Pre-Relay thoughts

This picture is from last year's Relay for Life in Parkersburg, of the luminaries I had in honor of my grandma and mom.

Tomorrow I will head to Parkersburg for their annual Relay for Life event. This is the second year I have done this, and I am pretty excited about it. Maybe it's because it was so much fun to meet some awesome new people last year, maybe it is the possibility of getting some more of the awesome peanut butter fudge, or maybe it is the sleeplessness that will ensue.

Well, probably all of those, but also the coolness of being around a ton of cancer patients, survivors, and those who have had family members and friends who have had cancer.

You see, this is a very real part of my life. My mom had cancer when I was younger, and it returned about 10 years later. Our entire family was very scared at the thought that we might loose her. Still, she fought and has overcome once again, against all odds. She truly is her doctor's unsolvable puzzle! My grandmother had cancer about the time my mother was first diagnosed. One of my friends had lung cancer and later passed away after a partial lung removal. A friend in grad school was diagnosed with an incredibly rare cancer. Another friends mom passed away from breast cancer last year. And the list could go on and on.

So that seems to be a real downer of a post. Why do I mention those things? First, to honor those who have fought the battle and won. Second, to remember those who have fought bravely but have passed away. Third, I think almost all of us have had similar experiences with people we know. Maybe we should think about these things more often. It might make us more thankful for the life we have, and the lives of those around us.