Flavorful living ...

I sat in the triage area of the London Victoria Hospital willing myself to not cry, trying to distract my mind and heart from the events that they had just been abused through; using every calming and coping strategy I had ever taught a child.
The night before, I had diligently taken my meds as the alarm on my stop watch went off at eight pm. I had asked for the pieces needed to make a bowl of instant oatmeal that I carry everywhere I go for times like this. In a new home, with a new friend, in a new city after finding my way from the big city in the rain … I let a piece fall and left Grandma’s pillbox filled with my green and white pain chasers on the kitchen counter. The next morning I pulled myself out of the cushiest Best Western bed to be a good caregiver to my body, heated the water in the coffee pot and went to grab my oatmeal and pills … only to realize what I had done. The feeling of peace and celebration of a weekend away being spoiled in hotels with my dear friend Sharon was instantly changed to confusion, panic, and disappointment in my self. After years and years of depending on meds I have become quite efficient at making sure they always entered my food filled tummy when they are supposed to. (Some of you may disagree … but I did say quite efficient, not totally efficient!)
We were supposed to be headed for Windsor to see Sharon’s sister who she had not seen in six years after swimming and relaxing in the Jacuzzi.
I knew this would not be easy. Doctors do not readily give out opiates, I understand why.
Having found my way to a walk-in clinic I had a moment of exhalation as I saw that I was the first patient. What happened next is what shook me and left me crying on the phone to Chris, a native of London, minutes later. The doctor vehemently refused me, would not even let me finish explaining how I ended up before him, cut me off, disciplined me, and treated me like a low life. I was more than prepared for the possibility that he would not prescribe my meds, but that he would not even let me finish requesting a list of my options. I held it together long enough to tell him how unprofessional he was being and how unjustly he had just treated an individual blessed to have found a med regime that allows her to live a relatively pain free life and walked out.
An hour further towards withdrawal and pain, and an hour farther away from leaving to Windsor I was in triage. And three hours, and $40 after that, shaking my leg, shifting my weight, headachy and frozen I picked up my patient friend who had been kicked out of her hotel room.

However, what happened next gently brought me back to liking Ontario. And that was Sharon’s sister and her family. We were so warmly received and so generously spoiled by a family that does not have much. It was overwhelming and humbling. The three beautiful children openly shared their space and about their lives while Sandra casually put out the sweetest fruit spread. We popped over to the outlet mall because Sharon wanted to spoil her family to return to an incredible Iranian dinner spread out before us … Lamb, ochre and potato stew, rice with saffron, home-made hummus and tubule, chicken kabobs and various pickles. The kids God-father Fred made most of the meal and we chose to eat on the floor tucked in around the round wooden table in the family room. We did our best to eat with the bread and stuffed ourselves silly. And then when we thought that we could not eat another thing, Sharon’s chocolate birthday cake appeared with fresh whipped cream, strawberries, and mango … and we did it justice followed by Arabic tea with saffron (which Fred went and got a box of for each of us along with a little baggy of saffron!)
This family was so interesting. Sandra was fasting for the month to better understand what it is like to not have food as she does every year, and Fred shared about his culture and the long journey that brought him here from Iran. We talked about family and freedom, and mostly about being happy with what you have.
And if you could even imagine lunch the following day was just as incredible. We went to pick up schwarmas from a local restaurant and a spread of different treats from the Arabic bakery (including a BOX of baklava's that ended up coming back with Sharon and I and was apparently yelling at Sharon the whole drive home!)
I know this is along entry but it was a weekend full of life … the good and the bad but mostly the good.
I was not ready to say goodbye to Sharon and ended up staying with her at her hotel in Mississauga which was such a treat.
And that was last weekend … this past week and weekend has had just as many stories!
Right and school, the reason I am here! Although it may not sound like it my program is intense and I have been working day and night. I go to bed and wake up reading and am learning and growing so much!
It has been hard at times but I am so glad that I am here!