Friends, it's been a busy week! But in the world of cancer, busy is good. Busy means I have enough energy to romp around this city. Busy means manageable pain. Busy means I could even do a little work. Busy means less time for my mind to wander to its darkest places. So yay for busy.
On Sunday, we met Greg's cousins Ninette and Artur to go see the new Tarantino movie. I may or may not have known who Sharon Tate was, so it didn't make a whole lot of sense to me 😂. Even after figuring out the story, I didn't love the film, but it's always great to see the fam. After that, we went to Hometown for some BBQ and were joined by Austin, Allix, and bebe Milo. We love seeing them and the kiddo, even though Greg often turns Milo sideways against his will:
On Monday, Greg and I celebrated our FIRST wedding anniversary! Obviously we did not expect to be celebrating our first year of marriage under these circumstances, but I really can't say how much cancer has made me grateful for having found this person to live life with. Greg has comforted me and made me laugh through the darkest moments in this process. He has given me room to rest and also the occasional kick in the ass when I need it. He hasn't made me feel an ounce bad about this massive interruption in OUR lives. He has juiced things for me. Grisha, I know it's cheesy, but I love you, I love being married to you💗.
Anyways, enough schmaltz. I had an appointment with the plastic surgeon in the afternoon, so I kept joking to Grisha that his anniversary gift was that we were going to pick out new boobs for me. The appointment was fine, and I like my surgeon, though he seriously looks like he's not a doctor but plays one on TV. After that, Greg and I went to get pedicures- Greg's very first one! He of course painted his toenails black, because, well, metal:
After that, we had a drink* at the rooftop of Eataly and then a fancy dinner at Nomad**, where they have this crazy roast chicken that includes foie gras:
At the restaurant, we felt extra special, because Katie called ahead and had ordered us a mocktail to wish us a happy anniversary, which was SO sweet.
On Tuesday, I met up with Em in Red Hook before the Red Hook flicks and caught up with her. After that, we went over to the Red Hook Flicks and met Brig and some of her singing pals. Em and Brig gifted me some fabulous wooly slippers they got me in Argentina, We ate some pizza, which I promptly spilled all over myself, and then I left before the film started because I was feeling a little tired.***
On Wednesday, during the day I met up with Steve and Nicole at their workspace in Crown Heights, which was super nice. They also got me a lovely gift from Argentina- two silk head scarves I can't stop wearing, including one as I write this very blog post:
As for Wednesday evening, months ago****, my friends David and Alexa called me to ask me if I was free on the evening of August 7th. Turns out they got me a ticket to this event at the JCC called "Healing through Words: Writing with Cancer." Despite the torrential rain on Wednesday, I successfully made it to the UWS without any problem. The instructor was an emeritus professor at Yeshiva University and served as a dean with David's dad, so they know each other from way back. She was phenomenal, and though I was the youngest person in the classroom by about 40 years, it was really wonderful to talk (and write!) about cancer in an academic setting, a space I am very comfortable with.
On Thursday, I had plans for dinner with my pals from college, Erik, his partner Lila, and Smitty. It had been a bit since we had all gotten together, but it was so great to see them! Smitty and I got giant platters of Mexican food (left) and we talked about how Bill Clinton went to Mars 2112, back before they shut it down the year we graduated from college***** (right, c/o Erik Sutch):
Though we had a little bit of rain, the weather ended up being very nice for the movie. We then all parted ways on various subway lines taking us to our respective corners of Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens. We even got to see Nic G. and Ben on the other side of the platform as Em and I waited for the R train:
Quite a successful week in cancerland, if I do say so myself. The rest of the weekend is busy, as we're celebrating Artur's bday today, Austin's bday tomorrow, along with the fact that my parents get back in town today, and Jon arrives tomorrow. Chemo numero 6 starts up again on Monday. I can't wait to say that there are only TWO more chemo treatments to go! I also can't wait to see my friend Therese, who will be in town from Cali and will be our special guest at treatment on Monday. This whole cancer thing is an absolute physical, emotional seesaw, but I'm happy to be at the high end of it this week.
*Mocktails for me!
**Because sometimes, we basic.
***Good thing, because the movie, REAL GENIUS, was apparently TERRIBLE!
****It's a very strange thing that I knew that had cancer "months ago" at this point. It feels like no time and all the time in the world has elapsed.
*****Erik and Smitty actually tried to go to Mars 2112 on graduation day. I was invited, but politely declined.
On Sunday, we met Greg's cousins Ninette and Artur to go see the new Tarantino movie. I may or may not have known who Sharon Tate was, so it didn't make a whole lot of sense to me 😂. Even after figuring out the story, I didn't love the film, but it's always great to see the fam. After that, we went to Hometown for some BBQ and were joined by Austin, Allix, and bebe Milo. We love seeing them and the kiddo, even though Greg often turns Milo sideways against his will:
On Monday, Greg and I celebrated our FIRST wedding anniversary! Obviously we did not expect to be celebrating our first year of marriage under these circumstances, but I really can't say how much cancer has made me grateful for having found this person to live life with. Greg has comforted me and made me laugh through the darkest moments in this process. He has given me room to rest and also the occasional kick in the ass when I need it. He hasn't made me feel an ounce bad about this massive interruption in OUR lives. He has juiced things for me. Grisha, I know it's cheesy, but I love you, I love being married to you💗.
Anyways, enough schmaltz. I had an appointment with the plastic surgeon in the afternoon, so I kept joking to Grisha that his anniversary gift was that we were going to pick out new boobs for me. The appointment was fine, and I like my surgeon, though he seriously looks like he's not a doctor but plays one on TV. After that, Greg and I went to get pedicures- Greg's very first one! He of course painted his toenails black, because, well, metal:
After that, we had a drink* at the rooftop of Eataly and then a fancy dinner at Nomad**, where they have this crazy roast chicken that includes foie gras:
At the restaurant, we felt extra special, because Katie called ahead and had ordered us a mocktail to wish us a happy anniversary, which was SO sweet.
On Tuesday, I met up with Em in Red Hook before the Red Hook flicks and caught up with her. After that, we went over to the Red Hook Flicks and met Brig and some of her singing pals. Em and Brig gifted me some fabulous wooly slippers they got me in Argentina, We ate some pizza, which I promptly spilled all over myself, and then I left before the film started because I was feeling a little tired.***
On Wednesday, during the day I met up with Steve and Nicole at their workspace in Crown Heights, which was super nice. They also got me a lovely gift from Argentina- two silk head scarves I can't stop wearing, including one as I write this very blog post:
As for Wednesday evening, months ago****, my friends David and Alexa called me to ask me if I was free on the evening of August 7th. Turns out they got me a ticket to this event at the JCC called "Healing through Words: Writing with Cancer." Despite the torrential rain on Wednesday, I successfully made it to the UWS without any problem. The instructor was an emeritus professor at Yeshiva University and served as a dean with David's dad, so they know each other from way back. She was phenomenal, and though I was the youngest person in the classroom by about 40 years, it was really wonderful to talk (and write!) about cancer in an academic setting, a space I am very comfortable with.
On Thursday, I had plans for dinner with my pals from college, Erik, his partner Lila, and Smitty. It had been a bit since we had all gotten together, but it was so great to see them! Smitty and I got giant platters of Mexican food (left) and we talked about how Bill Clinton went to Mars 2112, back before they shut it down the year we graduated from college***** (right, c/o Erik Sutch):
Erik also got me a series of awesome books, including one about Britney Spears, written by a woman who had cancer while writing it, one hot new series of short stories by Jia Tolentino, and one more academic reading about white flight and fiction that looks stellar. OH, and last weekend when my friend Adèle was visiting, she also got me a book of photographs of Paris and New York to sift through when my brain isn't ready for reading:
Truly a lovely loot. And the gorgeous flowers in the photo are from my peer Deepa, who sent them my way his week with a very sweet note that absolutely put a smile on my face.
On Friday, I had plans to take the ferry out to Governors Island to see Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind with a solid crew- Em, Nicole, Brig, Lauren, Iuri, Nicole and Ben. Em, Nic B. and I had a great time exploring the island before the movie started:
Though we had a little bit of rain, the weather ended up being very nice for the movie. We then all parted ways on various subway lines taking us to our respective corners of Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens. We even got to see Nic G. and Ben on the other side of the platform as Em and I waited for the R train:
Quite a successful week in cancerland, if I do say so myself. The rest of the weekend is busy, as we're celebrating Artur's bday today, Austin's bday tomorrow, along with the fact that my parents get back in town today, and Jon arrives tomorrow. Chemo numero 6 starts up again on Monday. I can't wait to say that there are only TWO more chemo treatments to go! I also can't wait to see my friend Therese, who will be in town from Cali and will be our special guest at treatment on Monday. This whole cancer thing is an absolute physical, emotional seesaw, but I'm happy to be at the high end of it this week.
*Mocktails for me!
**Because sometimes, we basic.
***Good thing, because the movie, REAL GENIUS, was apparently TERRIBLE!
****It's a very strange thing that I knew that had cancer "months ago" at this point. It feels like no time and all the time in the world has elapsed.
*****Erik and Smitty actually tried to go to Mars 2112 on graduation day. I was invited, but politely declined.
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