I never thought I’d be happy to say, “I got chemo!”
But I was greatly relieved to learn that my white blood cell counts were high enough for them to give me my “chemo cocktail” last Wednesday and again yesterday.
So I’m not weepy anymore! And, gratefully, I’m still suffering no ill effects from the chemotherapy, aside from some fuzzy brain stuff (which I cannot be certain isn’t age-related!)
Looking back on those two missed weeks of chemo, I realized I had neglected to bring my customary thank-you gift for the staff at Kaiser Sunset’s Gyno-Oncology Department. Coincidence, I wondered?
I was taking no chances. Last week I bought See’s Candy. And yesterday, I presented a plate of homemade Snickerdoodle cookies. As usual, they were elated. And I’m happy to recognize and reward them for their hard work and great attitude.
It’s pretty much a full-day commitment – as it’s more than an hour’s drive each way from my home in Thousand Oaks to the Kaiser facility on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood. But the nurses and staff make it worth the trip.
We left there in mid-afternoon. As Scott navigated the not-yet-rush-hour traffic on the Hollywood Freeway, something caught my eye on the side of the freeway. I fumbled for my phone and snapped a photo of a huge, magenta bougainvillea heart, growing over the retaining wall.
I had never noticed it before, but clearly, it hadn’t just grown this way on its own. Or had it? A Google search revealed that it was not shaped by nature – nor by Caltrans. An artist named Corinne Carrey has molded and sculpted the flowers – over the course of nearly three years! In an interview published in the Los Angeles Daily News, she explained that she had ended a romantic relationship in Indonesia and moved back in with her parents in Thousand Oaks. Each day she drove 90 minutes on the 101 to her downtown job as a clothing production manager.
“At some point, I was like, ‘goddammit, I have to beautify this part of the freeway,’” said Carrey. “The whole point was to catch people off guard because the commute is a soul crusher.” In Nov. 2013 she grabbed her parents’ hedge clippers, two jackets (because bougainvillea bushes are thorny) and leather gloves. The bushes already formed a point at the bottom, she said, so she cut the indentation at the top, where the two bushes meet.
For a while, it seemed, nobody noticed. But then the heart gained some attention. It appeared in an L.A. Times photo and in social media posts. One photographer even started making a coffee-table book.
“I love setting something up and watching people react without having to claim it’s mine,” said Carrey.
(I can relate to that … that’s one of the things I most love about my WOW Travel Club programs – surprising people when they least expect it!0
Carrey said she’s made eight hearts in total, including five along the 101 Freeway. She painted two staircases on the Eastside — one with piano keys and hearts, and the other with rainbow stripes and hearts.
How does Carrey choose her canvas? “A place that looks dead and needs some color.” She considers herself a street artist but doesn’t identify with a lot of graffiti, especially tagging. Her goal is to beautify, she said, not deface.
I dedicate the Hollywood Heart to my nurses and staff at Kaiser Sunset!
Hilda Haigazian
October 7, 2016Wow that is beautiful I have never seen it either, I will look for it next week when I go to Hollywood, thanks for sharing it ❤️❤️❤️❤️ I am so happy that you are feeling better and back on track and feeling good. Thinking and praying for you each and every day love you Marilyn 😍😍😍😍😍🙏🙏🙏
Joanne Maloney
October 7, 2016I have been saying prayers and sending positive energy to you ever since I read your first message. Just know many, many people are with you!
Teresa
October 7, 2016People are amazing aren’t they?
Marilyn…..The Creative Queen…..YOU ARE AMAZING!!!
ron murphy
October 8, 2016Nice!
Helene Volkman
October 8, 2016Happy 7th Anniversary to you and Scott, Marilyn! I ‘m a week late in sending this, but have not had a chance to put this on Facebook. Keep up the good work with getting rid of the “Big C” as I know you will. Not fun, but you will do it.
Helene
Joyce Walters
October 10, 2016Reminds me of a great song!! ”
You’ve gotta have heart
All you really need is heart
When the odds are sayin’ you’ll never win
That’s when the grin should start
You’ve gotta have hope
Mustn’t sit around and mope
Nothin’s half as bad as it may appear
Wait’ll next year and hope
When your luck is battin’ zero
Get your chin up off the floor
Mister you can be a hero
You can open any door, there’s nothin’ to it but to do it
You’ve gotta have heart
Miles ‘n miles n’ miles of heart
Oh, it’s fine to be a genius of course
But keep that old horse
Before the cart
First you’ve gotta have heart”. Love you, Marilyn – I ❤️ You!!!
Read more: Damn Yankees – Heart Lyrics | MetroLyrics
Jill Stoliker
October 28, 2016As a Valentine collector, I am loving these photographs. Is that you in the red hat holding the heart in your hand? I definitely need a copy of that! You have such a big generous heart and a loving spirit that has always been an inspiration to me. I have just returned from the fabulous Fine Arts Magazine trip – Gabriel agrees that I have passed the test and may go again next year! I am grateful to you and all your staff for my World of Wonder travel’s this year: Baja, Ireland, Bordeaux and London – Oh My!!!! Happy Birthday and a Healthy and Prosperous Marilyn Murphy New Year! Love always, Jill