Bonding over skin cancer at Panera

Almost every Tuesday morning, I go to my local Panera Bread restaurant. They have free wi-fi, so I bring my laptop to write while having breakfast.

I've noticed the same people almost every time I’m there. There is a group of five seniors sitting in the back. There’s a couple doing work projects sitting next to them. And there’s a man, about my age, who is always reading on a Kindle while drinking coffee. While I had never spoken with any of them, there was usually a nod of the head to acknowledge our existence. That changed two days ago.

When I went to my table, I saw the man with his tablet. As I nodded towards him, I stopped because I noticed he had a large bandage on his cheek. I started to walk away, but he called me over—I guess he saw me checking out his face.

“I had Mohs surgery last week. Skin cancer.”

Oh man, he found his kindred spirit.

I told him I had three of them, plus Melanoma. “Wow!! Same for me. Want to see my scar?” he replied. I passed on that one. But then he showed a hat and a bottle of sunscreen. “I’m meeting someone at the lake at noon. Can't risk getting sunburn.” Good choices, although I don’t know why he didn’t leave those things in his car.

I told him I would let him get back to his book, but as I left, I said, “See you next time. Happy Skin Cancer Month.”

I'll be back next week. I hope no one else is wearing a bandage on their face.