Saying Good Bye

Today was my last day at work before my surgery, and I’ll have to admit, it made me feel a little blue.  I really love my company, my coworkers and my customers.  I know I am not going to die, but it just seemed like I was saying goodbye all day long.   After all, these people are like my family because I’ve been there for TWENTY years!   I guess the reality set in that I might be gone for a couple months and I’ll really miss everyone so much.   I keep telling them I will be checking emails and getting online ASAP, and everyone says, “take care of yourself and don’t worry about work.”  But, I’m not worried about work I just want to reconnect back with all these wonderful people as soon as I can.  So I want to give a BIG shout out to all my friends at Williams to let them know how much they mean to me!

Something really neat happened today, but I am half way ashamed of myself.  Here’s what happened…. A telemarketer lady named Jean called to offer Romeo and me “special deal” since we signed up for some sort of drawing at the OKC Home and Garden Show.”  I am thinking, did we even go to the Home and Garden Show?  I believe we may have gone last winter but honestly I really can’t remember.  Anyway, the lady starts in on her pitch about they are going to give us a free trip to Branson… and asking me if I’ve ever been to Branson before?  Before I can answer she starts telling me about the free vouchers she is going to give us for the holiday shows, food coupons, outlet mall discounts and a chance to win a NEW car if we will try out their timeshare condominiums.  At this point, I’ve had enough because I am really busy trying to work, and Jean is taking way too much of my time.  So in my most pitiful voice, I say…. “Excuse me, Jean… I need to tell you something!”

Jean stops immediately and there is silence on the line.  Wow… I can’t believe she actually stopped reading her script, but I guess she could hear the passion in my voice.  So I tell Jean I have cancer and we won’t be taking any vacations this year.   I can tell Jean doesn’t have a “script” to react to my response.  She immediately starts stammering and saying how sorry she is that I have cancer.  I tell her, “it’s okay, but we really can’t make any plans in the future because, you know….. (more silence).  In fact, we aren’t even buying green bananas (my favorite) anymore.  Okay, I really didn’t say that part about the bananas but it is funny line, don’t you think?   

Okay, so Jean is overcome with emotion and I have totally messed up her marketing strategy.  But before we disconnect, she thanks me for being nice and not hanging up.  She tells me when I get better to give her a call and she will get me a really good deal on a first class vacation to Branson.   She also says she will be praying for me and believes I’ll be okay.  I thank her for the prayers, and we hang up.  I can’t help it, but the tears start rolling.  Oh great… here we go again!

So I’m feeling a little down so I decide a pedicure will perk up my spirits.  I head to Wal-Mart nail salon (because Romeo demands I use the very best) to see my friend, Linn.  She realizes I am there to get a pedicure and my nails done before I go to Houston for my surgery.  We both pretend like I’m preparing for a vacation to Jamaica and she does a special design on my toes.  I am about to leave and I can tell she wants to tell me something.  Even though Linn has been my nail lady for four years, we usually don’t talk that much because her English isn’t that great and she is sort of shy.   Linn tells me she hopes I recover quickly from my surgery.  Then she surprises me by giving me a BIG hug and whispers in my ear she has been praying for me.   Oh my, it’s been a long emotional day and this was the straw that broke the camel’s back.  Now I’m standing in the middle of the Wal-Mart nail salon crying like a baby and hugging my nail salon lady like she is my long lost friend. 

So today has been bittersweet.  I am happy to be one day closer to my Cancer Free Boo-bee Day, and very humbled by the demonstration of support from people I really don’t know, but l am also feeling a little sad and scared because everything is about to “get real.”    But as long as I know I have a first class Branson vacation coming soon, I think I can make it.