My Ribbon is Black

 

I understand October is all about breast cancer awareness.  But who isn't aware by now?  Doesn't everyone know at least five women who have had it?  This sign feels so dismissive of skin cancer survivors.  

"besides skin cancer"

So, you're saying skin cancer is actually the most common?  Where's my fucking sign?  And my fucking ribbon?  It turns out I don't get a fun pink one, I get a black ribbon.  I've been struggling with skin cancer for over 30 years.  No one is marching for me.  Or putting up pretty signs, balloons, and ribbons.

I have to get full body check-ups twice a year.  And little pieces of me cut off, or if I'm lucky, burned or frozen off.  And if I'm really lucky, the pieces cut off come back as cancer-free.  Every new spot anywhere on my body can induce anxiety.  For decades!

I hope no one you know, especially you, ever has to deal with breast cancer.  I know what a mindfuck that can be on women.  I also hope you don't have to live with decades of skin cancer.  Or maybe I do, because it means you're still here.  My scars make me stronger.  I hope yours do, too.

I think I forgot how to write

It's been so long since I've written here.  I kinda forgot about it and HOW to do it.  I suppose these days, I can just ask AI du jour to write it for me.  But where's the fun in that?  I feel like there are so many posts I should have written, but alas, I didn't.  Do I go back and talk about specific trips?  Post photos?  That seems lame, but also lame to leave them out.  They were meaningful at the time.  I've had several wonderful trips to see various members of my family, across the country.  I was flying home the other day and simultaneously whined to myself about how exhausting it is whilst also marveling at how fast one can travel thousands of miles.  Still, it's no Star Trek transporter, which makes future family visits seem daunting.

Plus, sometimes when I return home, I'm faced with a random problem.  This time was not a broken AC thankfully (which has happened at least 3x), but rather a flat tire.  I guess I had a slow leak that got worse just sitting for days.  I had my car towed to my mechanic, and they called me an hour later saying they hadn't gotten it yet.  WTF?  Turns out my tow truck driver got a flat tire on his way there.  Irony?  Coincidence?  Wendy's bad tire karma being contagious?  By the way, I wasn't being dramatic taking my car to the mechanic for a flat tire.  I decided those tires were old, that one had a nail and wouldn't hold air from my compressor, and I should buy new tires. Incidentally, those tires were purchased after I had a blowout returning from the airport on a previous trip several years ago.

I'm sitting here this morning waiting to hear that my car is ready, but also medicated from a migraine and hoping they don't call too soon.  Oh well, time to make the coffee!  You can view it here: www.youtube.com/@wendiverse, if you're so inclined.