Today I celebrated my last day of radiation. It has gone by very quickly, thanks to a very efficient staff at City of Hope. I also want to thank Cindy Axton, Valerie Fee, Carol-Lee Marshall, and Cynthia Karim for keeping me company on some of the days. For the most part I zipped down the freeway and back on my own, but it was a special treat when I had company. I also want to thank my dear neighbor, Marlene (the old neighborhood), for making us a delicious dinner one night. I was also gifted with a beautiful bouquet of purple tulips (my favorite flower) from my dear friend Valerie Fee to celebrate my last day. We are walking buddies, so we are both hoping the radiation will do the trick in getting rid of the electrical charge I get when I exercise.
Today I received lots of hugs and congratulations from the staff. In a way, it will be sad not to see them every day. It becomes a little community in that department. The waiting room is full of familiar faces each day as we wait for our name to be called. Recipes are exchanged, tips on crochet loops, and commentary on Judge Judy's rulings that is being broadcast on the TV. I also ran into my sister in Christ and cancer, Delisa Celaya. We were able to have 3-4 times of being there at the same time, and she is a great encourager and a knowledgeable woman.
When Valerie accompanied me, we brought all the kids (no school), and they befriended a lady in the waiting room who was wearing a lovely purple hat over her wig and was in a wheel chair. Her faith in God fragranced the room, and she left an impression on my girls that caused them to pray for "the lady in the hat" ever since. I only saw her one other time, but she left an impression on me and reminded me of a book I read a long time ago. The book is called "The Fragrance of Beauty" by Joyce Landorf. The book talks about how to achieve that incredible shining, inner beauty that outglows any other kind. She shares that faith, prayer, self-acceptance, forgiveness and thankfulness in like a fragrant beauty that never fades. When a woman has achieved this kind of beauty, it does not matter what her age is, she is beautiful.
I have held on to this book for a long time. The cover is ripped off, and the binding is worn, but I could never find the heart to get rid of this book. I guess I have desired all my life to be a woman that left a fragrance behind her. I have often failed, but maybe now I am doing something right. I still have a ways to go to be like our friend in the purple hat, but I will keep striving for that outward beauty that only comes from a close walk with God.
Thank you for all of your prayers these past three weeks. It will be about a month before I know if the radiation worked. The feeling has gotten worse, so I need continued prayer as the radiation will be at work in my body for another two weeks.
Have a good weekend,
Sandy
