Let’s Laugh: ”Expiration Dates”
As always, in the spirit of levity and with the intention to bring a smile to your day, picture this story told by a llama...Consuellama.
If you are reading this and you are not a cancer patient, and/or you do not have any experience with the cancer journey, we encourage you to please find out more about what you can do to help those navigating a cancer journey, and to share with them stories like this one, intended to bring some humor to their day!
Now, for my fellow “non-astrological Cancerians”, reading this, I have a question: Do you ever feel people search your face as if looking for the “expiration date”?
I must say, I sometimes do.
And it makes me think: What’s happening, well-meaning people?
For me, once people know of my diagnosis, there is often a “mode” that overtakes some of them. And while I know they absolutely mean well and I love them for it...let’s find the humor in it, yes? Yes!
So, in-person, the “mode” looks a bit like this:
First, they cock their heads to one side (either the left side or right side)...I think sometimes it has to do with whether they are right-handed or left-handed. I don’t know, but in any case, they cock their heads to the side...which is the universal first step to express some degree of empathy or sadness, yes? Yes!
Second, they want to know “when, will it be over”, or “how many more treatments”, or “why am I still in treatment”, or “why did this happen”... yes? Yes!
Third, they start to search my face, in what invariably feels like someone looking for the “best if used by date” on a bottle or carton....yes? Yes!
And last, but not least, comes the soft hug, irrespective of whether or not you are a hugger, (usually with the sound of “aww” in your ear) and with either a couple of quick pats or a rub of the upper-back...neither of which you may necessarily want in that moment or ever...yes? Yes!
Over FaceTime, or Zoom, the first three are identical and in the last one, you get a “virtual hug”...yes? Yes!
What??? What’s. Happening. Well-meaning people???
So I say: Keep it real people and keep it upbeat!
Yes, cancer is excruciatingly hard.
Yes, cancer patients are often very scared.
Yes, we need love, support, and encouragement.
But...more than anything...
We need to feel normal...even if for an hour, a day, a month or longer!
We need to feel alive...because right now, in this very moment, just like you, we actually are.
We need to laugh...and sometimes at ourselves...because it’s super healthy and healing!
So again, keep it real people and keep it upbeat! And if after reading this, you found yourself smiling or laughing, even if for just a second, please share it with someone who could also use a smile and some laughter.
Let’s laugh!!!
About Consuellama
Consuellama was inspired by llamas being hardy and well suited to harsh environments — they are quite sure-footed, easily navigating rocky terrain. It made me think that it is absolutely synonymous to navigating the “terrain” on the cancer journey. But beyond that, it is also the fact that you can’t look at the face of a llama and not smile!
