In the Eye of the Beholder

I was chatting with some colleagues today when a reference one of them made reminded me that today was April 15th. Now to a lot of you, that date could mean any of a few different things:

1. The obvious, Tax Day.
2. Happy Birthday, Chris! (Ok, that only applies to one of you, but still, it deserved recognition.)
3. McDonald's Day: On this date in 1940, Dick and Mac McDonald opened a barbecue restaurant in California. (It was another 8 years before they became burger and fry kings.)
4. Take a Wild Guess Day: I'm sure that has nothing to do with #1...
5. In 1947, Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball. 50 years later on this same date his number was retired.
6. In 1865, Abraham Lincoln succumbed to the gunshot wound inflicted by John Wilkes Booth the evening before.
7. The H.M.S. Titanic sank at 2:22 in the morning in 1912.
8. National That Sucks Day: Perhaps a reaction to #'s 6 and 7. (it's true, I swear www.thatsucks.net)
9. In 1783, the American Congress ratified Peace with former parent, Great Britain. Awww, we CAN just all get along!

As interesting as the above list may be (in fact, I didn't know the significance of the date in terms of Jackie Robinson and a few others until I started writing this tonight), to me the 15th of April represents something far more important -- one year of health.

A year ago on this date, I spent most of the day unconscious on an operating table at the Mayo Clinic having (are you ready? say it with me now...) a left chest wall resection with litisimus flap procedure. (Say that 5 times fast. I can.) I've gotten really good at saying that in the last year. And I've gotten a little proud of it.

That, of course, was just the beginning of a healthy year. And it was probably the most boring part...

This year...
I've traveled to Las Vegas, Naples and Orlando
I've again taught full time, and have only missed 2 days due to illness this year (not including the days I've had onc checkups... but those don't really count)
I've started finishing up my Master's degree, 15 credits between now and the end of July
I've spent evenings (including yesterday's) wrestling with Kile and Cavanaugh (who "helps" her brother by jumping on his head)
I watched my sister, one of my biggest champions, get married... and I got to wear Chuck Taylors at the reception
I perked up to the T-Mobile commercial shot at Liverpool station (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUZrrbgCdYc )
I've raked my flower beds, planned new gardens and planted over 150 bulbs (which are rapidly appearing much to my delight)
I started growing out my hair again
I changed my mind about growing out my hair and practically begged my hairstylist to cut it off
I have learned to, well, maybe not LOVE my scars, but definitely accept them as totally normal for me
I made Britain's Got Talent's Susan Boyle my new hero ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY )
I've wished I could sing
I have, fingers crossed, continued to pass my Oncology Exams with flying colors

... not bad for a year. Not, maybe, as significant as the historical events I referenced previously, but significant enough for me!

I have my next quarterly check (chest x-ray this time for those keeping score) next Wednesday, but I'm almost looking forward to going. Oh, no, not because of the check up -- that still slightly terrifies me. I'll also be delivering a huge batch of DVD's to the chemotherapy area courtesy of the Team Trela benefit basketball game held this winter. Hopefully they will help pass the time for patients sitting there getting their "cocktails."

And hopefully if my nurses read this ahead of time, they'll still act surprised. : )

Oh... one more "event" to add to the list of my year -- I posted my 100th blog entry. Right. Now. Thanks for reading.

Carpe diem. -- Trela