Editing 1141: Two Years
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==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
− | This comic marks the second year of [[Randall Munroe]]'s wife's battle with cancer, and appears to depict actual events from those two years. Randall is depicted as [[Cueball]] and his wife as [[Megan]], as usual for both. | + | This comic marks the second year of [[Randall Munroe]]'s wife's battle with cancer, and appears to depict actual events from those two years. Randall is depicted as [[Cueball]] and his wife as [[Megan]], as per usual for both. |
− | + | Some explanations: | |
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*Panel 1: Randall's wife-to-be (at that point) receives a diagnosis over the phone (from Dr. [[Ponytail]]) as Randall sits by her side supportively. His wife has Megan long hair at this time. | *Panel 1: Randall's wife-to-be (at that point) receives a diagnosis over the phone (from Dr. [[Ponytail]]) as Randall sits by her side supportively. His wife has Megan long hair at this time. | ||
*Panel 2: His wife undergoes IV (intravenous) {{w|chemotherapy}}. Because of the hair loss that results from chemotherapy, many patients opt to shave their heads when they undergo chemotherapy. As can be seen from the stubble she did not shave her hair, but has lost almost all of it. Only the hair coming back between chemo sessions is the cause of the stubble. Her hair grows back over the course of the panels following the end of her chemo (from panel 7). | *Panel 2: His wife undergoes IV (intravenous) {{w|chemotherapy}}. Because of the hair loss that results from chemotherapy, many patients opt to shave their heads when they undergo chemotherapy. As can be seen from the stubble she did not shave her hair, but has lost almost all of it. Only the hair coming back between chemo sessions is the cause of the stubble. Her hair grows back over the course of the panels following the end of her chemo (from panel 7). | ||
− | *Panel 3: The two of them spend time alone together, experiencing something beautiful in the world for it may be | + | *Panel 3: The two of them spend time alone together, experiencing something beautiful in the world for it may be her last chance to do so. Randall reinforces this sentiment in panel 8. In this panel (#3) she wears a knit cap presumably because it is cold - see panel 6. |
*Panel 4: The couple waits for a phone call from her doctor to hear the results of a scan. Both are clearly impatient and anxious. | *Panel 4: The couple waits for a phone call from her doctor to hear the results of a scan. Both are clearly impatient and anxious. | ||
− | *Panel 5: More chemotherapy. The couple | + | *Panel 5: More chemotherapy. The couple are playing {{w|Scrabble}}, in which players use letter tiles to spell words in a cross-word style. She uses the fact that she has cancer as leverage to get Randall to ignore the fact that the word she has played ('''zarg''') is not a real word. |
− | *Panel 6: Someone suggests they come for a visit next year, but all they can think about are the words "next year." Their future is entirely uncertain because of her health, making long-term planning a consistent source of worry and doubt. In this panel she wears a knit cap to hide her missing hair. | + | *Panel 6: Someone suggests they come for a visit next year, but all they can think about are the words "next year." Their future is entirely uncertain because of her health, making long-term planning a consistent source of worry and doubt. In this panel she wears a knit cap to hide her missing hair. |
− | *Panel 7: | + | *Panel 7: They get married. Her hair has now grown back so far that she has stopped using her knit cap. That means her chemo treatment is finished. |
− | *Panel 8: The couple | + | *Panel 8: The couple watching {{w|humpback whales}}, possibly on their {{w|honeymoon}}. In this panel she again wears the knit cap, probably because it is cold or because she is weak. |
− | *Panel 9: Randall | + | *Panel 9: Randall is paraphrasing a line from the song "{{w|Still Alive}}" (watch the [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_S0PGu-cH4 video]) from the video game ''{{w|Portal}}'' (''"I'm doing science and I'm still alive"''). He does this because his wife is again back at her laptop working. |
*Panel 10: The two of them sit under a tree reflecting on the significance of the past two years. | *Panel 10: The two of them sit under a tree reflecting on the significance of the past two years. | ||
− | *Panel 11: Randall and his wife | + | *Panel 11: Randall and his wife have dinner to celebrate the fact that she has made it two years since her {{w|biopsy}}. This becomes somewhat awkward for [[Hairy]] the waiter since he asked if it was an anniversary (of their marriage). |
− | + | *The title text is referring to a possible {{w|Chemotherapy#Neurological adverse effects|side-effect of chemotherapy drugs}}, the inability to concentrate. It could also just be the fact that the chemo can make you feel just terrible. When whatever effect kicks in, she loses the rest of their Scrabble games for that day. However, as we see in panel 5, there is a reason why she wins ''all'' of the first half of their games. But this is not enough, or she even forgets to play on the cancer, when the drugs takes effect. | |
− | The title text is referring to a possible {{w|Chemotherapy#Neurological adverse effects|side-effect of chemotherapy drugs}}, the inability to concentrate. It could also just be the fact that the chemo can make you feel just terrible. When whatever effect kicks in, she loses the rest of their Scrabble games for that day. However, as we see in panel 5, there is a reason why she wins ''all'' of the first half of their games. But this is not enough, or she even forgets to play on the cancer, when the drugs | ||
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==Transcript== | ==Transcript== | ||
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:[Randall and Randall's fiancée (wearing a knit cap) are listening to a Cueball-like friend. A large thought bubble is above their heads and it obscures the friends talk. The text below, split in three is the only part there can be no doubt about:] | :[Randall and Randall's fiancée (wearing a knit cap) are listening to a Cueball-like friend. A large thought bubble is above their heads and it obscures the friends talk. The text below, split in three is the only part there can be no doubt about:] | ||
− | :Friend: So next year you should come visit us | + | :Friend: So next year you should come visit us in the mounta |
− | ::a | + | ::a |
− | ::and | + | ::and |
:Randall and Randall's fiancée (thinking): '''"Next year"''' | :Randall and Randall's fiancée (thinking): '''"Next year"''' | ||
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:[Randall's wife is sitting at a desk with her laptop standing on top of two books. Her hair has grown back a little more. Randall stands behind her.] | :[Randall's wife is sitting at a desk with her laptop standing on top of two books. Her hair has grown back a little more. Randall stands behind her.] | ||
− | :Randall: Hey— | + | :Randall: Hey— you're doing science, and you're still alive. |
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:Randall's wife: Yeah! | :Randall's wife: Yeah! | ||
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:Waiter: Happy... Anniversary? | :Waiter: Happy... Anniversary? | ||
:Randall's wife: Biopsy-versary! | :Randall's wife: Biopsy-versary! | ||
− | :Waiter: | + | :Waiter: ...Eww. |
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{{comic discussion}} | {{comic discussion}} | ||
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[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]] | [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]] | ||
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]] | [[Category:Comics featuring Megan]] | ||
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[[Category:Comics featuring Hairy]] | [[Category:Comics featuring Hairy]] | ||
[[Category:Multiple Cueballs]] | [[Category:Multiple Cueballs]] | ||
+ | [[Category:Comics featuring Randall Munroe]] | ||
+ | [[Category:Comics featuring real people]] | ||
[[Category:Cancer]] | [[Category:Cancer]] | ||
[[Category:Romance]] | [[Category:Romance]] | ||
[[Category:Video games]] | [[Category:Video games]] | ||
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