When I started this cancer journey back in November I at first tried to shrug it off as just something else I had to get through. It has been that, mostly.
But when I went for the pre-surgical consult in May, I realized that “$#!+ was getting real.”
When the day came to start the radiation treatments, I knew that all I had to do was get through the next twenty-five weekdays and I would be done. So I came up with an idea to do a musical countdown. Finding a song for every number from one to twenty-five was a challenge. But, I did it.
Daily on Facebook I would post the song, and a phrase with the countdown. And I promised my friends and followers that there would be a playlist. So, here it is.
Radiation: The Playlist
One singular sensation…1/25
One, A Chorus Line
Two can be as bad as one, it’s the loneliest number since the number one… 2/25
One, Three Dog Night
Once, twice, three times a laser…3/25
Three Times A Lady, Lionel Richie
Twenty-five or six to four…4/25
25 or 6 to 4, Chicago
It’s five o’clock somewhere…but not here yet…5/25
It’s Five O’clock Somewhere, Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffet
Sometimes I spend the whole afternoon sitting around and singing a tune about six (Bert to Ernie) … 6/25
Sesame Street: Bert’s Favorite Number 6
Call it hell, call it heaven, But it’s probably twelve to seven…7/25
Guys and Dolls
Ain’t got nothin’ but treatment, eight days a week…8/25
Ask not for whom the bell tolls. Today it tolled for ME! #outdamnedspot #cancersucks #25anddone
Eight Days A Week, The Beatles
Love Potion Number Nine…9/25
Love Potion No. 9, The Clovers
Ten minutes ago, I got here…10/25
Ten Minutes Ago, Cinderella
One day I’ll have me a
Chauffeur… and a block long limousine to drive me to these appointments…Eee-o-Eleven (Sammy Davis, Jr.)…11/25
Eee-o-Eleven
Twelve gates to the city all square (thanks Elvis)…12/25
I, John
Well, there’s thirteen hundred and fifty two guitar pickers in Nashville (Lovin’ Spoonful), but not quite as many treatments left…13/25
Nashville Cats
Fourteen days. Fourteen fights. Fourteen lefts. And fourteen rights. (Bill Haley and His Comets)…14/25
Hot Dog Buddy Buddy
Fifteen miles on the “Eerie” Canal…15/25
The Erie Canal Song
You’re sixteen, you’re beautiful, and you’re more than halfway done…16/25
You’re Sixteen, You’re Beautiful, Ringo Star
Only seventeen, but I’m no dancing queen…17/25
Dancing Queen, Abba
And roll on eighteen-wheeler roll on (Alabama)…18/25
Roll On (Eighteen Wheeler)
Aw, it was 19-something (Mark Wills)…19/25
19 Somethin’
Life was so much easier twenty years ago (Kenny Rogers)…20/25
Twenty Years Ago
Wo wo wo wo wo wo hey, twenty one, twenty one (The Shirelles)…21/25
Twenty One
It took me 22 years, Oh my (Styx)…22/25
22 Years
They learned readin’, writin’, Route 23 (Dwight Yoakam)…23/25
Readin’, Writin’, Rt. 23
One day more…this never-ending road to Calvary…24/25
One Day More! Les Miserables
I can’t believe that it’s all over, Baby (Skeeter Davis)…25/25…
I Can’t Believe That It’s All Over
Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash