Are We Ever Going to Light These Candles?

We have candles in just about every room in our house. Do we light them all- no. We generally only light candles in the kitchen and family room. The other 27 candles are just decorations of varying designs and scents. They’re expensive decorations too- I know this because my wife talks about coupons and candle sales randomly. I normally tune out all talk of “sales, coupons, promos” and the like because, well frankly it doesn’t matter but it got me thinking ‘Why do we have expensive candles we’ll never use?’ I was told that the power may go out or they’re there if we need them. . . for a candle emergency? I recall a conversation Rachel and I had a few years ago, discussing a recent shopping trip I inquired on how much all her wares and good cost and she stated a price that sounded really good. I even asked “That’s it? Wow, that was the total?” To which my loving partner replied “Well before tax of course. Everyone pays tax so I don’t count that.” (the tax here was over $100 at least) It was a comical conversation and still makes me laugh to this day.

For reference I think every person spends money on frivolous things- myself probably even more (hats, barrel aged beer, phones, etc). Back to the “unnecessary”* candles though- it made me think of my situation and our bodies. People live without gallbladders, people lose their appendixes (appendices? appendi? I’m too lazy to look it up) all the time- everyone says you can live a long life with one kidney- so why do we have two? I’m not actually asking for a real answer here yet pondering and really hoping that is true that it may not be completely “necessary".”

I got a call from my oncologist yesterday while going to the bathroom. Granted my care team will probably see me at my worst but could he hear the echo off the hardwood floors and close walls? Hope not but should I even care? He wasn’t calling to say they were all wrong and I just had a few unnecessary parts, but rather that my biopsy needed further evaluation from the prestigious Mayo clinic. Just like me, I need more attention and want even more people to focus on me.

Is this bad? Is this good? I don’t know. Rachel, the amazing woman she is, has gone back into full research mode with what little information we have- which is very little. My parents are ready to support wherever- including giving us two kid free nights this weekend with the help of my sister. Let me tell you, I love my kids dearly and cancer doesn’t have a ton of silver linings buuuuuuuuut this is a big one. The sounds of screaming and yelling (both of excitement and anger) are now replaced with the sounds of Shane from Love is Blind or Archie (our dog) slipping on our hardwood floors or . . . well that’s honestly the bulk of it now. It’s so quiet and peaceful. Thanks Mom and Dad and Ashley!

So yeah, an update but not much of an update. Stay tuned (to Love is Blind, if only for Shane).

Samantha @SammieB1691

Anyone else’s opinion of Shane gone from a solid 2.5 to a strong 9? (Episode 7 by now) 👏🏼 👏🏼 #LoveIsBlind #loveisblind2

Best,

Joe

*Editor’s note: The candles are not unnecessary. Rachel did not tell me to put this (honestly) but I know she’ll object strongly to this classification of necessity.