Prep Work

Walking out of the Dean's Office, Athena has a mix of feelings: disappointment, frustration, determination and reziliensy. Plus, her head still hurts. Dean Maze-Gardena more or less made it clear she does not believe Athena needs accomodation and was not helpful in providing guidance to Athena. Rather than sulk about her circumstances, Athena heads to the library to send an email to her professors.

She wants to build up a support team on campus in anticipation of what is to come. The Nursing professors have some freedom and authority over their individual classes. Athena can use this freedom and authority to her advantage: asking for extensions on projects, having a middle person to communicate with her Nursing preceptor, and much more.

After her emails are sent and emotions settle down, Athena gets up and heads home. Staying on campus does not sound appealing but, getting a head start on Friday's beverages is the perfect distraction Athena craves.

Walking into the local Indian Sweets and Spices store, Athena is greeted by the smell of cinnamon, cardamom and an assortment of other spices. She is here to purchase Jazmine rice and hibiscus flowers. Grilled fish tacos are on Friday's dinner menu. Hibiscus tea and horchata are perfect compliments to the light meal.

Once she has made her purchase and talked with the store owner for thirty minutes, Athena leaves feeling better after her meeting with Dean Maze-Gardena. The store owner helped Athena reframe Dean Maze-Gardena's points from the Dean's perspective. Rather than seeing Dean Maze-Gardena as an unsympathetic person who is not interested in working with Athena, Athena is able to see Dean Maze-Gardena's efforts in helping her find accomodations.

While leaving the store, the sun pokes its head from behind a gray cloud. A warm feeling creeps into Athena's heart, mind, and body. She smiles to herself and walks home.

By the time she walks through the front door, places the hibiscus flowers and rice on the counter, boiled water for a pot of black tea, and emotionally checked in with herself, Athena's head no longer hurts. She waits for the tea kettle to sing before pouring the hot water into her favorite mug. As her Lady Grey tea brews, Athena removes her cell phone and dials her mom's number. She is greeted with a warm reception from the other end of the line.

"Athena, honey, is everything alright?" Athena's mother sounds worried and surprised. Her eldest child doesn't usually her in the middle of the week.

"I am doing as best I can, mom. I have a few updates and wanted to keep your worrying at bay. Is now a good time to chat?" Athena can hear the sound of dishes and utensils in the background. She picks up on the slightest bit of other people's banter as well.

"Hang on a minute Athena. Let me go somewhere with fewer distracrions." The sound of chair legs rubbing against a hard floor tells Athena her mother is enjoying afternoon coffee with herself or a friend. Shortly after moving to Berkeley, California, Athena's mother got into a routine: getting an afternoon beverage with someone from her kids' schools, the local store or other location she frequented. It is her way of building community and staying social.

"You still there Athena?" Hearing her mother's voice brings Athena back to the present. The background chatter and utensil clashing have been replaced with bird chirping.

"Ya. Still here, who are you drinking coffee with today?" Curiosity dances through Athena's voice like a pair of ballet slippers across a studio floor.

"Nobody, I am treating myself to an afternoon pick-me-up. We are not here to talk about my monthly coffee routine, kid. What news do you have? Do you need dad or I send you anything?"

"You never miss a beat do you, mom. Carson and I had a follow up appointment on Monday. Chemotherapy starts in December and it is a lot for me to process. I have pamphlets to read through, but, I want to air out my feelings." Athena's mother listens without judgment.

The fact that her kid continues to stay in contact with her, despite going through a phrase in high school, speaks volumes to how mature and strong Athena has grown. But her mind starts wondering for a hot second.

"Mom? Mom? Hello!"

"Calm down, I am still listening. I am just amazed at how resilient you are and willingness to be vulnerable with me."

"You sound like a mom." Athena's sassy attitude strikes again.

"I wonder why that is, you are my child after all." Athena's mother, the original queen of sass everyone.

Athena and her mother continue their conversation for another two hours. During that time, Athena has finished her cup of tea, cried a few tears and gained new respect for her mother.

After ending the call, Athena turns her attention to making the horchata. She measures out three cups of Jazmine rice, runs the rice under cold water, puts the cleaned rice into a bowl and pours enough water into the bowl to cover the rice. She places a few star anise seeds and cinnamon sticks into the rice as well. The bowl shall remain on the kitchen counter for at least 72-hours. This will allow the rice to soften up and make blending the rice easier.

Once the rice is settled in, Athena takes a quick shower then fixes herself some food. She checks her email while boiling water for spaghetti noodles. Her clinical professor responded to her inquiry! This surprises Athena since the professor in question is slow in responding to emails.

Athena had asked her professor for a one-on-one meeting to discuss the rest of tbe quarter. She alluded to being given heavey news without telling her professor about her diagnosis.

The clinical professor can meet with Athena on Friday afternoon. Athena accepts the meeting time and sends her best regards to her professor. Athena's pot begins to rattle, indicating the water is ready for the dried spaghetti. As she lowers the noodles into the water, a quote by Eleanor Roosevelt: "a woman is like a tea bag- you never know how strong she is until she gets into hot water." How befitting consideration she is a young woman experiencing cancer.