Leave It To Quirky

To laugh out loud at an inappropriate moment.

Fourteen people are sitting in chairs forming a circle. It's a cancer support group meeting. Our group leader suggested that we share the ways we de-stress especially with holiday season upon us. The purpose of the group is to update our cancer situations and learn from each other. I find it to be a cathartic experience, remembering my journey, respecting the experience, because it's something I can NEVER forget. It is forever a part of my life. Plus, only having one boob makes it hard to forget.

Tulip (not her real name): So let's go around the room and get updates on everyone and why don't you share with us how you de-stress, because the holiday season can be very stressful.

Petunia (not her real name): When I focus on others, I find that relieves my stress.

Kaffar Lily: I like to do crafts, but my full-time job keeps me from doing them often.

(group chuckles)

Kaffar Lily's Husband: I'm stressed. I've been out of job with no prospects in sight. I usually work in the construction field.

(Quirky thinks: ouch.)

Finally it's my turn.

Quirky: I'm doing great! There's a lesion on my sternum and my hip, but I'm doing terrific! No chemo yet. It's great! I've got cancer, but it's not being naughty! It's being nice. Humor and laughter always help me to de-stress. I'll laugh at anything! (An omen.)

(group chuckles)

Carnation: Focusing on my family helps relieve stress in my life.

These were the kind of comments going around the room until the last guy. He's Buttercup, the caregiver of Petunia (in other words, he's her husband).

Buttercup: I like to write. Somebody mentioned cathartic (Quirky is thinking: Me, me, ME!) and I find that writing is quite cathartic. I just write whatever is in my head. One time I wrote a whole bunch of profanities. Once I got that out of my system, I was able to write something more. Another way I de-stress is through music. Music is very important to me (Quirky's ears perk up.) Especially through Gregorian Chants.

Quirky snorts and laughs out loud.

Everyone turned and looked at me.

Ooops.

He was serious? Thank goodness Buttercup is laid-back. He was not offended. But really, I thought he was joking around. Gregorian Chants? I thought he was going to say classical music or even (the dreaded) country music, but no. Gregorian Chants. He was definitely not joking so, I, of course, had to take it one step further.

Q: So Buttercup where exactly is that station on the FM dial?

More laughter.

Q: Sorry.

*snort, snort, snort*

Yeah, I sounded real sorry.

*snort, snort, snort*

Ha ha ha. Hee hee hee. Ho ho ho.

*snort*

I really need to think before I snort out loud.

*snort*






B.S. No Gregorian Chants were chanted or harmed during the production of this post. But Quirky's butt might get harmed when she's kicked out and banned from any future support group meetings. Hee hee.