Violet

I decided to name my purple power port “Violet.” 

Somewhere in the back of my brain I remembered the quote from Alice Walker’s trailblazing book The Color Purple, "I think it pisses God off if you walk by the color purple in a field somewhere and don't notice it. People think pleasing God is all God cares about. But any fool living in the world can see it always trying to please us back.”  I knew I needed to name my purple buddy after a purple flower. 

Yesterday, after returning from the appointment to have the port implanted I posted a Facebook status update stating, “Be advised - I am now packing a purple power port.” To which Britta Peterson responded, “Packing a purple power port makes you sound like a bad ass AND violet is one of the most healing colors!” And it was settled. The combination of bad ass and healing energy sealed the deal. 

This morning I woke up at 4:00 AM, most likely due the steroids I was directed to take to staunch of nausea related to the chemotherapy I started today.  Just to make it all a little more exciting, yet one more winter storm raged down on this corner of the planet.  Bob and I arrived at the Andreas Cancer Center in Mankato amid pouring rain.  After seeing Dr. Singh, we headed to the treatment room – Me, Violet and Bob.  Violet performed splendidly and four hours of chemo commenced with only one tiny poke I barely felt.  I wrapped up in my beautiful prayer shawl and headed down this path. During those four hours, the rain turned to snow, schools were closed and the most anxiety producing part of the day turned out to be the drive back to St. Peter. 

As I have commented to others, I am sure the chemo truck will flatten me sometime in the next few days.  But right now, I am simply appreciating the world pleasing me back.  Lots of wonderful caregivers.  Lots of purple flowers.  Me and Violet being bad asses.