9-8-16 Hover or Cover?

Hello All! I'm writing this while trying to tune out a Thursday Night Football game. If subliminal football terms sneak into this blog, you'll understand why!!

This week was CT week...yet again. Here's the saga, if you care: Last December I told the oncologist that I felt somewhat bloated--but that I've never been this overweight before, so maybe that's just what it felt like. She wasn't too worried, but said, to be sure, we'd have a CT (that's "WE" in the royal sense!!) That scan came back OK--sort of. There was a small spot on the liver, really small. They thought it was just a birthmark. (Evidently we walk around with all sorts of little birthmarks/scars/weird little things inside us on our organs. But most people don't know it because they don't have the scans. Kind of freaky.) 

Anyhow, since there was something there, and since my mom's breast cancer went to her liver, it was decided to repeat the scan in three months. Soooooooo, last April I had a second scan. That one was OK--sort of. The spot had not really changed much, just 1 millimeter bigger than in December. The doctor thought that it was probably just the angle I was on the table, that I was twisted just a smidgen. So, once again, due to my history and my mom's history, we had to reschedule yet another scan. I was pretty sure, by this time, that it was nothing because I figured if it had been cancer it would've grown dramatically in the first three-month waiting period. 

Cut to this week. CT scan #3. Drink probably 32 ounces of the white berry-flavored yukkiness. And yesterday she called with the results: my liver is unremarkable. (Well, it's always worked well for me. I think that's rather miraculous, considering all it's done!) But the spot has not grown--is even a little smaller. So I probably twisted the other way this time. 

Sigh of relief.

(Hey, by the way, the scan of the liver I put up at the top is NOT my liver. I am not sure if I picked a picture of a healthy liver, so I didn't want my medical friends to read this one and find anything else wrong with me!!!!)

I'm hard at work on two social work classes right now: Cultural Diversity and Intro to Social Work. In diversity I just finished a paper on medical ageism. It was so interesting (and I am sure hoping that my presentation on Saturday will be spell-binding.) I am calling up volunteers and doing things to simulate being elderly. Hoping they laugh at one point! 

The Intro class is interesting, in a sick, social work kind of way. I spent 20 hours volunteering at a nursing home this past week for a service learning component. And I actually liked it. But, I am getting tired of all the paper writing. Social work classes don't seem to have many tests--just papers. My current project for this week is to write about a famous social worker. (Did you know there were famous social workers?) Haven't chosen mine yet. 

The biggest stressor for me in this Intro class is the technical component--it's an online class, so I'm having to download or upload or submit electronically. I have to make a powerpoint presentation for the biography. With narration. 

So, now I've educated you about social work and livers and scans. I have one more public service announcement to make.

My mom was always one of the "old" moms. She didn't try to be my best friend, but she loved me. She gave me independence (probably more independence than I should have had!) She listened so well. She thought I could do anything I wanted to do. She assured me that I was special. (Boy, do I ever miss her--gone 30 years.) 

Anyhow, she had the best little observations on life ever. She would say things like, "Boys don't like girls who are too forward." (An oldie, but goodie.) "People always think their own poop smells kind of good." (Ewwwww! Mom!!!!!) Or "Be sure to cook the pork thoroughly or you'll get THAT WORM." (She always talked about THAT WORM. I guess the pork worm is different than any other worm and you really don't want it.)

One of the little tips for life she shared was "In public bathrooms, you need to either potty by just sort of hovering over the toilet or cover the seat with toilet paper." She was pretty sure I would get diseases if my little bum touched the seat. (I don't remember if she thought it was venereal disease or just mysterious diseases...maybe THAT DISEASE.) (And, to you Watleys, my MIL, Dolores, who is obsessively clean, who makes me feel like I'm living in an outhouse, never told her boys this bit of wisdom. Did she not know about THAT DISEASE? Does she carry cleaning supplies in her purse so she can clean the public toilets? I'm scared to ask her because then she'll start being more obsessive!) 

So, for years and year I have been a cover-er. Now I read this article and my world is totally off it's axis:

http://en.newsner.com/after-reading-this-youll-never-put-toilet-paper-on-a-toilet-seat-again/about/science

In case you don't want to look up this link, it says that there are not many germs on the toilet seat. THEY ARE ALL ON THE TOILET PAPER!!! Can you believe this?? And, woe to those of us with allergies who have actually blown our noses on the TP. Ick!!! This is beyond gross.

So, now I have to have a lifestyle change. I'm no longer drinking any liquids while I'm out in public! (No, not really.) But I am now a definite hover-er. TMI.

One other piece of wisdom that Mom said that, at first glance is rather mean, is "You know...there's lots of ugly people out there." (She really was a wonderfully nice woman.) She had sat at the mall waiting for me one time and really observed the people. But, when I really analyze this I think it's probably true. There is a worldly view of beauty--thin, no wrinkles or jowls (my own personal cross to bear), stylish, beautiful hair, perfect make up. And there are very few who achieve it. Even the gorgeous movie stars are air brushed and injected and nipped and tucked. What chance do us real people have? No boobs...thin hair with bald spots...age spots...jowls...

Physical is just so elusive and fleeting. When we really think about it, what makes us think someone is beautiful? They smile. They are kind. They are confident. They listen. The love God. (And they probably don't blow their nose on TP!)

Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised. --Prov. 31:30

Don't be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. --I Peter 3:3-4

You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. --I Peter 3:4

God is looking down, people-watching. What is He seeing when He looks at you? Is he seeing true beauty? The kind of beauty that lasts?

Go Mom!