Category: the other pillow
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The kids left the screen door open. Something flew by my head on the porch. The streetlights came on, the corner bar clinked. Summer night in Shorewood. I’m cozy in bed, pillowed in and hydrated, when I hear a commotion downstairs. Paul was dodging a bat that was flying in fast circles…
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Just remembering that Valentine’s Day I was at the gyno for a LEEP procedure and the receptionist gave me a single rose… That Valentine’s Day I took the bus to Rocky Roccoco’s with my best friend and we got the heart shaped pizza and…
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My arms and hands are bruised from the many many blood draws and IV sticks. My veins became unruly by day two, my skin blooming with purple and green blackberry splotches after every failed attempt. There was never more than three hours of uninterrupted sleep. The second day, my…
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Diagnosis (sort of) So, I was admitted for hypoxia and suspected congestive heart failure. My oxygen level was low and that troponin level (heart damage indicator) was high. On the second night I had an “attack” of pericarditis, an excruciating and frightening episode of extreme chills and intense chest pain, caused by inflammation of the…
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Within minutes at Urgent Care, we realized it wasn’t urgenty enough, so we zipped down the road to the Emergency Room. The secret to fast service? Chest pains and a Smurf-like complexion. My oxygen level was 76, my chest had a tire on it, the portable chest X-ray showed my lungs were full of fluid.…
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It started Saturday, I assume as a virus. Chills, fever, and an intense headache. Covid test negative. Then a strange stiff neck, like a vise. More fevers and chills, still Covid negative. Feeling a bit better on Sunday, ok this is just a cold or flu. Terrible body aches, but no cough and no congestion,…
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“Sorry honey, I had a big cabbage slaw salad yesterday.” “That’s ok, I just dropped a huge bomb in the bathroom” Happy 10th anniversary my love.
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I’ve been dragging my chemo-fatigued ass across town each Thursday night after work, shuttling Felix to his rock climbing class. The parking is terrible. It’s dark. I worked all day. And it’s cold. Did I mention the parking? But I love seeing him suit up on his own and scramble up that wall with…
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photo by Charlie Rossetto, b. 2016- Lemons are my comfort food. I slice them and eat them straight, I have since I was a kid. Not great for tooth enamel, but excellent for eating my feelings. Mom once sent me a boarding school care package that contained only a Prange’s sweater, two sleeves of saltines,…
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Fairhope, Alabama It’s been a strange holiday season. The new variant has scrambled plans; we didn’t feel comfortable doing inside family gatherings while my body is still processing chemo for another three rounds. But after two years of practice with masks and the kids finally fully vaccinated, we can navigate a road trip and outdoor…
girl at large 