Wednesday 27 August 2014

Touched by Cancer

As they say, "Everyone knows someone who has been touched by cancer." Well, I've been very lucky. No one in my family has ever been inflicted with cancer. As far as friends go in my past, they were all free of cancer.

And then, my friend Yoko developed breast cancer. Last year she had her lymph nodes removed and we were hoping that she was cured.

However, last month, Yoko went for her yearly mammogram and the cancer had returned. A mastectomy was scheduled.

I have never been more worried than I have been for Yoko. She is a truly amazing person. Everyone who meets her wants to be her friend. She is sweet, highly intelligent, very kind, animal lover, etc etc. I could write a novel just on her qualities.

After her father died, her mother moved in with her. Now, her mother is a pill and not easy to live with. Yoko is so wonderful with her and is giving her the best possible life. However, if something happened to Yoko, her mother would have many difficulties trying to adjust to a different lifestyle. Because she's Japanese and basically only speaks Japanese and eats Japanese, she is not easy to place in a retirement home.

In addition, Yoko owns an absolutely beautiful, big, blonde yellow Lab. Lucy is a wonderful dog. She is very smart but she gets into everything. A very active dog, I worried what Yoko would do with her if something happened. Luckily she mentioned that a good neighbour had agreed to take her. I'm so happy. Lucy is a bit of a devil and difficult to control at times. Not an easy dog to place.

When Yoko told me the breast cancer had returned, I was so upset. This became my first contact with cancer. And I didn't like it. She is such a good person and would leave a big hole in many people's lives if something happened.

Well, the operation was a complete success and Yoko recovered quickly. She never felt much if any pain and she was out and about after a few days. She recuperated so fast. I am so happy for her. It is so fantastic that all is well and hopefully she will live a long life. She is so needed.

Have you ever heard the saying, "random acts of kindness"? You hear it on the news sometimes. Someone pays for your meal or your order at a drive through. It happened to my friend's husband. He had ordered a coffee from Tim's. When he reached the cashier, he was told that the guy in the car ahead of him had paid for it.

Isn't that a wonderful thing to do? I so love the concept. Hope everyone considers doing this at some point.

have fun,
patty
www.pattylesser.com
@PattyLesser


Thursday 21 August 2014

Robin Williams RIP

By now, I'm sure, you have all heard that Robin Williams committed suicide. It boggles the mind. Why did he feel he couldn't go on? Why did he think there was no way out? Wasn't he on medication? Why wasn't someone helping him with his depression? Why was he sleeping alone?

Why when "everybody" close to Williams said they knew he was depressed, why didn't they help him?

The answers to those questions may never be answered. I always had a feeling that Williams was bipolar. He could go from happy to sad in two seconds. That ease of manner is typical of a person with bipolar. No one can be that funny all the time and be normal.

I remember the first time I saw Williams at work. It was the late 1980s and he was on a talk show; probably Johnny Carson. My friends and I watched the TV peeing in our pants because we laughed so uncontrollably. He was brilliant. Never had I seen anyone that funny.

A short while later, Mork and Mindy aired. It became my favourite show at the time. Williams encapsulated an alien. He performed perfectly in the role which he played so naturally. Each week, he seemed to get funnier and funnier. Nothing he couldn't do.

The following years, I eagerly watched his career from his movies to his work with Billy Crystal and Whoopi Goldberg for Comic Relief. Those three were incredible together while they played off each other. Their benefits raised a lot of money and anyone who was anybody wanted to perform on Comic Relief.

So, I'm heartbroken with the loss of Robin Williams. A brilliant and exceptional man. I'm so sorry he suffered.

have fun and remember there is always tomorrow,
patty
www.pattylesser.com
@PattyLesser


Sunday 10 August 2014

Reality Shows

In the past, when I wanted some excitement, I would travel to distant lands. Now, when I need some excitement, I watch reality shows. I enjoy the thrill of never knowing what is going to happen which can be exciting in itself. People comment that some scenarios have been staged but, I believe, for the most part, it is realistic. I'm sure a lot of editing is involved, but I hope for the best.

My favourite shows are: Amazing Race, Masterchef, Hell's Kitchen, Survivor and, yes though I hate to admit it, the Bachelor/Bachelorette. These shows can cause expectation and excitement while waiting for every week's episode. It's nice to know that a conclusion is imminent. Some TV series go on forever which I find daunting since my attention span becomes difficult to hold over the years.

Masterchef and Hell's Kitchen make me hungry. It is fun to see the different foods that are prepared. I've been watching Survivor ever since the first show. Totally addicted to that series. The competitions are incredible on Amazing Race. It can be fascinating to watch people in excellent physical condition excel or fail in certain tasks.

I would love to run the Amazing Race with my brother. He competes in triathlons and is successful so he would make a good partner. He is also smart and well travelled. However, I couldn't go into the Race for a million reasons. Some dreams can't be realized.

The August 1st weekend was a long, holiday weekend in Canada, I travelled to my parents' cottage on a lake near the City of Huntsville, Muskoka. My friends and I had fantastic weather with peace and lots of relaxing. We read, swam, played backgammon, ate well off the barbeque, and had some great conversations. I was able to finish off another draft of one of my novels.

See below a few pictures I took at the cottage.

Have fun,
patty
www.pattylesser.com
@PattyLesser

 
 
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