I think my cancer has made me more witty. I've been noticing over the past few months that my one liners are quicker, my ability to make puns has increased, and I am all around a more funny person than I was before. Although, "funny" is subjective, so not everyone may agree with this observation. Matt has always been the absolute most funny person I've ever known, so keeping up with him is difficult. If I can make him laugh, I know I've succeeded. I don't know what to attribute this change in my humor too...maybe it's simply that I just don't care anymore. I feel like having cancer gives me a pass in a lot of areas. I can get away with more.... So why not use it to my advantage.
This past week both Matt and I have been able to use our wit with telemarketers. He told me his story yesterday by starting out with "You may or may not find this funny, but...." Umm, when you start out like that, I immediately become nervous. Then he tells me how a health insurance company called him to try and sell insurance to the family. He quickly engages and says how yes, he'd be interested in talking to someone. Then he goes on to say how his wife was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer and would that be covered, etc. Clearly that's not what the poor salesman was expecting and did a lot of umming and ahhing. He was kind enough to ask if I already had health insurance before quickly getting off the phone with Matt. Pretty sure we're off their list of potential customers.
I do, in fact, have health insurance, and every year they offer monetary incentives for certain things. For example, I took a 10 minute health quotient a few weeks ago and received a $150 Visa gift card for it. The results of my health quotient were pretty sad, as was expected, but hey.. I made $150! Anyway, once you do this questionnaire, they set you up with a health coach. The health coaches have been calling for weeks now and I always say I'm not home. Yesterday I was feeling frisky and decided to talk to her for a bit. She said that she needed to set up a 15 minute pre-coaching interview to discuss my health goals for 2018 and did I have time then to do it. I responded with "No, I don't have time now. And also I don't think I qualify for your program. I have stage 4 metastatic breast cancer and my only goal this year is to stay alive. Also, I'm tired and want to take a nap so I don't have time to talk." She was dumbfounded and said that she "totally understands." She said that they could adapt their program for me but that clearly my goal takes precedent to what they offer. She clearly didn't know what to say, and that made me chuckle.
Now that I'm writing this all it sounds like maybe we aren't funny, but just mean people. Nah... we didn't hurt anyone, and we made ourselves laugh. I think it's just that shock value. People aren't used to other people blatantly talking about their cancer, especially when it's stage 4. But it is my reality, and I am very comfortable talking about it. I don't have time to be who I'm not, do something I don't want to, and say things I don't mean. Having cancer has given me the freedom to be the person we all want to be but are hindered by society to actually embrace. Having cancer has allowed me to be the person we all preach to our children and students to be. Granted, there is something to be said about having tact. I can't teach my girls and my students to be something without modeling that example for them, so I have to remember to try and be tactful ;)
In other news... still no bad side effects from the IBrance! I'm tired at the end of the day, but I am also working full time. The exhaustion can just be from life and not necessarily from the meds. My little buns hurt really bad from the shot still. There's a spot on my right cheek that seems to be hardening a bit so I need to talk to my nurse about that on Friday at our appointment.
So all in all, good times at the McNichol household. Off to spend a fun weekend with the family now!
This past week both Matt and I have been able to use our wit with telemarketers. He told me his story yesterday by starting out with "You may or may not find this funny, but...." Umm, when you start out like that, I immediately become nervous. Then he tells me how a health insurance company called him to try and sell insurance to the family. He quickly engages and says how yes, he'd be interested in talking to someone. Then he goes on to say how his wife was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer and would that be covered, etc. Clearly that's not what the poor salesman was expecting and did a lot of umming and ahhing. He was kind enough to ask if I already had health insurance before quickly getting off the phone with Matt. Pretty sure we're off their list of potential customers.
I do, in fact, have health insurance, and every year they offer monetary incentives for certain things. For example, I took a 10 minute health quotient a few weeks ago and received a $150 Visa gift card for it. The results of my health quotient were pretty sad, as was expected, but hey.. I made $150! Anyway, once you do this questionnaire, they set you up with a health coach. The health coaches have been calling for weeks now and I always say I'm not home. Yesterday I was feeling frisky and decided to talk to her for a bit. She said that she needed to set up a 15 minute pre-coaching interview to discuss my health goals for 2018 and did I have time then to do it. I responded with "No, I don't have time now. And also I don't think I qualify for your program. I have stage 4 metastatic breast cancer and my only goal this year is to stay alive. Also, I'm tired and want to take a nap so I don't have time to talk." She was dumbfounded and said that she "totally understands." She said that they could adapt their program for me but that clearly my goal takes precedent to what they offer. She clearly didn't know what to say, and that made me chuckle.
Now that I'm writing this all it sounds like maybe we aren't funny, but just mean people. Nah... we didn't hurt anyone, and we made ourselves laugh. I think it's just that shock value. People aren't used to other people blatantly talking about their cancer, especially when it's stage 4. But it is my reality, and I am very comfortable talking about it. I don't have time to be who I'm not, do something I don't want to, and say things I don't mean. Having cancer has given me the freedom to be the person we all want to be but are hindered by society to actually embrace. Having cancer has allowed me to be the person we all preach to our children and students to be. Granted, there is something to be said about having tact. I can't teach my girls and my students to be something without modeling that example for them, so I have to remember to try and be tactful ;)
In other news... still no bad side effects from the IBrance! I'm tired at the end of the day, but I am also working full time. The exhaustion can just be from life and not necessarily from the meds. My little buns hurt really bad from the shot still. There's a spot on my right cheek that seems to be hardening a bit so I need to talk to my nurse about that on Friday at our appointment.
So all in all, good times at the McNichol household. Off to spend a fun weekend with the family now!
Awesome post..
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