BT, Kidney, Otitis Externa

Brain tumors, kidney stones, and otitis externa. What have they in common, you say? You return to them.

Or they return to you.

I explain. Many cancers make this offer: go without me for seven years or so, and I ain't never comin' back. Or so I heard, anyway. Or so we're told.

Well, mine came back after a decade of rest. Of vacation. Or rock and roll; of learning love.


And I had a kidney stone or two a year after radiation. All those brochures repeat: once you've had one, you're more than likely to have one again. (So drink water; drink water; drink water. They don't say: you'll piss all night; piss all night; piss all night.)


And now, swimmer's ear seems to be returning. I feel as if my left ear is stuffed with gum. Otitis externa they call it in the Doc Coffee Shop.

I didn't even remember having this, but K reminded me I had it near the end of radiation. They said it might happen. Lose your hair. Stuff your ear with wax. Forget stuff. Whatever; just get rid of the damn thing, OK?


But let me end this on a happy note. Other things we return to and we smile: restaurants, candy bars, flowers, songs. People. Happy songs, happy songs. Even the sad songs will sound happy now. As long as I hear them. As long as I get rid of that otitis externa.