Today’s theme is “inheritance.” Have you ever inherited something? Money? Your good looks? An item or items of value? Do you plan to leave an inheritance for your children or anyone else? Share a story, a poem, a photo, a drawing, some music, or whatever you wish to about an inheritance.

https://fivedotoh.com/category/dog-days-of-august/

I was told I inherited my grandmother’s good looks. But that’s not what I see in the mirror. I see a sixty-four year old with lots of battle scars but still smiles in spite of all that I’ve endured and what is yet to come with the letter c. So maybe I inherited resilience with my Celtic heritage.

Now some people wouldn’t consider a Christmas cactus priceless but I do. My grandfather gave it to my grandmother in 1940 on their 16th wedding anniversary. My grandmother was relocating to an assisted living situation and didn’t want anything to happen to her plant. I have a natural talent with plants, although I did almost lose her beloved plant, it didn’t like its transformation from well water to bottled water when I moved to New Jersey. in 2007.  It was down two stems and I thought for sure it was a goner. But she survived. Her stems have become more like trees very woody with the lush green more at the tips than allover. She blooms prolifically every spring, she never shows up for Christmas nor does she make it to Easter.

However, here we are in 2020 and she is flourishing but there’s a huge question ahead if something happens to me. None of my children are plant enthusiasts so where does Gramma’s cactus go?  This plant is 80 years old she deserves to be loved and cared for.  I’m hoping one of my grandchildren will show an interest because whomever inherits needs to value the plant, and the memories behind it.

I know whenever I think of about the memories it feels like she hasn’t been with me that long but she came to live with me in 1981. 39 years ago. She’s lived me almost of her life.

Letter c update well I knew better than to get overly hopeful with the covid crap happening. My surgical procedures have been moved from the 11th to the 13th now. My covid test is now the 10th instead of the 8th. So now my schedule is Monday, the 10th covid test, Wednesday the 12th bloodwork, Thursday the 14th,surgical procedures, Friday the 14th primary doctor, Monday,  the 17th neurologist and then my mammogram on the 19th. Can we say WTF?  I dislike going to the doctors intensely so this over the top. But unfortunately, they’re a necessary evil when cancer is involved.

I’ve got a beef  and vegetable soup brewing in the crockpot, it smells divine.

Cancer toolkit:

Raspberries are anti-inflammatory. Researchers at Ohio State found that black raspberries prevent esophageal cancer.

Rice is also anti-inflammatory and is a fantastic fiber source.

https://www.mdanderson.org/publications/focused-on-health/foods-lower-cancerrisk.h29Z1590624.html#:~:text=Most%20berries%20also%20contain%20antioxidants,are

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5008867/

https://www.hindawi.com/journals/bmri/2017/9017902/

https://www.wcrf.org/dietandcancer/exposures/wholegrains-veg-fruit

My song choice for today is because my grandma is on my mind so I’m going with Keep Me in Your Heart by Warren Zevon. My grandma died of brain cancer. Warren died of pleural mesothelioma. 

He and I share something in common we’re not keen on doctors. Unfortunately in his case, the cancer won because he refused all treatment.  I sought medical treatment in addition to being my strongest advocate. I’m not going to lose. I’ve changed my diet and I have remained positive. It’s a team effort and I’m blessed to have a strong support network. I inherited some good Celtic genes too!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warren_Zevon