Be Thankful

Today is Thanksgiving, a holiday known for excess eating of traditional food, a houseful of family or friends and possibly some football or card games.  It started out as the first celebration of the Pilgrims coming to the “new world” in 1619 and is also known as a day of giving thanks for the blessing of the harvest of the past year.  For most of us, it seems to have veered far from the early traditions.

For me, it is a day to remember that I am blessed with LIFE.

But this year, I am tired.  The thought of making a big diner with a turkey, stuffing, etc. was just too much.  We checked in with the kids and the in-laws, and decided that we were bucking tradition and having pizza for Thanksgiving dinner.  And it was awesome.  I did make a salad, green bean casserole and pumpkin pie, but it all went with 3 pizzas from Papa Murphy’s.  Prep time was minimal, dinner was great and clean-up was quick and I felt just as thankful as I did last year after shopping for, making, eating and cleaning up a full multi-course meal.

I am blessed in my life; I have a wonderful family and supportive friends.  We are going on an awesome vacation next week with good friends (and no kids!) to Disneyworld and Universal Orlando.  I am able to be a stay-at-home mom to my son and volunteer in his class and for his activities.  I give my time to an organization which supports women emotionally who are going through breast and ovarian cancer.

But most importantly, I am alive.

Cancer has invaded my body TWICE, yet here I am.

I have extra to be thankful for.  That my cancer was caught early and treated quickly.  I am currently NED (no evidence of disease) and my prognosis for living a long life is good.  Yet, why me?  I have met many people who have not been so lucky and have or will lose their lives to cancer.  That may happen to me someday, but today is not that day.

Every morning that I wake up is Thanksgiving day to me.  I am thankful that despite the pain that I endure from my medication, my breasts are not natural and the range of motion of my left arm is limited, I am alive and healthy.  I am thankful every day.

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