MAMMARIES…

Art, Breast Cancer, From My Brain to Yours, Photographic Memories, , ,

Some things speak for themselves….this isn’t one of those things.

This thing kind of screeches.

Consider yourself warned.

Val-Kiri Belts Out Her Anthem to Breast Cancer in the Key of Something Sharp…and Flat.

And thus, Val-Kiri’s ride through radiation is complete.

It hasn’t been fun.

But it sure has been memorable.

*–*

To Amber McDaniel, my tireless music therapist, and Spectrum Hospital Lemmen-Holton Cancer Pavilion, my heartfelt thanks. I couldn’t have survived these weeks without your support.

To Lily, who helped to record me as a last-minute request. You rock. You roll. You take lots of pictures while doing it.

And to the ladies and gents of the Blue Bird Cancer Retreat. This song’s for you! It goes out to anyone who’s had a hard time finding their inner warrior. I find the viking helmet really helps!

Every day I had radiation, I took a picture in front of one of the framed artworks at Lemmen-Holton. I saved the white-picket fence for last. Lucky number 16!
                                   Mammaries
                                  By Kiri Salazar

 Waiting, not a word from the lab tech.
 Diagnosing my mammaries
 Takes more patience than Job.
 In this thin robe, the air conditioning freezes my…nose.
 And fear begins to grow.
 
 Mammaries, hiding secrets that doom me.
 I can dream of the old days
 They were perkier then.
 They remember a time we knew what a penis was for
 Let the mammaries, live again.
 
 Every doctor seems to offer
 A fatalistic warning
 X-rays reveal, a mass undetermined
 A biopsy confirms it.
 
 CANCER!
 But wait, there’s some good news.
 There’s just one lump to remove.
 And a node or two.
 
 When the doc comes
 He says the mammary cells do show 
 An invasion has begun
 
 ER positive—
 HER-2 negative—
 is that good or bad news?
 Onco DX genetic testing
 Means there’s no need for chemo!
 
 Touch them!
 It’s so easy to free them.
 All the staff’s seen my mammaries under radiation.
 If you touch them, you’ll understand what happiness means.
 Now I know, I’ll live again.
For marianallen who inspired the search for Viking Cats!

42 thoughts on “MAMMARIES…”

    1. Amazing I didn’t break my vocal chords trying for the high notes! But thank you. I’ve never considered myself anything but a back-up singer, usually harmonizing. It is so much scarier being the ‘lead.’ Scarier than cancer, anyway.

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  4. I love this so much. The song and the you being done with radiation and having received good help through the process, that is. Not the needs for the rest.
    I am reminded why you are such a benefit to any gish team, mighty warrior. You are amazing.

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    1. Second go-round? Holy crap. You came back for more? What were you thinking? Next time, opt for Hawaii as a laid-back vacation. From what I’ve heard, chemo is no way to escape your responsibilities!

      Seriously though, good luck. Ride that venomous dragon to the bitter end and spit in its eyes! Hug your husband. Gentle love to you both!

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  6. OMG K, you rock. Congratulations on the completion of your treatments and on your debut as Brunhilde. I don’t know if I love yours or Bug’s Bunny’s version more. They are both so moving!!! I really can’t choose. XO

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  8. Kiri … I want you to be my new best friend. Seriously. You are lovely and funny and amazing! Please, though, won’t you add the lyrics to this post? Maybe some people could hear them, but I’m a bit stupid that way (and I’m sure I’m not alone) – I just don’t get words when they’re being sung, although I heard enough to laugh out loud and want to hear more. So share, please?

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    1. I’ll try. I have a hard time with the new manager/format system. Every time I tried to enter the lyrics, it cut each line up as a new paragraph. It looked unreadable. Maybe if I attach it as a file??? Give me a moment.

      I hope my line belting out “…a time they knew what a penis was for” came through.

      Check back in a bit. Maybe I’ll figure this set-up somehow.

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      3. It came thru. 🙂 Don’t worry. You’ll figure out what it is for again.

        When you go to make another line, hold down the shift key while you press enter. That should give a new line without a paragraphy break. I also use the classic editor and not the blocks editor. (I hate that thing!)

        I’ve shared it for you here:
        https://aunatural.org/2019/10/25/mammaries-thedustseason/
        So far 15 views one like and one share.I blog about many things but most of my audience consists of anime fans which trend to young adults of various genders and nudists, mostly guys who trend middle aged and older. It may not be the ideal target audience for your message.

        The other place I shared it was a site page that is still under development. It won’t get many views there.

        I wish the the very best the world has to offer, including perfect health from now on.

        Liked by 1 person

      4. I’ll settle for imperfect health, but even more perfect friends. I can’t imagine the cross-over between Anime and Breast Cancer comes up very often. But, as the population ages, perhaps Sailor Moon will make a come-back in a PSA about mammograms. From what I recall, she’ll need to have the specialized kind intended for denser breasts. Oh great, now you’ve got me started thinking about Sailor Moon’s breasts. Not that that isn’t what is intended by her costume, but still. Not where I expected my mind to wander today. I hope you are happy.

        And thanks.

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    1. Thank you Fred. Though I was a tad concerned about a site considered to be ‘au natural’ and thought you might think a post about breasts was going to be much more titillating that it was.) Kudos for the sharing.

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      2. At first, I mis-read that and thought your link was au natural log.wordpress.com which would indeed have been a worrisome handle. Good thing you broadened your interests. Girth is good. 😉

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    1. My egomania is only encouraged by words like these. Careful you don’t build me up to dangerous proportions. (Also, I am inspired by the fantasticness of those around me. I am ever inspired by your outlook on the world. Consider me totally gobsmacked by you in return!)

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  14. Kiri, at first you left me wordless.

    But 😀

    This blog post ought to become a primary feminist resource. For every time a man says to another man or men “You’re acting like a little bitch”–“What are you–a pussy?”–“C’mon, ladies, you can do better than that!” –“Ya’ need a tampon?”

    Send all those men to this blog and show them how a(n awesome amazing inspiring brilliantly-funny) WOMAN acts like a little bitch.

    Much Love,
    O. Babe

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    1. I won’t argue with you. I was in awe of the women I met who were fighting a much harder battle than I did. Let me tell you, I am really glad I did not need chemo. And I hope like holy heck I never need it. But you do feel very glad to step away from the process of daily visits for treatment and getting back to the new normal. If that makes me a feminist icon, I’ll proudly wear the Viking horns to prove it!

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    1. Excellent. Here’s hoping your results are thoroughly negative now and from here on out. May your life be filled with pointless exercises in unnecessary x-rays that always show absolutely nothing changes. May your boobs be boring. That is what I wish for you.

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