Me, Marsha Marie

 Dear Diary,  Today I want to take you back to my very first memory. As you can imagine my first memories are blotchy at best. But this is how I remember my oldest-oldest-one. (Yes, I know I said the word "oldest" twice. It just seemed to fit here. Okay, grammar police?!) I figure I must have been lying on my back and a man looking down at me. Just past him, I could see a horse with a chain that seemed to be floating in the air. I don't remember any sounds or smells. Just seeing this man with bushy hair on each side of his face, with some more on top of his head.  You know, I find it interesting that I'm using vernacular that I would use today if I were to describe a scene in my everyday life. But let's try explaining it as how I really remember it--- childlike . I thought it would be fun to describe this first memory in a stick-figure-drawing. Again, blotchy at best.  And this is what I came up with.  Well, as you can see, there is a man, or an alien (which would

  Passing Glances  by Marsha Marie scared hallow faces rhythm ting ting as the tube tinkers a somber tune on the IV pole with flowered blue petals keeping us steady war heroes in the hall, sharing their past i asked are you sharing old war stories ?  the man shows pic of his bone on his phone  "yes, just making them up as we go" (he chuckles) keith - the rolling wizard.  a smile across his face.  "hi, hope you're just here for a headache!" you can hear him rolling down the hall  with the sound of  a glass IV bottle ......i think, what year am I stuck in?  the nurses and assistants are the real unsung heroes i get that now pats on my shoulder , a tissue to wipe the tears  "Do you want a hug?"   .....yes, please!

  Dear Diary,  Today's writing prompt was for me to list out everything that annoys me throughout a typical day. That sounds so negative, so instead, I want to list out some things that I really love about a typical day.  I love seeing my daughter in the morning. She is in her 30's and still comes to my room each day to give me a hug and tells me that she loves me. What could be better than this, right!? I love how everyone in my family plays with our cat, Simon each day. Simon is such a personality, that I cannot imagine our home without him. And I am sure everyone else feels the same. What a spoiled baby he is! I love my one glass of Pepsi with ice in the mornings. I only allow myself to have one a day, so this morning-Pepsi is a special treat for me. Sometimes, I want more, but have learned to control it. 😂 I love my bathroom. Yeah, you heard me right---my bathroom. Not sure what the psyche is on that, but I really love my own personal bathroom and a hot shower. Really tho

  I Hate Cancer  by Marsha Marie  If ever there were a topic that was easy to write about, it would be how much I hate having cancer. Diagnosed in November of 2023, my life took a drastic change in direction. "Leukemia," they told me. "You will die if you do not start treatment immediately; two months tops."  I felt like my world had ended. The next few months were a long blur of tears, fear and vomiting.  Yes, my hair fell out. I felt like everyday could possibly be my last.  Then an option was given to me. I could get a stem-cell transplant and get an 80% survival rate. So my two choices were try to survive or die. I chose to try.  So, in March of 2024, I watched donated tiny stem-cell particles stream down a tube and into my arm. (You could actually see them when you put a light on it. Quite cool when you think about it.)  Since the diagnosis, I have lost about 70 pounds, and have taken what feels like thousands of pills. Mood swings are up and down with the bree