Black Friday

I'm going to fulfill my duty as a red blooded American by starting my Christmas shopping today! Actually I started during the summer, but today seems to be when they start counting it towards meeting the goals set for the holiday season. The biggest thing is to get the presents for my mother-in-law so I can send them to Bharata, he can wrap them and take them to her before he comes up here for Christmas. The stores are like my mezzanine, they provide a great place to walk. I have to admit, shopping doesn't hold the lure it use to, now it's the end result rather than looking forward to the act itself! Amazing the changes all this has had on me. I found these really cool books at Hallmark, you read the story and it records your voice on each page doing that. I have one for each of the two girls I sponsor through the Christian Children's Fund. I know they won't understand the words because it's in English and one is in Bolivia and the other India, but I think it will provide a connection if they can hear my voice as they page through and look at the pictures. We don't always need to speak the same language to communicate. I was also finally able to find postcards for them, The Alcazar has a great selection, but so far no place else in town seems to deal in postcards! I always send them a postcard from wherever I go, I know I use to love getting things like that when I was a child, so I've deduced this is a universal truth for children. I wouldn't make a very good researcher I don't have a worthwhile size group from which I determined this! :-).

I just can't get over how good I feel, seems like everyday I feel stronger and better, it's great! I certainly don't feel like I'm dying, I don't really even feel sick and since as far as I'm concerned what you believe plays a huge part in your recovery from illness, I'm in great shape! So far I don't feel any side effects from the chemotherapy, in fact I actually feel like I'm improving from it already, I don't know if that's possible, but it certainly seems that way. This is why I decided to stay up here for the chemotherapy, I really have complete faith in my doctor and on top of that he's a really nice person and that's important. Of course you all keep hearing this, but everyone here is incredibly nice, it just continues to amaze me.

I've decided after I get home, I'm going to have more get togethers or whatever you might call them. It seems like I'm always thinking about doing it, but just get caught up in the minutiae of everyday life and don't make the time. Staying connected to the people in your life makes a huge difference in the overall quality. I think I'm finally seeing what's really important, rather than letting all these little unimportant details fill up my life and keep me distracted. I can create my own community, even in the burbs! It's foolish to sit and think that can't exist because we don't walk to the grocery store! Life can be anything we decide to make it and I intend to make mine incredible! It can be anything I imagine and as the book said, "Think Big" so that's what I intend to do! No more wasting time and energy worrying about a piece of paper being out of place or whatever, it's time to enjoy all the blessings I have and share them with all the people in my life! I've spent my life waiting for the perfect time to start living, well, there is no "perfect" time, the time is now. Just do it, enjoy everyday with any little bumps that may come along, after all, I learned firsthand the little (or not so little) bumps can be some of our greatest blessings. Well, I'm going to sign off now, I'll update you on my Black Friday contribution when I get home! Have a fantastic day and enjoy every little thing that happens, you never know how special it may turn out to be!