on the other side

so yesterday i experienced what it was like to be “on the other side”. i took a good friend to her first chemo and i was struck by how great it was to be the caregiver this time. i drove, parked, sat and tried to take my friend’s mind off of what was being done and why. it was a bit surreal but i was happy to be able to help someone els and help guide them through the dark labyrinth of cancer treatment.

some people have asked me if it’s just too dark and scary to go back to the office. i have to say, i love the people in the office - i think they are incredibly compassionate and skilled at what they do. while i may not have liked (!!!) the reason for being in treatment, i always felt it was a nice thing in a very weird way. the time you get to spend with a friend is time you might not ever do but because you are forced to do it out of necessity, i’ve found my friends to be amazing in their gifts of time, love and just being there.

it certainly gave me a new insight into what my friends and family were going through at the time.