Resting

Posted on February 16th, 2008 by Cam.
Categories: Let's talk.

The last few days I have just been resting. Apart from installing a dishwasher, that is. There are a few things that we are justifying with the preparation for high-dose chemo, and the dishwasher is one of them (sterilising dishes). It is frustrating, I have to say, not being able to do things that I used to do.

We hung a mirror the other day – a simple task of fixing two screws into a wall. It took over an hour and in the end I just couldn’t finish it. Thankfully, Dad rocked up right on time and saved the day, again. I knew the dishwasher was going to take some time. So I decided to take the whole morning to do it. Everything was slow. Sawing a piece of wood, holding a drill, driving in a screw, throwing a hammer across a room – they all took a lot more effort than they ever have.

On Monday we are going to put down a deck out the front. When I say ‘we’, I mean I will be watching Dad put down a deck. I am glad I can be there for him in his retirement. I would hate to think that he had no jobs to do to keep him busy.

The other frustrating thing is my reduced ability to think coherently. I am not quite sure what to put it down to physiologically, but my mind seems to be constantly clouded, reactions are slow and peripheral awareness is limited. I haven’t taken any serious drugs since the middle of last week, so I feel like I should be back into some kind of normality. Maybe it is the absence of the steroids or my body in recovery from the first few days of the cycle. Not sure.

Sister Rach and BIL Michael arrive in Perth tomorrow to live. Michael got offered a position in Perth out of the blue at the end of last year. They decided it was a good time to spend some time in the West, so they are making the big move! They found a house in the area to rent. It is smack-bang in between Carms’n’John (Sis&BIL) and us, so about 250meters away. How good is that?!

So bring on the year I say. I don’t think we could be more ready for it.

5 comments.

Lynda

Comment on February 18th, 2008.

If you call installing a dishwasher, hanging a mirror and supervising the building of a deck, resting, then I’d hate to think what you do on a slow week.

I lift my hat to you Cam, such an inspiration to us all – especially I can guess to your close friends and family.

Being in the best of health or unwell – life is sometimes frustrating in itself. (You know, so much to do – dreams to follow.)

Me thinks you are well and truly ready for the year.

Cheers!!

Diane

Comment on February 18th, 2008.

Resting – in true Harris style I see! I guess you have been to the gym too, and are going to help with the house moving.

Isn’t it wonderful how The Great Conductor has orchestrated for your family to be close around you and Liz at this time, although, maybe it is more about Rach having plenty of babysitters at close call!

Enjoy the break – the next cycle will be here before you know it. Don’t worry about the brain cloud- maybe you just need a mental rest as well. You have had a lot to process over the last few weeks. Perhaps some more Gregorian chanting will help!

Love & prayers

Di.

Tentring

Comment on February 18th, 2008.

Cam, Having spent a few days working on projects with the precancer Cam , from what you describe above I am not sure your work speed has changed much. Work always seem to involve as much standing with coffee (or beer) in hand, as rest, and vice versa.

As for the ability to think coherently, I think you better ask Elizabeth about some of the your previous decision making processes that she delights in telling us about.

Considering these undeniable arguments I think we can agree the drugs are having no effect on you at all.

guiltybystander

Comment on February 18th, 2008.

Why are you doing the decking? What happened to those “large pavers with moss between them” idea?

Cuz Adam

Comment on February 18th, 2008.

This sounds a lot like this “Manuel Laybhor” I’ve been hearing about. It is true that behind every picture that has been hung up by a Brown there is 17 holes, 9 hammer impact gouges, 500 grams of hb lead pencil markings and 3 broken drill bits. Never ask us to put up a mirror on a load bearing wall.

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