Dear Reader:

I can’t let October go any farther before stopping today to share my thoughts on the significance of October-Breast Cancer Month.

Some days it is hard to remember a time when I didn’t have breast cancer. And as strange as it sounds… breast cancer became a catalyst for change that opened my world up to new possibilities that I had previously been hesitant and insecure about opening.

Breast cancer forced me to finally start telling my story… the illusion of ” Some day I will…” was gone-it was now or never. To my surprise life suddenly became personally deeper and more meaningful… relationships were no longer taken for granted and each sunrise became a gift of love.

I have been blessed with wonderful doctors -each there for a particular stage of treatment that, no doubt, God planned. Some have come( and literally gone) sadly over the fourteen years to date of treatments.

My rarer version of breast cancer was deemed ” treatable but not curable.” To date that is still true… but modern medicine keeps stepping in with “Hope” bottled up in new oral chemo and hormone treatments that have kept progression restricted and allowed me to live a ” normal” life.

This is a day to thank, not only my doctors, nurses, and other medical staff…but also my immediate and extended family for their show of support throughout the entire fifteen year experience. ( When officially diagnosed in 2008-my surgeon believed I had had breast cancer for probably about a year prior to my medical diagnosis.)

As my grandchildren grow older… I hope one day they will not only come to believe in miracles but understand that their ” Boo Boo” was and is a live walking one.

One act I really miss… is our family gathering for the annual Race for the Cure -it started in 2009 with Tommy asking me to participate-the next year Doodle, Carrie, and Lassie joined in with John and Mandy… and from there it grew exponentially over a ten year run ( or walk for some of us)

**Looking at the picture of Harriett this year makes me sad … but Harriett’s positive outlook , fight, and determination will remain with me the rest of my life. Harriett was a ” thriver” until her last breath. Miss you Harriett!

So until tomorrow…

So until tomorrow… The expression ” Pretty in Pink” will always take on a new meaning for me because of all the love and friendship shared each ” Pink” October.

Today is my favorite day-Winnie the Pooh