mom, interrupted

I'm glad I took this week off.

Mom is pretty chipper today but feeling the not-so-good effects of Monday's chemo. For her, the "nausea" side effect manifests as a complete lack of interest in chewing and swallowing. Eating as chore is a concern because she doesn't have the glutton gene that could allay the lack of appetite. Those of us that habitually overeat may not find this symptom to be as onerous. We also have more body fat to sustain us.

So, she's sapped today, just as she was at this point last round, however, most happily for her, she's got her digestive system regulated. There have been times in the past month that I've shuddered with horror at the thought of what life would have been like with an irregular mom. Could the legendary equanimity that is intrinsic to mom's personality have been hanging on a fragile thread of reliable body functions?

Huh. And to think I attributed this admirable quality to her Capricorn nature.

More fiber, please.