All during treatment I said I did not want to remember anything. As the days pass and I return more and more to "normal", it sometimes seems that the last 9 months never really happened. Suddenly now I don't want to forget any of it. I don't want to be "Cancer Boy" the rest of my life but I also feel funny about letting all of those memories go. Which brings me to Thanksgiving...
Right after the Ten Days of Hell I was telling anyone who would listen that getting cancer was a blessing and that I was glad it had happened. I knew how stupid that sounded but I really meant it. I just wasn't sure why. After reflecting on it over the last couple of weeks, I figured some things out. First and foremost I was thankful for all of the people that were in any way involved in my treatment and recovery and there are a BUNCH of you.
But the reason I remain glad I went through what I did is that my eyes were opened to the people and things I walked by EVERY SINGLE DAY and either took them for granted or was too busy to pay any attention. For the life of me, I can't remember one thing that I was in such a hurry to do or see that I just blew right by, oblivious. The real shame would have been for me to live the rest of my life with those blinders on and miss the beauty I was stepping over and driving past.
I don't wish illness on anyone but I do have a wish for everyone who reads this. I hope that sometime during this holiday season you see or hear something for the first time only to discover it has been there the whole time. I hope that discovery leads you to search for whatever else you may have been missing.
God Bless you all and Merry Christmas,
Chris
