I had full intentions of using this computer tonight to do a little work, but something has happened that I have been thinking about for probably 2 hours. 

This month and week marks one year from the start of chemotherapy.  My hair is probably the same length as it was when I cut it before treatments…curlier yes, but about the same length.  A year ago, however, we were being held physically by angels everywhere.  Meals, love, prayers, visits, hugs, calls, wishes, hope and more hope.  Today I got home from work, B had fixed dinner, life goes on.  After dinner, the next two hours was spent in the kitchen, making meals for the week.  Eggplant parmesan, venison stew, chicken nuggets…As I was messing up the kitchen (drives B crazy when I do three or four projects at once!) it dawned on me that we had just as many meals prepared at the same time last year.  The only difference is that we didn’t prepare them. 

It’s been a fortnight of remembering and gratitude.   We attended cancer survivor’s day at the Center where I received most of my treatments.  It was a beautiful and fabulous early fall day.  I’ll spare most of the details, but I laughed until I cried, I cried until I laughed.  I saw friends, I saw my favorite nurse, I saw survivors and families celebrating life.  The kids really wanted to be part of the living ribbon, so we donned pink shirts along with many others and walked out into the field.  E ran into someone he knew and they decided that we would stand at the tip of the ribbon, way down at the bottom.  It was so much fun, great music, lots of energy, all kinds of people standing and grooving to the tunes together.  (I’m sure a photo will find itself into this  blog at some point.)  Someone made whoopie pies with pink filling for the occasion.  I saw a woman there who had evidently just shaved her head.  She had such a tan face and such a fishbelly white head under her baseball cap.  I remember.

We committed to the Walk 4 Hope again, and created a team.  R  and C, two of our most faithful commenters were the first to respond with promises of support.   S and A joined, K, J, C and B joined, A, E and B joined the team… the walk is not for 4 weeks or so, but I was getting antsy, so I emailed a bunch of loved ones in my address book yesterday.  I had to go back into my email hours later for something and there were already responses. 

S in Tucson:  I love you and am so proud of you for fighting the fight and living strong!

T in London:  I am sorry I won’t be able to make the walk please include my
prescence ” in spirit” and if there is room on the back of your shirt
for my brother Rich I would most grateful.  I will logon and donate and have my company match my donation. 

A in New York City:  If I wasn’t in a knee brace (surgery a couple weeks ago) or heading abroad to work that weekend — I’d be there in a heartbeat!  I’ll definitely donate though, to get you closer to your goal 🙂

P in Virginia: Know that I will be with you in spirit and for now that is all I can do.

J in Maine:  I will  be with you for the walk, if not in person in spirit!!

K in Massachusettes: YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW OFTEN I HAVE THOUGHT OF YOU THIS WEEK!…I will be at Notre Dame that weekend and will ight candles at the Grotto and pray the rosary for you.  It is a magical place…Power to Patty’s People! 

E in California: We are in for a donation so pls add us to your shirt!

One year later.  One year after the swarm of angels came to us, the next generation comes.  This one is about enduring love and support.