You can always spot the newbies in the cancer center. When you are first diagnosed they give you a blue bag. It's the cancer bag and it is filled with all manner of helpful pamphlets about the 852 potential chemo side effects and how to approach intimacy. It may be a long shot,,,,,,but damn my legs are smooth !!
Anyway, the newbies all bring their blue bag to subsequent appointments. You see them wandering around in a daze, clutching their blue bag as though it contains state secrets and a few uncut diamonds from Antwerp.
Us pros, we don't carry the blue bag. We don't need them as a name tag. We are there in our dumb hats.....what more proof of membership do you need ?
It does seem however, that everyone seems to know my name. I have been banished to the far corner of the chemo lounge (yes they call it a lounge.....no karaoke, no mai tais). It seems that I am a troublemaker. I make the nurses giggle. It is a very serene environment you see....lots of knitting and whispering. Well even the unfamiliar nurses call my in by my first name only now. They all seem to know who I am and I see the silent looks of "put her in the corner" pass between them. A few of them have already adopted my name of "The Acme Coyote Killer" for the giant chemo needles they try to intimidate you with.
I am Norm apparently. They just say "Olwyn !!". But they don't give me a beer.
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