Word Up!

I've always loved words, how they are spelled, how they sound, how they look when written.  My favourite book when I was little was "We like kindergarten", if you can believe it.  I used to love spelling bees and word searches, the game "Boggle"  and "hangman".  Growing up, I was a reader and cherish the memories of reading a book purchased at a local second-hand book store in Golden Lake, on the front porch of a rented cottage.  When I first heard rap music, I was intrigued by how fast they could string together words and rhymes, making up new words and expressions in songs that are still fun to listen to even now.  Think about how much fun it is to hear "It's Tricky" by Run DMC or "Baby Got Back", all these years later!

I'm also fascinated by peoples reactions to words, and I'm not talking about poor grammar like the confusion about their/they're/there, but those words that seem to cause a visceral reaction.  Words like tapeworm, jackpot, karma, math test, moist, all-you-can-eat-seafood-buffet, family dinner.  Depending on your perspective and the context, all of these words can be positive or negative (yes, even tapeworm!).  They can cause a range of emotions or reactions.  

The one exception this observation that I've experienced is the universal reaction to hearing the words "you have cancer". 

It is like time stands still and the only thing you can hear is the whoosh of blood in your ears and the beating of your heart.  For me, I didn't actually hear the words first - I read them, on MyChart.  And after a long 2 hours of alternating between staying calm and being completed panicked, I had a reassuring call from my family doctor.  Reassuring because my cancer was caught early, small, treatable...words I really needed to hear.  

Fast forward to today, I had the follow-up with my surgeon.  After doing a quick once-over of her amazing work and checking on my nerve pain and residual swelling, she said the words that I was so hoping to hear: 

"Stage 1A", "clear margins", "no lymph node involvement"

Music to my ears but I am glad that she also gave me a paper copy with these words highlighted because I might have stopped listening as I was fighting back tears of joy and relief.   Still many more steps in this process, appointments, worry, healing, treatments, medices and tears to come, but for today, 

        Wave your hands in the air like you don't care
    Glide by the people as they start to look and stare
    Do your dance, do your dance, do your dance quick, mama
    Come on, baby, tell me what's the word

    Word up, everybody say
    When you hear the call, you've got to get it on the way
    Word up, it's the code word

    No matter where you say it, you know that you'll be heard.

(Song by Cameo, 1986)