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What's Up With The Peas?

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with Real Estate Shows

PeasMeet Susan Reynolds.  Susan was diagnosed with breast cancer.  Susan is an ordinary person and never expected to have cancer.  Who does?

She discovered something that is true, but kind of sad.  When you have something seriously wrong with your body, people become uncomfortable.  At a time when you need people to stand with you, comfort you, help you not to feel alone or just giggle with you for Pete's sake, sometimes they are so uncomfortable that they will even avoid you.  Simply because it feels awkward not knowing what to say.

Susan came out of surgery and used an icepack to help with the pain.  Icepacks can be heavy and uncomfortable, and she discovered that using a bag of frozen peas fit better and felt better.  She fell asleep with the comfort of her peas and woke up smelling fresh peas, cooked with her body heat. 

When she told people, they laughed.  Humor, it gets us all. 

Talking about something as goofy as having peas in her bra broke through the awkwardness and has given Susan a way to reach people.  I play around in Twitter (more than I should, I’m sure) and nearly everyone I know there is sporting peas.  In fact, some people are so creative with their peas that it’s nearly an art gallery of how you can Photoshop peas in there. 

And people ask, and conversations start.  Peas are silly.  Cancer is not.  But somehow one makes it easier to talk about the other.

Susan is in surgery RIGHT NOW.  I’m sporting peas for her even though I don’t know her.  It just feels like the right thing to do, and here I am.

Add your own pea pictures for Susan HERE

Peas to you and yours.

Comments (25)

Ann Cummings
RE/MAX Shoreline - NH and Maine - Portsmouth, NH
Portsmouth NH Real Estate Preferrable Agent

Hi Sarah - I like your pea pic, nicely done.  And I like Rich's peas in a pod, too.

All the very beat to Susan!  I've heard about using peas as ice packs, and for that very reason - much easier and more malable.

Ann

Dec 21, 2007 06:44 AM
Sarah Cooper
Real Estate Shows - Hurricane, WV

Dalia - I hope your sister is Dancing With Ned and never quits!!  (Hope you get that, you probably do!)  I'm glad you were there for her.  A friend of mine has breast cancer and is going through chemo now, she's lost her hair.  She has a good sense of humor about it, wants to know if things are "wig worthy".  That does help.

Allison - About half my Twitter buddies are sporting peas, but I think yours is among the best!!  :o)

Monika - I can see how they'd be nice as an ice pack, they've be form fitting like a little bean bag.  And like Susan said in her blog, talking about the peas gets people laughing or talking about when they've used them, too -- and it takes the focus off the bad, scary stuff.  People can talk again if it's about peas instead of cancer.

Jason - I have a little too much of this in my life right now.  I think I shouldn't take my kids to visit my uncle anymore.  I just don't know.  It's hard to be there sometimes, as much as you'd like.  

Dec 21, 2007 06:45 AM
Sarah Cooper
Real Estate Shows - Hurricane, WV

Ann - It's kind of interesting to watch support spread.  A yesterday morning I saw my first peas on Twitter (Jeff Turner, trend setter) and now they're all over the place.  I'm sure they were spreading everywhere long before I knew, but it's still a good thing to see.  And that group in Flickr is pretty amazing!  LOTS of support there!

Rich - You fabulous man, you!  :o)!!  Beautiful peas!!

Dec 21, 2007 06:48 AM
Linda Scanlan
A Fan of AR - Burleson, TX
Sarah, humor always diffuses a tense situation. No one likes to talk about cancer, but the patient needs to. Great post!
Dec 21, 2007 06:59 AM
Kris Wales
Keller Williams Realty - Lakeside Market Center - Macomb, MI
Real Estate Blog & Homes for Sale search site, Macomb County MI

A co-worker was going through treatment for breast cancer years ago. One day we were talking and she said she was selfish the night before and asked God "Please, let my hair grow back".  The next morning (the day we talked) she awoke to find one hair.  On her chin. Prominently.  She laughed and laughed about it, as did I.  She said God has a sense of humor.

Humor can make a stressful situation bearable.   What an awesome way to support your friend - through the universal language of laughter and symbolism.

Dec 21, 2007 07:03 AM
Sarah Cooper
Real Estate Shows - Hurricane, WV

Kris - I don't even know Susan, but I do have a friend going through this right now.  I need to tell her about the peas.  FUNNY about your friend and the hair!!  I do tell the girls all the time to be careful what you ask for, because you might get it!  And somehow it's just never what you think!

Linda - I'm a talker, I understand the need to get it out.  For me it helps to write, too.  Susan's blog is a great read, I'm betting she's the same way and she's educating a lot of people along the way.

Dec 21, 2007 07:06 AM
Karen Anne Stone
New Home Hunters of Fort Worth and Tarrant County - Fort Worth, TX
Fort Worth Real Estate

Hi Sarah:  Obviously you know your peas and cues, and queue's too, for that matter.  I happen to love fresh peas.  Now, with your help, I have learned a new way to cook them.  Yum !

Seriously, my heart goes out to Susan.  I will keep her in my thoughts and prayers.  Thank you so much for sharing her story with us.

Dec 21, 2007 08:04 AM
Rich Jacobson
Fathom Realty West Sound - Poulsbo, WA
Your Kitsap County WA Real Estate Broker
Thanks, Fireball....I needed that....
Dec 21, 2007 08:55 AM
Tricia Jumonville
Bradfield Properties - Georgetown, TX
Texas REALTOR , Agent With Horse Sense

Sarah, my lifelong best friend in the world - Peas in a podwe'd known each other since we both turned 16 at the same party - was diagnosed with Stage 3 ovarian cancer some years back, and given just a few months (she beat it for six years before it got her).  She called me from Maryland, I told her, "You're not going anywhere," and flew up for her first chemo.  The most useful thing I did, it turns out, was send her husband off the work and treat her just like I always did, including giggling AND holding her toes to the fire when necessary.  

So often, we start treating the people as the disease, when that's the very last thing they need, they need to remember who they are separate from it and to know that others remember that about them, as well. 

Not separate from life and the rest of us, but part of us.  

 

Dec 21, 2007 10:58 AM
Sarah Cooper
Real Estate Shows - Hurricane, WV

Tricia - I'm glad you helped her fight. Sometimes I think the best way to fight is just to still have your life.  You helped her so much by giving her that.  I haven't had to face this, but knowing me I think that anytime I was left alone I would think about it.  (My friend insists she's not strong because she cries when she's alone, but I have seen her smile at her children and I know there's a lion in her heart that won't give up.) I think that when we're with them, we need to let them soak up friendship.  Unless they need to talk.  Man, whatever they need, right?

Rich - MWA!!!  And Sushi.  :o)  Whatever you need, too.  

Karen - I can take or leave them, but we rarely have peas because my hubby can't stand them.   (He has some strange food issues.)  In her blog, Susan talks about how somehow through getting cancer she's seen the best side of humanity.  I wish it could be that way for everyone who was going through a seriously bad time.  

Dec 21, 2007 11:16 AM
Christina Williams. REALTOR® TN property search & local insights
First Realty Company - Crossville, TN
Love this article and the pea's idea. I just came out of surgery last week.. Unexspected tumor/cancer. The doctors seem to be very positive, but reading about yoru friend made me smile. I think I can use some peas myself. Thanks
Dec 21, 2007 12:19 PM
Georgie Hunter R(S) 58089
Hawai'i Life Real Estate Brokers - Haiku, HI
Maui Real Estate sales and lifestyle info

visualize whirled peas

peas on earth to all of you

Dec 21, 2007 04:01 PM
Karen Anne Stone
New Home Hunters of Fort Worth and Tarrant County - Fort Worth, TX
Fort Worth Real Estate
Hi Sarah and Georgina:  That is one awesome comment, Georgina.  You get my award for the Sharpie of the Day for that.  I laughed so hard I had tears in my eyes, and that is saying a lot.  Very quick wit.  Thanks for sharing.  That is just precious.  I am still laughing... just sitting here and repeating it, and still laughing.  It's late, and I guess I need sleep worse than I thought !
Dec 21, 2007 05:37 PM
Lindsey Hasford
Edina Realty - Elk River, MN
Bringing you home...
I like the peas idea. I have a friend/client that was just diagnosed with cancer and she herself feels uncomfy.... it's great to have the support of friends.
Dec 22, 2007 12:14 AM
Kim Wood
The Tech Byte - West Chester, PA
Kim Wood ~ The Tech Byte
We use the peas here!  Good vibes to Susan....
Dec 22, 2007 03:38 AM
Karen Anne Stone
New Home Hunters of Fort Worth and Tarrant County - Fort Worth, TX
Fort Worth Real Estate
Hi Sarah:  Some of these peas comments and puns really do "justice" to your post.  I guess you could call it the "justice of the peas."  <g>  My prayers and positive thoughts to Susan.  Thanks for bringing her to our mind's eye.
Dec 22, 2007 03:45 AM
Miriam Bernstei
Rochester, NY
This is a charming post that makes me smile.  I am going to do a pea thing on Photoshop.  Thank you for sharing this - I will remember it.
Dec 25, 2007 10:28 AM
Ginger Wilcox
Sindeo - San Francisco, CA
Thank goodness for peas. One of my best friends was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 35.  Thank goodness, one year later- she is a survivor.  My thoughts are with your friend, and everyone suffering from cancer.
Dec 27, 2007 04:24 AM
Susan Zanzonico
Berkshire Hathaway Home Services - Morristown, NJ
Sellers/Buyers Agent, Morristown NJ Real Estate

This is a lovely post and I hope Susan is doing well. 

Jul 24, 2008 09:31 AM
Jim Frimmer
HomeSmart Realty West - San Diego, CA
Realtor & CDPE, Mission Valley specialist

Rich beat me to it, but here's my peas in a pod:

Peas in a pod

Best wishes to Susan and everyone else.

Aug 07, 2008 09:46 PM