Surviving life

You can read a blog for a period of time and begin to feel as though you know the person at that keyboard.  And, though I've never met the author of Yellow Bug News, I can tell that  she must be a very kind and likeable person.

So, last week she began writing about an upcoming medical procedure.  It turned out to be a colonoscopy.  And, according to her telling of the event, it went well.  That's great news, and I for one, am grateful that she'll be around for a while longer.

Sooner or later we all end up admitted as a customer into the medical industry for a determination of whether we've got cancer.  Big business, those biopsies.  Men are especially susceptible due to the inaccuracy of those darn PSA tests they keep telling us we need.   And, when the bills come it we tend to wonder, did I just get snookered?  Remove your wallet and bend over.

And, there's the emotional cost.  There was a Woody Allen movie - one of the older, funny ones - in which he becomes convinced that he has cancer.  He goes in for a test, and he turns out to be cancer free.  But, then a strange thing happens.  He gets very depressed about it.  It was funny at the time, but I believe it's a real and common phenomenon.

A person who is told he/she needs a biopsy can convince him/herself that nothing's wrong, almost.  There's that tiny little voice way back there in the brain saying "Don't get too comfortable.  If you're wrong, it can kill ya."

So, when the news comes back good, the desire to celebrate is mysteriously absent.  I suspect that the whole affair causes a person to feel very vulnerable.  We had worked up a great deal of  anticipation and dread.   And when we get the good news we realize that there will be no battles to fight, no enemies to conquer.  But, the joy is fleeting. Athough our life won't change that day, we are still so very small and helpless.  Perhaps the battle has just been postponed until another day.

What am I saying?  How depressing!  If you've read this far and haven't yet done a Hunter S. Thompson number, then don't.  There are too many good things to look forward to.  And, while I know I won't live forever, I want to relish the time I've got.  And, Julie at Yellow Bug, congratulations on the successful completion of the procedure.  May you have many years of happiness left in you.

Comments

[Chad Durham]

One of your best commentaries ever. Thanks.

[George]

Chad, thanks for the kind words. Your movie reviews over at the Hot Corner ain't too shabby either.