My twin sister, Jean is worried about me. She cries on the phone and is trying to be brave, but she is scared for me. She is a professor at a college and has many friends some of which she has expressed her concern for me to.

Today a package came in the mail from a friend of my sisters – a woman I have never met who was filled with kindness and compassion for me. Jean told her about my disease and about me donating my hair and becoming bald. The woman is a Muslim from Africa and wraps her hair in beautiful scarves and sent me a box of gorgeous scarves to wrap on my head. She took pictures and made me a CD so I could see some of the artful ways these scarves can be worn. Jean sent along some beautiful broaches to pin to the scarves and some other “pressies”. I was so touched by the kindness of this stranger and by my sister’s concern. I love these scarves; they feel more honest than that wig. The wig feels like pretending.

I have received dozens or cards and e-mails already. My best pal Suze Weinberg sent me a cozy pink wrap to stay warm in during chemo or whenever. Gayle brought me a pile of frog items….I took her to Paris and London this summer and my friends in Paris took us to dinner at a very fine restaurant, but Gayle was totally grossed out by the escargot ( my personal favorite!) and the frog legs. Unfortunately, graciousness required her to at least taste the expensive (but gross) meal my friends had provided and now frogs have become quite a source of laughter between us. I am now the proud owner of a frog water bottle, a fat frog plush animal that croaks a French and English song, a frog puppet which has now been re-classified as a “candle cozy” after it was put over a candle and a few hilarious frog themed cards.

I am amazed at the phone calls and caring support that has begun to flow into my life.
It is wonderful to know so many people care about me

© 2007 Julia Andrus