Reflections 1/22/21: Well, with all my bodacious boasting about “cowgirling up,” I bit the dust yesterday in a most humiliating way. Brought to tears by the shopping carts in King Soopers. I had just gotten a call from my chemo infusion center that they needed to put off my first treatment until next week, so I was thrown off my pre-game preparation. Dang! Just as I was ready to kill it! So I trudged chapless into the grocery store with a heavy heart. As I was pulling out a shopping cart, the folding baskets locked up, but not before my wedding ring finger got caught between the metal bars. It snapped back and tore the cuticle away from my nail, erupting in an explosion of blood, (compliments of the blood thinner I am forced to take to keep blood clots at bay). Instant explosion of tears as well… from the frustration as much as the pain. First leap out of chute and I am eating dust on the ground! And crying like a baby no less! Manager rushes over with bandaids and condolences, and other customers entering the store are torn between helping and protecting themselves from both COVID and AIDS, (given the gushing blood). Embarrassing… and humiliating. But You DID show up God. In the form of a nurse who “happened“ into the store right at that moment, took over, cleansed the wound, and bandaged me up. As I apologized for the overblown tears, explaining my disappointment about my cancer and chemo, she whispered that she understood because she had just gotten the diagnosis of a brain tumor, and was reeling from that news. Compassion replaced my self-focus, and our shared anxiety created an unexpected bond! Promises to pray for each other and we parted ways. Now as I look at my torn skin and purple fingernail (which will probably fall off), I rue the ignominy of the shopping cart defeat, but marvel at Your creative intervention in that bloody battle!