In the early 1970's, my mom was found to have breast cancer. I was too young at the time to really understand it, and fortunately she's still around.
Anyway, she had a right mastectomy. At the time they waited about a year before they'd put in a breast implant, so during that time she used a prosthetic boob. She'd put it in her bra before leaving for work, and take it out when she got home.
Anyway, there was one day where she had a lot of errands to run, and when she got back was telling my dad how, everywhere she went, she got some strange looks. Nothing horrible, just people seemed surprised. She figured it was something she was wearing, or a large food stain on her blouse, or whatever.
My dad took her down the hall to their bathroom, where she'd left the fake breast lying on the counter.
My Grandmother had a mastectomy back in the 60s. My Grandfather, who was a tailor, made her fake boobs. He sewed a pocket in them with a zipper, and whenever they traveled that is where Granma kept her money and jewelry. Gives a new meaning to sweaty boob money!
ReplyDeleteEh. Happens. Keep calm and carry on. Never apologize, never explain.
ReplyDeleteNone 'o their beeswax anyway.
And good on yer Ma for still being around to restrain you.
I guess that's better than leaving it in a public bathroom!
ReplyDeleteI'm really glad your mom beat cancer and is still with you, Dr. G. I wish her many more years on this Earth.
Ignominious incidents of illness, I call them. If If you allow them to embarrass you to the point of paralysis the illness will crush you. If you are accepting That you can deal with them and if they do not threaten your life you will again thrive. You will get Beyond. Embarrassment is fleeting. Ulcerative colitis prepared me for much more than I wish to have been prepared for.
ReplyDeletePeople just weren't used to seeing a real live Amazon out and walking around, and wondered where she left her bow.
ReplyDeleteHave done that.
ReplyDelete