cancerversary

I'll admit to looking for any excuse to blow out some candles and avoid cooking dinner.  I celebrated my cancerversary with 3 candles on a gingerbread cake, pizza, a perfect prayer of thanksgiving by my sweet friend, and some kids who were caught between being confused by whose birthday it was and trying to figure out which candle to dip in the icing.

And, being alive.  Very alive.  

I have always been drawn to the Happy Birthday American Cancer Society Commercials, even if I didn't want to be.  They are very intimate - like they are singing only to you, actually made me stop to watch.  The movement was launched in 2010 as part of their "more birthdays" campaign.  I remember walking by the TV, hearing that familiar song and thinking, "yeah right." as my mother had celebrated her last birthday here on earth.  I felt betrayed.  Then, on December 10th, I was diagnosed.  I watched those commercials and thought, "if only."  I was spending almost every second that I wasn't eating or feeding my kids looking for clinical trials or reading statistics.  One night after reading such astounding numbers that meant my chance of even one birthday was pretty slim, I walk by the TV to hear, "Happy Birthday…" 

Straight to the gut.  Turned it off. 

But, for some reason, I thought of those commercials today.  I have a new appreciation for them.  And maybe, just maybe, Keith Urban was singing to me.  Well ok, maybe not, but since I make all this up as I go I may as well dream.  So, today I celebrated.  I woke up.  I went to work.  I sang Christmas carols at the nursing home with my little daisy scout.  I was educated on foreign cars by my son.  I ate cake.  I blew out candles.  3 candles.  3 years.  

And, I turned on you tube and let good ole Keith sing to me.  Because it's my cancer birthday, and I'm alive, and he's hot.  

Here's to more cancervesarys. Or cancer birthdays.  Or birthdays.  Or just days in general.  They are all as good as we make them.  Psalm 116: 5-9