getting ready for chemo

Hi!  This is Juliana's little sister Miriam, also sometimes confused for her twin, and although you can't tell (damn retinol!) I am in fact younger.  I got the chance to visit my sis, Robbie and my favorite nieces this past weekend, and we had a great time.  Yes, there was a port insertion surgery involved, but also hipster coffee, hair salon, spaghetti dinner at Bea's school and giant trampolines.

(powerpoint rendering of our extreme trampolining) 

When I arrived I found my bed covered with sparkly hearts and a pink and purple squishy (if you don't know what that is, you should google it and then get yourself one).  I had made the long trip up from NYC on valentines day and of course Flo and Bea made sure I felt so much love when I arrived.

Early the next morning Juliana and I headed to the hospital for the port insertion.  Luckily the doctor kept us waiting for long enough to catch up on our recent skin care routines, my latest dates, new favorite books and podcasts.  Soon enough Juliana was groggy and seemingly feeling pretty good with the pre-surgery cocktail.  After my rubbery eggs and rock hard sausage in the cafeteria (no shame Concord Hospital, I know you're doing your best), she was back, awake and ready to go, only slurring her words a little bit 😏 between sips of ginger ale.  Although I know it wasn't the most fun morning for her, I loved having the time alone to catch up with my sis and to finally get the chance to take care of her like she has always done for me.

The next day, armed with a few ice packs, we headed to the most hipster coffee spot in Concord to meet a friend and so that I might feel a little bit at home (I am from Brooklyn), and then on to the hair salon.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, we learned that fanny packs are back in style: http://www.instyle.com/celebrity/celebrities-wearing-fanny-packs
(2017 counts as back in, right? or are they already out again?).  This is important because the chemo Juliana will get (aka 5FU) comes in a fanny pack, and Juliana's top priority, as I am sure you all know, is always being the most fashion forward in Hopkinton, NH so we are in luck.  Good news is that although the cancer fighting cocktail and it's pump come in a proprietary black, nylon fanny pack, we have confirmed that it can in fact be placed in ANY fanny pack.  Suggestions welcome!

Before I left, my nieces took me to a giant gym full of giant trampolines, which caused me to question why I still live in a city without such a thing.  We jumped our hearts out and then it was time for me to go 😔. 

I was so touched to see all of the cards, flowers, gifts, meals, and care packages that had arrived and continued to arrive, and the long meal train that was already all booked.  I left knowing that my sis was in the best hands with Robbie, Flo, Bea and her wonderful community and support network, but sad that I can't be there to chat more about facial serums and tinder dates to distract her from harsh drugs and fatigue.  I will be back soon to the land of #livefreeordie, and in the meantime my big sis is going to kill it with her new fanny pack swagger.  Pictures to come..

(sunset from their living room)