Lucky me!

No doubt it is strange to title a section "Lucky me!" Cancer has never been on my to do or wish list, heaven's no. I'm grateful that this frightening, debilitating, nightmare of a disease has happened to me and not to someone else in my family.

I've had friends who have lost their struggle to beat cancer. My parents each died from it.

I know from first-hand experience it is easier to be the one faced with the challenge. It is much more heart wrenching and difficult to feel helpless wanting so very much to make things better for someone else.

When my dad was diagnosed with prostrate cancer he went through a series of emotions; fear, disbelief, the why me syndrome and overwhelming concern about what would this mean for my mom and our family.

A week or so after receiving the news, I was visiting my parents in Tennessee. It was the wee small hours and I was sitting in their livingroom unable to sleep. (A common side effect of being nocturnal and having insomnia.) My dad came out of his room and headed to the kitchen his whole demeanor had changed. I asked him if he was okay. He said he was great.

"Great?" I asked. "Yes," he said. "I realize I was given a great gift. Everyone is going to die sometime. This diagnosis is my wake-up call to treasure and live each day. The doctor is human. He can't tell whether I will live 2 years or get hit with a bus tomorrow. There is no expiration label on me."

We hugged, we smiled. We watched some crazy show on TV and went to bed. Each of our lives were forever changed. My dad went on to live 9 more terrific years and I have done my best to treasure and live each day as though it might be my last.

Sharing that moment in the wee small hours with my dad helped me to see my own diagnosis so many years later as my own gift. A reminder that I need to continue to treasure and live each day. They call it the present because it truly is a gift.

If you have managed to read this long reamble then please do yourself a favor. Take off all your clothes and inspect your naked body. Look everywhere. You won't find an expiration label. There isn't one. No one knows when our time is going to be up.

Don't let anyone or any circumstances label you. May you find joy in your day and strength when it is tough. May you remain curious as to what tomorrow will bring. Don't give up! You are uniquely special and worthy of happiness.

You may surprise yourself someday when you hear yourself say, "Lucky me!"