It's been more than a month since my last confe- .... er...... blog entry. That means it's been 6 weeks since my last dose of Celexa. And the only notable difference is the lack of mid-night episodes of nausea. Score one for happiness!
Spring is here, and with that comes baseball season. Before long, we will be gone night after night at one practice or another, this game or that. It's by far my favorite time of year: getting to catch up with other baseball Moms, seeing many of my favorite players' siblings, and the occasional post-game ice cream stop. Lounging on a blanket, soaking up a few rays...... wait. Stop right there.
This year, I will be a bit more diligent about the sunscreen and take more care to avoid overexposure. I know no one wants to read the preaching that is about to follow, but YOU SHOULD READ ANYWAY. A short time ago (as in, within the last 2 months), a dear friend of mine received the wake-up call that none of us wants. She got the call confirming that a tiny spot on her arm was, in fact, melanoma. To be honest, I was terrified for her. Skin cancer is nothing to laugh at, not something to joke about, and something no one should ignore. I only got a glimpse of how this has impacted her life, but let me tell you that glimpse showed an enormous amount of impact. But in addition to reminding me of how precious our lives and bodies are, it brought about another realization.
I've had several people close to me who have had some form of cancer. By several, I mean at least seven that I can think of without diving too deeply into the puddles of the past. Of those seven, only three are more than 5 years older than me. And of those three, only one lost the battle. ONE. This doesn't make me take cancer lightly in any capacity. But it makes me realize how far the wonders of medicine have come. It's amazing..... wonderful. Brilliant.
So that's my preaching for today. Wear your sunscreen. Take care of your body. And if you happen to meet the monster that we know as cancer, don't be afraid. Face it head on, but with knowledge and appreciation for modern medicine. And LIVE to LOVE another day.
H.M.
