Photo copyright: Maggie May
I can't believe that another week has gone by so quickly.
I have caught the bus to oncology at various times of the day, all this week and my treatment seems to have gone well. I am feeling alright.
I could catch the hospital bus if I wanted, from the city shopping centre. They seem to run every 30 minutes or so and stop at all the major hospitals. However, so far, I have felt the need to walk the short distance to oncology from the main shopping centre and again on the return journey. It is the only exercise I seem to be getting these days, so I feel it must do me good.
While on the bus, I have overheard some strange conversations.
One man who obviously had some degree of learning disability, plonked himself down in the seat behind me, next to another man and immediately struck up a conversation with him.
He asked the stranger if he'd ever been abroad and he replied he'd been to Spain. This was met by a very excited response and the conversation got louder and louder and he wanted to know what food they ate in Spain and what the driving was like etc. The other man was very patient with him and must have known that the whole bus was hanging onto his every word.
"Are you going again?" he asked the man.
"Yes in September," was the reply.
The excited man then asked for how long and the long suffering man answered "One week."
"Only for one week?" Replied the excited man, "Whats the matter with you, couldn't you afford more than that?"
Unfortunately, I had to get off then and I was wondering what the reply would have been. I'm sure he'd have been very polite and had a very good reply.
Another journey going into town, nearly brought tears into my eyes and I wish I'd have had the nerve to say something.
I noticed a very rough and ready grandmother who was sitting next to a little girl who must have been about 4 yrs old. They were sitting directly in front of me
Her granddaughter was repeating a word over and over again. I think it was *Anyway.* She wasn't shouting the word but it was obviously getting the grandmother down. She put a fist to the little girl's chin and said in a very gruff and menacing voice, "Will you just shut up and stop saying that word." She then went on to say the word over and over again in a very sarcastic and mimicking kind of way.
"Now you know what it sounds like. Just shut up."
I couldn't believe it when the man who was sitting next to me, started to poke her through the seat and also tell her to shut up and listen to Nan.
She turned round and said, "Don't Daddy." She was doing her best not to cry.
I made a point of moving after that. I hope they realised why, though I doubt it.
What rotten luck to have two grown ups looking after her who were behaving in such a barbaric way. Her father and her grand mother.
It is the end of the week now and I probably won't be getting into another bus until Monday.
You might be wondering why I chose a wet ornamental grass to illustrate this post.
Well, in truth....... I have no idea.
Not sure if there could be any psychological reason.
Any guesses?
