers and immediate family, especially, go through grief also--at the loss of the life they had and thought they might have. It is so complicated. I also want to tell you that I, too did my best distancing work ever after DX. I thought it would be easier for my loved ones if I carried it all myself--as if that were possible. The thought of their pain distressed me to no end. I am only now really able to stop doing that. It is a hard ride-- for both of you and all of your families. Pls know that you can come here to find people who know somewhat how you feel. In the last two months, counseling has helped me. Only my son has sought counseling even though I think my husband and daughter would also benefit. But it can't be forced on anyone. There is no right or wrong way to go through any of this. It is uncharted territory. Remember to take care you yourself, too. love and fortitude elaine

Tina I probably misunderstood, too. I am sorry. I thought you had been denied. I know what you mean. It IS hard to give "advice" to a Dr. It is for me anyway. Especially if it is a Dr I respect because I don't want to be a pain. BUT, I think the Drs I respect the most see me as a teammate. At least my PCPs do. I haven't had that luck wiht any of the specialists I have seen. And I have seen many. I just want to wish you both well and let you know I think of you so often. love and fortitude elaine

Teri Darn. I wish it would have worked longer, but you are right it did give you a gift. I hope Almita is gentle on you. You humble me with your strength. love and fortitude elaine

She is soo darn cute. Is she cuddly too? I want her to sit on my lap for awhile in cyberland. You will share, wont' you, Cindi??? Please. My boy is on steroids now and he has become quite unsocialble. But at least he is in no pain that I can tell. How's Tim? Is he jealous of Luna???? elaine

Minnie, I am so sorry. Pls allow your heart to swell with memories of your beloved mother. She lives on in this world in the hearts of those who loved her. She is never as far away as it can seem. love and fortitude elaine

Tiny First--wonderful news! I am glad you didn't violate Ginny's command that only good news is allowed this week! I recently "lost" my wonderful PCP because she took a sabbatical (sp)--, but she sent all her patients a letter 3 months in advance letting us know. It was sad, but I appreciated her letting us know in a kind, caring manner. I hope the new onc works out fine. I know it was probably unsettling. I know I would feel that way. love and fortitude elaine

Welcome and so sorry you have the need to join us. I am the kind of person that wants to know and understand every darned thing, and sometimes I find out things I wish later I hadn't found. I think your mom will either let you all know that she wants to know things or she will let you know that she doesn't--by the things she says and does. As others have said, people aren't numbers, but I also know that these things somewhat need to be kept in mind. Surround your mother with love and support. love and fortitude elaine

that's a good one!

Melanie You are such a joy. It is clear that you have been blessed. I, for one am very interested in your foundation as I, too, had missed dx (and then a mis-dx-- the year of missed dx was due to ignorance on the part of the doctors. I don't mean ignorance as in being a horrible word, but rather them not knowing and not being curious enough to find out. Much of it was chalked up to menopause--even though I hadn't had a period for nearly two years when my symotoms started. Let me know if I can help in any way. love and fortitude elaine

Pat and Brian I sure hope the next few days are kind to you both. I am sending you both extra fortitude. You are so kind, and I hate that you are having a rough time. love and fortitude elaine