Call Me Lefty. A fitting name for this blog. Well for starters I am left handed. Actually I am totally left sided. My Grandfather, Robert Aloysius Porterfield thought this was a gift. I was his only granddaughter and because I played softball and he LOVED baseball (woo hoo Mets), and we both had an incredible sweet tooth, I was his gal and he was my Gramps. I adored him. He is where I get my humor from-well what there is of it. And my love of sports.
I was also blessed to have my other Grandfather, James Robert Edward Lee Thomas Taylor (Buddy for short) for so many years. I lived with him for awhile and we became good friends. He was left handed too and helped me do the New York Times crossword puzzle. OK he only missed the ones like “The Brady____” He was thinking it was some document written by the English in the 1600’s. I would say “Oh I got that one! Its The Brady Bunch Grandpa!” And he would say “Thank you Dear.” We lived happily, grandfather and granddaughter-two left handed people. He would tell me stories about how the nuns would tie his left hand behind his back so he couldn’t use it because it was the devil’s hand. I loved my grandpa for not giving up. He must be where I get my tenacity from. He never did switch hands.
As I matured (notice how I don’t say “got old”) being left sided had its good and bad sides. Growing up, I loved to play sports but was limited by what was available to a middle class girl living in NYC. But with all the soft concrete around, softball was a natural! Sliding was not a good idea but some tried nonetheless. I didn’t have a left handed baseball glove so I borrowed my brother’s. I fielded righty (with a great right arm I might add-another story altogether) and hit lefty. I always wondered how I would have played if I used the correct hand for the field. And why my dad didn’t just spring for the lefty glove. I appreciate now how this taught me to substitute when I don’t have what I think I MUST have. He was left handed because of an accident. I guess he figured I might as well learn to make do early in life too. Adapting to the world of rightys was always a challenge. But this learning to adapt business is a requirement for us humans so the experience started me off on the right (left) foot.
I never thought of myself as being “creative” but the left sided thing did steer me into the world of Advertising at the young age of 17- a very creative and neurotic business. And I loved it from the very second I walked in the door. The crappy pay, the long hours and the crazy people I worked with were ok with me-I felt like I was home (literally). Because of my anal-retentive nature (stop laughing) and ability to plan, research and work with numbers (and make people run from me with my questions), I ended up in the Media department, planning and negotiating media placement for my clients (and weeding out the new incapable assistants with my fact and number checking). Lowest paid department in the shop, but I loved it. And creativity with numbers (as any media person knows) is a gift, and I had it. So my left-sidedness really seemed to direct me down the right (left) path.
So eventually the left sided thing kind of moved into mommyhood as well…and if you are a guy, you may want to skip this part….the left breast which (naturally) is larger than the right had an inny nipple (told you guys to skip) but it was a top producer compared to the right! I felt like Elsie the left udder-ed cow. The right breast did absolutely nothing-she, for the most part kept her figure all these years (white lie). After three babies the left nipple was not an inny anymore but it certainly didn’t look normal after all that abuse……but it was ok-I had my babies!! My right handed babies. *Sigh*
So fast foward to 2011 and a wonderful and amazing contract job writing a marketing/advertising blog has ended. And I needed to find something else. Its a new year with new hopes and dreams to fulfill!! Wanting to start the year off on the right (left) foot, I scheduled all my doctor appointments, even the dreaded mammogram. But it had to be done. Well, maybe not. I didn’t have any lumps and no history…but my old (young) friend Julie said you have to go-its important! Was it ever. March 1, 2011 Lefty made her way to pathology at Shady Grove Hospital where my future for the next 5 years or so was determined. Although I expect smooth sailing after December 31st. Yes, I do damn it!
This blog details my journey into and out of cancer. There will be information for those facing this disease-things friends told me for which I am eternally grateful. However, I sincerely hope you find little sadness and alot of humor that (hopefully) will make you laugh. And no matter what, I feel blessed for all that I have. God is good, its the rest of us that have issues!
PS-if you comment, it won’t post unless I post it. So if you want to send me a comment or message,and don’t want anyone else to see it-just ask me not to post it and I won’t.
PS-PLease don’t miss the Blessings/Grateful button up above on the bar. Cause those are what get me through…