Au naturale

Holy tostitos, Batman! I can't really believe the end of my treatment slog is really almost in sight. In a way, it's a little disorienting -- I've been trudging back and forth to Sloan-Kettering since January, so it's weird to imagine not going there except for my quarterly checkups. Now I understand why some women kind of get weirded out after treatment ends... I mean, your life has been structured around going to the hospital -- for tests, procedures, treatment, ER visits, etc. -- and suddenly that structure is gone.

Also, there's a superstitious part of my mind that says I can't possibly be diagnosed with something horrible (like another type of cancer, or a recurrence of this nasty thing) while I'm still under treatment, but once I'm not... well, I'll be gulping down tamoxifen but there's always this feeling of being vulnerable to attack again... It's a thought I normally try to shove far to the back of my mind, but every now and then it comes out for a stroll, like a persistent and particularly unpleasant panhandler.

On the other hand, tonight I realized that I only have 8 more sessions! (unless my radiation oncologist decides I need more zappage) Two more this week, 5 next week, and one last one (hopefully ONLY one) on the 19th. The next 3 sessions are the "widescreen" shots (sort of like the shotgun approach), while the last 5 sessions are focused upon the incision area (i.e., the rifle/sniper approach). The last week of "boost" shots will require a different machine than the one I'm using now, and consequently, another setup simulation session prior to starting.

Speaking of routines, on Wednesdays, I end a little earlier than usual (around 5-ish instead of 6-ish) since the radiation patients are treated earlier so that the machines can get their weekly maintenance. And then I don't see my Pearl of wisdom until almost 7 so I've discovered that this allows me the perfect amount of time to cruise through the tail end of the Union Square greenmarket. (Hence the photos today, above, of the little white Japanese turnips, which I plan to buy and then try sometime soon.)

Also, showing up near closing time frequently results in some last minute discounts such as the following from a vendor of leafy greens, who was yelling, "Chemical free! Pesticide free! Buy 2, get 1 free!" The bakeries sometimes slash their cookie prices to $1 each. Ha!

However, I was good (today at least) and confined myself to bell peppers (which are way cheaper here than in a supermarket) and exploring new varieties of apples.

Now I see why my friend Margaret told me (I think) that she is such a fan of Honeycrisp apples. WOW! They are amazing, as sweet and "explosively crisp" as their name implies. I am so going back for more after I kill off the 2 remaining ones in my bowl, especially since they are not in season for very long I believe. Oh, and ridiculously cheap at $1 or $1.50 per pound, too -- BONUS!

Since I overheard one woman exclaim with delight "Oh I love Macoun apples!" before proceeding to fling several into a bag, I thought I'd try that variety too. Ironically, they turn out to be one of the "parents" of the Honeycrisp but I find them less interesting than its offspring. The Macoun reminds me of the Red Delicious. Of course, it could just be that I am spoiled from being raised near the fabulous produce of Chinatown --> blase.

Wandering around, I also stumbled across this gigantic maitake mushroom, which retails for $25.00 per pound. With pricing like that, I wondered if they had some medicinal properties (no, not THAT way) and found that yes indeed, they are purported to retard tumor growth, and otherwise be not a friend of cancer. Tempting... Oh, and for scale, consider that the dark blob behind it is a milk crate. ( ! )

Speaking of stumbling, it's time for me to stumble off to bed after slathering on some hydrocortisone cream on my hideously purple skin -- 4 weeks of radiation has left me looking very bruised and leathery, and feeling mighty itchy. (Seeing it in the mirror kind of freaks me out actually.)

So I will put aside my newly arrived PaperBackSwap copy of Netherland to start another evening. (You have to wonder how much of a bump in sales the book received when President/Rock Star O mentioned that he was reading this novel...)