The cruelest cut of all…

“I can’t believe Thanksgiving is next week already,” my daughter commented last night after we’d talked a while about our plans for that day.

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. There are no religious or political themes to wade through, no overblown commercial campaigns to legislate generosity. It’s simply a glorious excuse to share hugs, warmth, and good food with loved ones.

“Next week? For real? Oh no,” I groaned.

“What’s the matter?” she asked, noting my change in tone.

I’d already done the math. “This coming Monday I’m due for my first Abraxane infusion. For about five days after that, food won’t taste like much of anything. Thanksgiving falls right in the middle of that.”

It’s about the people, I keep reminding myself.

“And you’ll take home plenty of leftovers,” my sister generously offered when I made the comment to her afterward. Now, there’s a gesture to be thankful for!

Food

Anyone who knows me knows that I love good food.

I used to be a pretty good cook, but it was always driven by what I wanted to eat. I enjoyed getting creative, mixing and matching tastes in my head before translating them to actual dishes. These days, I prefer to have others do the cooking, but I still love sitting down to a good meal.

Yesterday I had my Abraxane infusion, and for the next few days I can expect some of the most intense side effects of the entire cycle. The cruelest of all is that it robs my sense of taste! It starts with a metallic taste in my mouth, and by tomorrow, most food won’t have more flavor than paper. At the same time, it brings intense and sudden hunger pangs that leave me weak if I ignore them.

I stopped for a slice of pizza on the way home from work and remembered what I was in for. I’d been craving the pizza, but when it got to my mouth, all I could taste was salt. I couldn't finish it.

I’m looking forward to Saturday, when my taste buds resume their normally exalted function. For sure, you’ll find me in the pizza parlor, savoring the slice I missed out on tonight!