Being Real with Cancer: Call me crazy!

I am baaack! I miss writing and want to share the most amazing month ever! June started with a whine, "Why did I sign up for this Lake Placid half marathon?!? What was I thinking?" Well, I am glad I did not think too much about it and just did it! (Note to self remember don't over think things....) My whole attitude towards running this race needed to be readjusted. I had not trained as I had intended, I am not the same after cancer and like everyone else our family had lots going on! So I went into race day knowing I would finish and I could walk if I wanted to. Time did not matter. I had my family and friends along with me what could be better? Nothing! It was a wonderful day full of good energy, conversation and surprises. There is something so powerful within accomplishing something for yourself and sharing the journey with people whether it is family, friends or strangers. Which brings me to the next story......

Back in April I went to a comedy show with a fellow teacher. At the end of the show one of the comics came out and said, " IF you think you could do this, classes start in a few weeks. Come join us! " My friend looks at me and says, "Could you do that? " I said, "My god, NO! That is the scariest thing I could ever think of! " That night I couldn't get it out of my mind. This past year I have been thinking about what could I do that would be totally out of my comfort zone. I have been wanting to take advantage of time not working and recovering. To be honest if I could leave my family I would have chosen to go travel to India or something exotic but this is reality and I am here. SO as a dare to myself I signed up for comedy class! It was an 8 week class held on Monday nights with a performance at the end. It seemed perfect. I love to laugh and it was TOTALLY out of my comfort zone. That first Monday was brutal. I kept on thinking of ways that I could get into an accident or something so I wouldn't have to go. But I went. After a quick lecture and some writing we all had to get up and perform. OK you know where this is going I loved it! I have no idea if it was the adrenaline of being so terrified or how proud I felt of myself getting up there in front of 10 strangers but I felt like a million bucks after that first class. The 8 weeks had its ups and downs. It is one thing to get up there once but then every week you were writing new material and performing. Lets just say I had my good days and not so good ones. Before I knew it the performance was upon me. I told Saige I had not been this nervous for anything since maybe my wedding day and even now I am not sure I was that anxious for that. I had a small fan club in the audience including my parents. The show was a success and a highlight of anything I have ever done in my life! (Note to self....doing things out of your comfort zone is empowering!) It has been over a week and I still feel the glow of that night while writing this.

Mixed in with these activities this month Stiles came home from a hugely successful year at boarding school then promptly left for a school sponsored community service trip to Thailand and returned safely with a lifetime of experiences. He started work the very next day as beach attendant at our local beach. Saige graduated 8th grade surrounded by family but most importantly her special group of friends that she has been with almost all from preschool. I could not be more proud of the kindness they share among a rather large group of girls. The past few weeks she has been thrown herself into getting ready for a totally new experience, a small Catholic high school by starting a large amount of summer reading and a summer basketball league.

My Dad has continues to thrive and beat the odds! This month he got the good news after a bone marrow biopsy that he is in remission! As this is exciting news it also means they need to act quickly to see if he can have a stem cell transplant. Some stars need to align for him but so far they seem to be lining up! I honestly feel like my challenge with breast cancer was just our training for what is in front of us!

Next week we head over to the Adirondacks to be all together. We hope to do some paddling and just have some good quality time all together by the lake. Nothing out of the ordinary is planned for July and all is good.