Introspection and friendship



A bit like the friends in Four Weddings and a Funeral - only much better!

"The most beautiful discovery true friends make is that they can grow separately without growing apart".  Elisabeth Foley


I'm feeling introspective as I sip my tea and type this. It's early. I have my 3-month bone marrow biopsy at 1pm today and I'm thinking it is that which is making me feel this way.  I have had such a good time meeting up with friends and catching up with everyone over the last few days that it feels like nothing has happened to me these last few months!  I feel 'normal' even.  It is only when I have to go through things like a biopsy that I remember what my reality is and I get sad.  I sent a text to a friend telling them to 'keep shining bright and long and to not let the darkness take over' and I am trying to practice what I preach.  Do as I say, not as I do and all that.

Because of this disease, bone marrow biopsies are a necessary evil in my life. It's the only way of keeping an eye on my cancer. Although they are very painful, I don't really mind having them done - so long as I have a hand nearby to squeeze while they poke about in my hip bone!  Don't really care who the hand belongs to but it's usually Mats. Poor guy!

Anyway, happy thoughts! Thoughts such as the mayhem and madness that are my friends.  I am very lucky to have in my life such a diverse group of people who I can say are my friends. They vary in looks, lifestyle, sexual orientation, occupation, interests, race, sense of humour, class and wealth but all have me in common. 

They make me laugh, they make me cry, they make me scream, they make me think, they even make me mad but most of all they make me smile. Happy even when I am with them.  You don't choose your family but you do choose your friends and it pleases me that up to this point in my life, I have been a pretty good judge of character to have been able to choose to know such a great bunch.

I'm laughing to myself just thinking about the shenanigans of the last few days! Shenanigans such as the last TSC (Thursday Supper Club - more on this in another post) where not only did David get lost driving around London for five hours (even though Sean and Mat were helping him via phone and phone sat-nav respectively), Debs nearly set her kitchen on fire heating food up! I know this doesn't sound funny on paper but the banter that ensued was hilarious.
The rest of us in Debs' flat were in hysterics!

Then we had the pleasure of having Fiona and Elliot visit us on Saturday where not only was it great to catch up with Fi, we were hugely entertained by Elliot and his antics. I hasten to add that Elliot is three and so his antics are very entertaining!  He is a very bright little boy - a lot brighter than some adults I know and he really cracks me up!  

Then on Monday evening, I had the Gallic charms of Marc to entertain me who along with the lovely Martha's company kept me amused by all the talk of stuff and nonsense. I'm still musing about what happens in toilet cubicles and the like. I think I may have missed out...

Amongst all this, I ventured into my work place for the first time in months and had a bit of 'a moment' before I finally walked in to catch up with various people and to say hello.  Poor Kira was on hand to calm me down and steer me through the emotional mess I was in at the start but a few deep breaths later all was well.

And so the adventure continues and so does catching up with the rest of my friends.  I may make more friends, I may not. All I know is that I could never be alone, I have too much fun just being with other people!

Anyway, I best get ready and have my hip bone drilled. I'll let you know how it goes.