Cancer By Another Name, or Crab On My Mind

Just recently, a week ago to be specific, our church held a crab dinner.  It was a fund-raising event that the participants enjoy and look forward to every year.  This was my first time at this church's event.

I have a strange relationship with crabs.  As a young girl of 12-14 I would go to the dock near our little river side house in New Jersey and sit and catch crabs by the bucketful for my dad.  I was fascinated watching them crawl up through the soupy water to grab at the balls of white bread that were dangling near the surface.  All I needed was a net in the other hand to swoop down and scoop them up.

The catching was a solitary task, and I enjoyed it. I've always been one to enjoy solitude.  The hard part came when I got them home.  I had to cook them.

Oh Lord, how I hated that part.  I've always had a problem reconciling killing and eating. It is a challenge that has followed me into my almost senior years.  Finally I have learned that it is a part of the cycle of life and necessary in some way for my health and survival. I've adopted a rather tribal attitude toward the practice of thanking the animal for the sacrifice before I consume it.  Vegetarianism isn't in my DNA coding.  Three times failure and anemia and finally a bout of cancer cured me of anymore experimentation in that department. I respect those who can maintain the line, but I must beg your indulgence of my primitive needs in the nutrition department. But I meander, this is about crabs.

First the large pot came to a boil, then the act of dropping these innocent crustaceans into a quick death.  It was the scratching on the sides of the pan that I couldn't take.  That sound still stays with me and was renewed in the church kitchen when I happened to wander in for some extra coleslaw.

My father was ecstatic with his giant plate of crabs and would extol the virtues of this shellfish to me as he ate.  I would simply watch his joy and clean the aftermath.  I couldn't participate.

Which brings me back to the crab dinner last week.  I managed four crabs, that was it.  It was too hard for me psychologically to enjoy it.  I did enjoy, however, watching one of our youths learn how to crack the shells and harvest the meat.  She had a blast, and that made it worth it.

All of this reminded me strongly of my father.  To bring it full circle, this is his birthday month.  He was born on the 4th of July.  Oh the rush of memories that day triggers in my heart.  

Well, Dad, wherever you are, the crab remains king for many people and the sign of Cancer will always bring you to mind. 

Peace, B

Aftermath: Why do we call a horrific disease after the sign of the crab in the nebula?

The Disease:

"The word cancer is Latin for "crab". Its use for cancer goes back to Hippocrates (ca. 460 BC - ca. 370 BC) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cancer#History), who is said to have derived it from the appearance of the cut surface of a solid malignant tumour, with "the veins stretched on all sides as the animal the crab has its feet, whence it derives its name". 

As early as the 16th century the word "canker" was used in medieval English for disease in crops and later for extraneous growth or any of various types of non-healing sore or ulcer. Later it came to be used in the modern medical sense, frequently with a distinguishing word usually indicating the type or site of origin of the cancer. (Oxford English Dictionary)"

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_is_the_disease_cancer_called_cancer#ixzz21D7WXehG

The Zodiacal Symbol:

"the association of Cancer with the crab constellation reveals an archetype with a very protective outer nature that serves to hide a very soft, sensitive core. Cancer represents emotional and home security."

http://innerself.com/