The Diary of a Tobacco Chewer-W

“I never travel without my diary, One should have something sensational to read” 5-4-11: I never knew about the above quote of Wilde But an event in life taught me to keep one. 4-23-94: Let me start with the initial jotting A local doctor said it’s just cough, a thing seasonal 5-5-94: No cure, consulted again after two weeks Advised to consult an ENT specialist attached to A Medical College Hospital. 5-8-94: Diagnosed cancer of the vocal chords 5-10-94: But preferred to have a second opinion Confirmed the first opinion and advised radiation. The word spread in the University Campus town In the Bohemians circle that a Wicket (Cricket) down Heard from many mouths the fate of the tobacco chewer. 5-15-94: A friend of my son came to see me on hearing the news He had the disease of the same type and category 10 years back He took the radiation and there he was a positive case. 7-4-94: Started the radiation therapy of six weeks Resigning 4 months earlier than the regular retirement. Along with the radiation started the nature cure therapy And the greatest of all therapies, the rosary with HIS name. 8-12-94 the radiation machine, only one in my State went off Consulted the Cancer Hospital at Mumbai Got the reply appointment after six months. 8-22-94: Luckily the treatment restarted after 10 days 9-2-94: And completed the radiation course. 12-5-94: Retested and was declared cancer free. Thus the history of trials, tribulations, tests and tobacco taste. 5-4-11: The habit is still with me even to-day. Oh, the digit 5 could be a lucky number for me. ****************** *The dates and events taken from my diary are real*. I have written two poems on the event 1. What Gods there were 2. Butterfly Counts not months but moments. Thanks, Constance, for sensational refreshing of my memories. Dr. Ram Mehta ============================================== Second place win in : Contest: The Diary sponsored by Constance La France-A Rambling poet