My 4th Year Anniversary

It dawned on me that this is the 4th year since my breast cancer diagnosis. I've seen my oncologist and had my annual squish-o-gram (aka mammogram), and the good news is that all is well. My oncologist says one more year on medication...I can hardly wait for one less pill to take!

Having a life altering health issue has its silver lining, though. I've learned to separate what's truly important from the everyday hum drum irritating stuff that happens even though I still grit my teeth more often than I'd like. People either chuckle or grimace when I mention my "bucket list" but having goals is a good thing. It gives me something to live for and want to achieve. Things on my bucket list include parachuting, visiting as many states as possible (I still think America is one of the most interesting places to visit on this planet), seeing the Aegean Sea based on all the books I've read about it, visiting the Valley of the Kings in Egypt, visiting the Acropolis, taking a cruise to Alaska before all the glaciers melt (!!!).

Appreciating a beautiful sunset, studying the face of a loved one while loving just being in the moment, putting on good headphones and listening to some favorite music, seeing fireworks and never forgetting the child-like joy and awe as they rocket into the sky and explode in a myriad of color and pattern, taking my dog for a walk and actually enjoying it instead of wishing it was over, giving thanks for each opportunity to make a difference. These are but a few examples of each day's gifts.

Sometimes I get scared when there's news about someone dying from cancer, especially when they were in remission for a while. It's hard not to wonder how long I might be cancer free before boom, it comes back. I guess this is what a time bomb feels like - you just never know. But then, I think I might've been the poor fella who got shot in the face by Bush, and a spring comes back into my step and I'm okay again.