Just another day.......

So yesterday was Thursday; it was just another day for me. We all had to get up early as Rainer and I had to catch the 7:05 ferry. That meant we had to be out of the house by 6:10 so we could get the children to before school daycare. This in turn meant we had to get up around 5:15 in the morning; so we could get the kids dressed and hair combed for school. (My kids have notorious tangles in their hair). Showers were taken, kids were dressed or at least forced to get dressed and ready for school. Thank god, I didn’t have to feed them – the daycare would take care of that one – or we never have made the queue at the ferry terminal.


But we made the ferry, and I had a few extra minutes so I dropped Rainer off at work after the ferry ride – instead of him hoofing his was up the hill, to catch a bus to his office. I was off to the Arnold Pavilion, the cancer center at Swedish hospital. It was going to be just another day for me. I’d park in my usual spot on the fourth floor of the Nordstrom Tower, stop and get a quick cup of tea at the corner Starbucks, take the skyway over to the third floor, drop off one of my many prescriptions to be refilled, take a quick elevator down to the second floor to see my oncologists, get blood work done, and have my port flushed out. Another quick elevator and I was on my way to the third floor for a fast track treatment and extra fluids (as I’m always dehydrated), then the dreaded elevator to the fourth floor to see my surgeon. My surgeon insisting that I hike up to the fifth floor for a quick MRI and to make sure I take the express elevator up to the fifteenth floor to make another appointment with another surgeon who also will be involved in my upcoming surgery. I would then take the express elevator to the third floor, pick up my prescription, take the skyway to the parking facility. I would pretend I was an Indy racer and race down the hill to the ferry, where normally I would write a three page text to my BFF who’s meandering somewhere down in the South American way. But this Thursday, I was exhausted so I actually sleep on the ferry back to BI.

But let’s back up shall we. It was when I went to get my tea from Starbucks that gave me pause for the day. I had a good half hour before I was supposed to be on the second floor, so instead of tea, I got a warm caramel macchiato with whipped cream and a small piece of banana bread with nuts. A very decadent choice, don’t you think. I sat down at a table and slowly drank my coffee. (Which I normally don’t have because it does weird things to my mouth – translation – I become a blithering idiot that can’t be shut up – another story). I was watching the people go by, when my focus was diverted to a young mother and her infant son sitting at a table in the corner near the door. Her son was sitting in a high chair, his hands waving frantically, his mouth up turned in a big smile, his eyes brightly shining at everyone who went in and out the coffee shop. The mother was a young woman, probably late 20’s, blondish, a bright smile to match her sons. There was something off about the mother and son…..but I couldn’t quite place it.

I ate my banana bread slowly as I watched the mother and son. It was raining outside and most everyone was huddle over their hot lattes. Every once in a while a wandering crazy would walk in and create a commotion that made most people huddled even closer to their cups of coffee. A man with very long oily gray hair walked in and came up to the mother. Have you seen Sarah, he said. No, she’s got a room for the next several days and plans to stay in out of the rain. Okay, the man reaches over and tickles the little boy’s tummy. I look closer at the pair and my eyes begin to notice things. Sure the mother has the proverbial fold up walker with her, but she’s also has a rather large back pack – the kind you would normally go camping up to the mountains with. The young toddler is a waif, his hair thin, and he looks to be malnourished. Another crazy walks in with his white snowsuit on, again questioning about the elusive Sarah. Out he goes even though he didn’t like the answer. The long hair gentleman is back, he drops a wad of cash on the table and says…..make sure the kid gets a big breakfast. The young mother quickly scoops up the bills to her purse. They are homeless.

Finally, it’s time for me to go and I notice a barista coming towards the young mother and son. Here, we had some extra warm milk today. She takes it and offers it to her son. I smile and go about my crazy day. Isn’t it nice, that strangers can sometimes help one another?

Wouldn’t it be nice if we had a health care program that didn’t discriminate again those who have pre-existing conditions such as me or that could help young homeless mothers care for their children? We need to do something……even if it’s a cancer ridden old mother standing on her soapbox saying, I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it any longer.

It’s just another day for me………maybe it’s time to make it just another day for yourself.