Brief Encounters on Maui

A few days after my last treatment, Pete, Kailee & I went to Maui to meet up with Pete's best friend/best man Mitch and his family (from California) who were vacationing there. It was good timing to see them so I regarded it as a "treat" to celebrate the end of my treatments. We got to share their vacation cottage at the Royal Lahaina Resort for a couple nights -- it was lots of fun, good weather, went on a snorkeling boat trip, ate a lot, encountered lots of traffic at times. Kailee had fun playing with Mitch's 3 daughters, especially Sylvanna, who is almost 2 years old.

I still am not using the wig I got from the American Cancer Society, so I look obviously bald even with my scarf & once in a while I'll wear a bright pink rubber bracelet. At Hilo Hattie's, a shop targetting tourists in Lahaina, a local artist had a display there & she asked me in what year am I. I was confused with her question & she pointed to my bracelet & asked again in what year of survival am I. Her mom had breast cancer treatment a few years ago so she was wondering about my experience. I told her I had my last treatment less than a week ago, so I guess I'm still within my 1st year of survival. Some cancer survivors start counting from the day of diagnosis, others from their initial treatment, e.g. their 1st surgery. Women from my "Spirited Survivors" support group say as long as you're still alive after your treatments, you're a survivor. Anyway, we chatted a few more minutes & talked about how important it is to get support during these challenging times.

Another encounter with a stranger was at the Maui Ocean Center. A woman asked me for what I was undergoing chemo, so I replied it was for breast cancer. She said she too had to go through it 2 years ago for breast cancer. I asked her how's she doing & she said so far so good & then we wished each other luck. Being bald can actually be a conversation starter for folks touched by cancer. Otherwise, I think it's probably too awkward for other folks to bring up the subject. Mitch's mother, who I never knew, died of ovarian cancer over a decade ago, so his family was pretty empathetic with my situation. When they had a big dinner at his father's cottage, his father did comment that my appetite seemed good. I've been lucky not to be "undernourished" nor wasting away & people who know me & have seen me eat know I certainly appreciate a good meal! :-)