Gratitude

On this Black Friday (who on earth makes up the names for these annual markers?), the day after Thanksgiving 2013, I should like to offer gratitude:

To my family -- my wonderful son and daughter who are supporting me as I travel this road of cancer and recovery. To cousins and brothers and sisters (in-law) and nieces who call to check on me or send messages of love and support. Then there are the out-laws…. the wonderful Edmonds family -- my most incredible son-in-law Chip, Walt & Peggy (whose love is unconditional and so often expressed). Thank you for being my family.

To friends, neighbors, piano families, church friends who are always inquiring, sending cards, flowers, emails. Your love and concern are so very much appreciated. Words have power. Thoughts have healing energy.

I received a unique gift from my ole college roomie Carol: a "cairn"of tiny stones that stack one upon the other. She uses such stones, neatly stacked, as a reminder to keep things in balance. If the stones fall over, you just rebuild them. She thought that such a ritual was very Druid-like and would provide a good complement to the mistletoe. Brilliant.

And I would like to share some very wise words from my friend Bill J.
I find them to be true and comforting:
        Cancer is so limiting….
        It cannot cripple Love
        It cannot shatter Hope
        It cannot corrode Faith
        It cannot destroy Peace
        It cannot shatter Confidence
        It cannot kill Friendship
        It cannot suppress Memories
        It cannot silence Courage
        It cannot invade the Soul
        It cannot steal eternal Life
        It cannot conquer the Spirit

There is even an upside to this cancer thing. Since settling into the mistletoe therapy and adding all of the lifestyle changes mandated by Dr. Grundmann (eating gluten-free, dairy-free, sugar-free, lots of raw veggies and fruits, add-on enzymes and herbs), my energy level is super high, my immune system is pumped! I am losing weight (in a good way!) and sleeping soundly (thank you, melatonin). Ironically, I feel better now than before my diagnosis.

And so…. this Thanksgiving, I am finding much to be thankful for. I hope you are, too.