The (not so) Secret Life of a Cat Lady

      Alrighty!  I'm in Utah. I'm a prospective student of Brigham Young University. Classes start Aug. 30. Have my own place (sharing with my cousin)....And Dad has cancer.

      March marked an interesting time in our lives.  I applied and got accepted to BYU as I was hoping I would.  Classes were going great. I played catch-up after a serious bout with dehyration that put me in the hospital for a week. Then somewhere around the second week in to the month, Dad had oral surgery.  A biopsy was taken and the results came two weeks later.  Spindle Cell Squamous Carcinoma.  Since his surgery the cancer has progressed so quickly that all of his teeth have been removed, his upper palate has been reconstructed where the first tumor was taken from and as of last Monday (June 28th) has started 5-6 weeks of intensive chemotherapy and radiation. 
     It's rough; he can only eat liquids or super smooshy foods.  His main nutrition is currently from a feeding tube placed in his stomach nearly a month ago.  Mom is his sole provider but I spend more than half of my time helping them out. Feedings, changing dressings, and running errands with my sister or cousin is how I spend alot of my time.  When I can I take in lazy days and chill watching Boomerang or Nicktoons.
       I don't mind even a little bit.  I just want Mom to be at ease about somethings and Dad to know we're taking care of things that he can't. I'm enrolled in 2 summer classes online at San Juan College in New Mexico, the school I am leaving for BYU.  Creative writing & Philosophy; two classes I wanted to take but kept putting aside for others.  So far, these two classes have been the best experience of my college writing career!  I know, you don't have to say it....Sooo young!  Sooo much more to experience! 

     Seriously though, I have had the best time learning philosophy; I totally had this subject wrong!  It makes sense not eing able to make sense of everything! Creative writing has challenged my writing in ways I haven't been challenged in over seven years.  I wish I could write like this in all my classes!  Although, I think the science teachers would frown upon that idea. 
     But I digress...The poem following this post is written for an assignment from last week.  Inspired by our family's current condition, I needed to write it.  Hope you all like it, I'll need to write more of those as the months go by.

Stepping in


Stepping up and coming down
Life throws punches round by round
Wandering thoughts lay awake at night
Times to come are worth the fight

Cautiously, we rise to stand before this
Rolls reversed, now in his stead
We do not know from depth to summit
Nor breadth of stormy seas ahead

Heroic, silent, valiant warrior
Father, brother, someone’s son
Grateful for our time together
We will fight until this battle is won.

DLM