i am NOT my hair.

I'm not oblivious to the beauty standard: I just don't measure my self-worth against it, and I don't take comfort or solace in trying to live up to it when I'm under stress.

chemo: day 1, round 1.

Steve lowered himself somewhat cautiously into the patient's +1 chair and gave me a wide-eyed look of happy surprise. I leaned back into my seat, my feet left the floor, my head hit the pillow: instant comfort for me, too.

diagnosis: bad fiction

I must think about this current situation as a different kind of learning experience. That's going to take some extra effort, mentally, on my part - but I think I'm equal to it.

looking for the sausage (or, at the very least, the water-soluble fiber)

In addition to all the unpleasantness and discomfort I've already experienced, I have also had moments of profound and heart-wrenching positivity. These moments have all been unique and wholly unexpected. They have already made all the difference.