Dear Reader:

It’s been awhile since I have shared any of my personal thoughts about my elevator journey through the rocky path in life marked “Breast Cancer.” Sometimes I am able to almost forget I have it…until the next oncology appointment or test or exploratory procedure…which pop up monthly or in quick intervals.

I rarely give myself more than a quick glance as I shower….it isn’t because of the criss-crossed scars (believe me…I proudly wear scars like badges of honor) …it is simply a reminder of what is missing that once was there… bittersweet  moments of loss and triumph.

The best thing about confronting a challenging health issue is that it makes you dig deeper than you ever imagined. The only time the fight is over is if you give up hope. But if hope is there...you start shoveling the layers away…first doubt and paralyzing fear until you get to the “Little Engine that Could” layer…then on to the “I can” layer and finally the deepest…”Not only can I …but I will…with God by my side!

The best thing of all about having cancer is how our perception of life changes…it is as if someone got out the window cleaner and shined everything until it was sparkling…the world looks so lusciously breathtaking..like after a rain shower…fresh… and even the scent is pure like soap. Life is beautifully white-washed now!

I have told the Ya’s several times I will come back to haunt anyone who ever writes an obituary that says something like “After a long and arduous fight with cancer ‘so-and -so’ lost her battle on ‘such and such’ a date.” It, explicitly, implies that cancer was the victor and the person with cancer was the loser. No siree…cancer is never the victor and it never wins by taking a life.

We,  “little c” thrivers, (never capitalize cancer…it doesn’t deserve the distinction)…always win against cancer, regardless of the final outcome, because cancer can’t kill one’s spirit or soul…and that is who we really are anyway.

These are three of my favorite “pink” quotes…

“Yesterday, I dared to struggle. Today, I dare to win.” –

“We don’t know how strong we are until being strong is the only choice we have.”

“Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says ‘I’ll try again tomorrow.'”

I was so happy to see the Clemson players in their pink gear and Coach Dabo Swinney in his bright pink jacket for Breast Cancer Awareness Month after the game against Boston University…

I miss our Race for the Cure....not so much the fundraiser, but because we had a reason to get all the family & friends together for one morning of the year to help fight an insidious disease that affects every family in  one way or another.

So until tomorrow…Don’t let October slip away before remembering someone with breast cancer…any cancer…and remind them to keep digging….hope will provide the shovel. Everyone needs to search for their soul throughout intervals in their lives.

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh

Gin-g stopped by yesterday…she had left two notes on my door…not knowing I was at Edisto…normally she takes me to the CT Scan but was working this time…so she was anxious to know how it went. She is having trouble receiving the blog post. She brought sunflowers, soup and muffins….so glad we got caught up. Thank you so much Gin-g for all you do and you do it all.

Sunday we remembered Tommy Cuthbert, my friend Bali’s husband, a wonderful father, husband, and golf mentor. He and his sons helped ‘my Tommy’ when he played golf on the high school team. A prince of a fellow…Tommy tries to play in this memorial golf tournament, in his honor, each year at Miler…just a block from my home.

(Photo) Tommy and Bali…. We had a wonderful buffet supper after the tournament….great crowd! I saw a lot of people I haven’t seen in a long time…even shagged  a little to “I Thank You” (Sam and Dave/Motown)…didn’t know I remembered how… I reckon it is like riding a bike.

Honey…while I waited on Tommy and Fred, his golfing partner, to finish the last hole…I sat down on a bench and saw the plaque was in memory of your brother Tommy Salisbury!

Please keep Anne Peterson in your prayers…her sister Jane flew home Friday night…her specialist wants still more tests so she has a CT Scan and endoscope on Tuesday and Wednesday. She is in the “waiting zone” (which as we all know isn’t easy.) Her stomach is feeling better but she feels like she has been kicked in the ribs and it hurts to take deep breaths. Prayers, please, that her specialist will find the answer in the upcoming tests and Anne can get back on the right path to restored health!