Chapter 16
The Last Toxic Waltz.
It’s done, it’s done, it’s done!!! It’s the day after the last toxic waltz I ever have to do. I can’t describe the feeling. I slept so well last night and that in itself is a rare occurrence. Actually I don’t know how I feel, it’s all very mixed at the moment. I know I still have all the side effects to follow but at this stage that is bearable because they are still about 8 days down the track. This time though is the last... The last time I will feel numb, the last time my eyes will leak uncontrollably, the last time the hornets or runs will pay a visit, the last time my teeth feel like they are falling out of my head, the last time my fingers and toes will feel like they aren’t there. No more aches and pains, feeling like crap, hair falling out, being puffy oh the list is endless… No more… it’s done… I have danced my last toxic waltz and so ends my Chemical romance.
A walk down memory lane.
It’s 6am and I’m getting up to get ready for the airport. The day after chemo I’m always a bit sluggish and today was no different, but I’m far too excited because I’m going to see Wicked tonight in Sydney. I have often had problems getting through security checks because of the amount of gold that I wear. It sets the alarms off and then they have to pat me down. Doesn’t worry me but I think it pisses the security staff off. This time my experience was great. I explained I couldn’t get the bangles off and they understood and were so nice. Awwwwww, It left me feeling all warm and fuzzy. After an uneventful flight and a somewhat terrifying Sydney cab ride we checked into our hotel which was located directly across the road from the theatre, I arranged to meet up with Alex. I have known Alex for what seems a lifetime. She was one of my juniors at Pumpkin Patch when I worked at Bankstown. Greg and I met her at the Queen Victoria building and went to the 3rd floor, the High Tea floor! The room was set out so beautifully, it was like we were transported back in time and was complete with red velvet high back arm chairs and mahogany low set tables. As we sat down our waiter placed menus in front of us and explained the whole process and all the different types of tea. We of course opted for the bubbly option, then the tea. I have never seen, nor did I know that there were so many varieties of tea and we were expected to know what we wanted and pick one. Then out came a procession of decadent cakes and slices, scones and pastries all on Royal Albert “Old Country Roses” fine china. My favourite Royal Albert pattern no less! It was great to catch up with Alex, it always is and she hasn’t changed a bit. Next we opted for a few wines then dinner before the show. By this time my taste was starting to get a bit wobbly. Across the road from the hotel was a sashimi joint, just the ticket I thought. I’m glad we chose to eat there and we had the large sashimi platter. Yummmmo!!! The flavour was amazing, even I could taste it all. The highlite… the oysters! These would have to be the best I have ever tasted. They even put the fresh bbq’d ones we had in Miyajima Japan into second place. I wanted more but thought that would be over kill so I sat content that I had a party in my mouth and my taste buds where not only invited but they actually came. We moved on to the show and after a cocktail served in a flashing glass at the Capitol Theatre we found our seats. Just off to the right of the orchestra pit front row. I don’t know how Greg does it but we always manage to get really good seats. The musical was amazing. The costumes were out of this world. I won’t tell you any of the story just in case you want to see it but it is a brilliantly woven story that fits perfectly with the original Wizard of Oz that we all know. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and highly recommend that you all see it.
After a late checkout we headed down to Bankstown to our next destination, Bankstown sports club for a 50th birthday celebration of my old high school, Sir Joseph Banks High. I was actually pleasantly surprised at the size of the club not to mention the choices in restaurants. We checked in and then went down stairs to find a feed. I wanted something nice and it was my shout. We found a little Italian eatery at the far end of the piazza. Greg had a huge steak and I of course had the lobster. We enjoyed a small flutter on the pokies and while I got the cost of lunch back, Greg won big… Noice work I feel and just in time to get ready for the party. I was a little nervous, after all I hadn’t seen most of these people since I had left school, over 30 years ago. I had always had the vision that when I finally went to one of these do’s I would be like I was, skinny and normal. I was hoping that time would be kind to me and that I would look good… Instead, I was puffy and bloated from the drugs! I was about two sizes larger than I wanted to be and my eyes wouldn’t stop leaking. I wore my little spotted cocktail dress, threw on encounter and painted my face. I was ready… well, as ready as I’ll ever be… and you know, I felt reasonably good and looked as good as could be expected two days after such a chemical romance has ended. The faces I saw that night were great! People I actually liked at school! It was fantastic to finally catch up my old best friend Julie. She and I where just about inseparable all through school, but after school, nothing… and neither of us have any idea why! I also caught up with some of my brothers friends, people I couldn’t put a face to and some I just really had no idea about. The party continued to the wee small hours and by the time our little group moved on to one of the downstairs bars for a few more drinks and a dance I was just so exhausted. I realise I’m pushing myself to the very limits, but I have to… I don’t want to miss a moment… There is so much we need to do down here and I can rest when I finally get back home. Next day we hired a car and I showed Greg the house I grew up in, the house we owned in Revesby, my old primary school, my old high school which I remember being much bigger than it seems now. I took him up to my old English class room to see if the wall is still detached from the floor (it isn’t but it still has a gap where it has been screwed back down). It was great to see Aunty Shirley and Uncle Albert, It’s been about two years since our last visit. Then we headed to the Central Coast, to the RAAF air show at Williamtown near Newcastle, and then across to see Dad at the van.
The air show was the best I have ever seen. I certainly got more than my fill of F111’s and FA-18’s. I couldn’t tell you how many fly overs we had and how many “pee” moments there were. I enjoyed them all and we have some great shots of things you just don’t see every day. After another night in another motel we headed to the van… Catching up with Dad was brilliant! He is keeping well and hasn’t changed in the two years since I last saw him. That is a great relief to me, after all he is getting on in years (82), and I know he was happy to see that I’m doing as well as I am… he’s been really worried about me since I told him about the Cancer. I would have loved to stay around a lot longer but I could feel myself fading and fading fast. I didn’t want Dad to see the fade so we had lunch, promised not to leave it another two years, and headed off back to Sydney… Bondi to be precise!
We found and checked into the Swiss Grande right on Bondi beach. We had two days of relaxation as everyone that was left to catch up with came to us. This was a great bit of planning on my part because by this stage I was starting to lose the control I had on the side effect situation. My taste had well and truly gone, my body ached, but I needed to put the brave face on for a little longer. It was Greg’s cousin Averil’s turn. We met up with her and her family that night. We had a lovely night catching up on all that has happened on both sides, getting to know the new men in Averil’s life (new son in law, new grandson, and a new fiancé!), and I have to say that I was very relieved Averil’s new little grandson came along. Not only because we got to meet him, but I knew that it wouldn’t be a late night and that I wouldn’t be the one to want an early end to the party. Dinner was done and we headed back to our room for a good night’s sleep before the next day’s catch up. Next to make the trek was Chyrel, a face I hadn’t seen in what must be almost 20 years. Chyrel and I worked together when I was about 19 or 20, and what mischief we would get ourselves in to. I was amazed to see that she still looks the same, a little larger perhaps but aren’t we all? It was good to see that fabulous sense of humor and infectious laugh is still intact after all these years… especially as Chyrel has had her share of adversity over the years. Our final catch up with Sydney based friends and relatives was with Lauren, another one of my juniors only this time from Brissy. She is now living in Sydney and can’t wait to get home. We try to catch up when ever we can and I love hearing the stories of situations she manages to get herself into. After a drink in the bar of the Swiss Greg, Lauren and I headed out for dinner. It was decided that pizza would be an excellent choice and by the time it arrived at our table I was so exhausted I couldn’t eat anything. We decided to take the leftovers for breakfast knowing full well that they’d end up in the garbage sooner or later. It was now time to go home, I had had enough and needed to rest up big time. Memory lane is exhausting but great. I’ve had the best week… thank you my darling lobster… I love you.