A Day in the Life

One of my dreams in life was to wear a sassy pair of red-bottomed Louboutin shoes.

I pictured myself the most fashionable school secretary in the country, flipping down the hallways, a blaze of red showing with each step. Off to the library I'd go, skirt swishing, heels clacking, bottoms flashing.... my shoes costing two weeks of my salary but no matter, the librarian is impressed.

Then cancer slammed me like Hurricane Irene. And, chemo left my bones in wreckage like those shoreside homes you saw on the news, pilings every which way.  I became metastatic, and knew my dreams, both large and small, were coming to an end.  During this time when I might finally decide to splurge on a pair of extremely expensive shoes - a time when you know you have to make these dreams come true or you'll never get them - well, shoes hurt now. Fashionista Ann, who could wear a different outfit every day of the year, and has a hundred pairs of shoes with five inch heels to match,  has taken to wearing slippers and sweats out of the house.

Slippers!

And sweats!

Out of the house!

Sacrilege.

There is too much discomfort in my hips and knees to walk around in any kind of heels these days. And, I have no place to go any more, as I had to give up my job and most activities.  I have no energy or appetite for meals out.  Combine that with a kid approaching college and you realize buying pricey shoes like Louboutins would be a waste of a dream.

I still wanted to try some on though.  And, just recently, to fulfill that dream, a kind friend lent me hers.

So here it is!  A day in the life of a metastatic cancer patient in her red-bottomed Louboutins.

It is lunchtime, and I get a little reading in before  I have to leave for chemotherapy

Getting my chemo, oh yeah.  Cutest one in the infusion room.

My exuberant puppy Trista welcomes me home.

Time for a nap

Steroids give me enough energy to cook!

And, we end our day watching TV on the couch

So you see, my friends, a gal can still wear her red-bottomed Louboutins doing household chores and going to chemo, just like the movie stars do.  Here's the trick:  carry them in a separate bag, wear slippers, and slip them on right before the flash goes off!

Thank you to J. Nathan Higdon and Trenia for allowing me to have this much fun!