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I confess–I still catch my breath over certain things.

People coughing—Makes me look around like someone shot a gun. where are they and why are they coughing.

People sniffing–won’t shake their hands and if I have to I am immediately panicking and pulling out the hand sanitizer as surreptitiously as possible.

Contrary to my kids belief–I do not think blood draws are nothing I just don’t make a fuss–I mean really I have lost track.

I do still surprise myself when I change my clothes–not as much anymore but every once in awhile —

I float easier in the pool–weird

A few days ago a friend of mine posted this article on Facebook–she is also a cancer survivor. Once you enter the world of deadly diseases many people say many things–some kind, some cruel.  There is a woman I know who took 4 and 1/2 years to speak to me once she saw me bald. I have had people tell me of their dying friends and people tell me of their surviving friends. When I was newly diagnosed I only wanted to hear of their friends who were surviving for years, believe me. This method is so simple and perfect I would love to meet the woman who came up with it, or at least the one who wrote the article about it. Please read it and pass it along.

The real reason for this post.

Thank you SUSAN SILK AND BARRY GOLDMAN 

When I was newly married my closest guy friend came to our apartment in the middle of the night. His mother was dying and he didn’t know what to do. Knowing I had been through it just a couple of years before with my dad he came to me. We spent a couple of hours with him asking every question he could think of. From how do I act to what happens when she dies he asked me what my experience was. We no longer live in small villages but we do have circles of friends, some we can ask these questions of and some we can’t. He knew not to ask his Dad so he came to me—the next circle out from him. I only knew his mother slightly so I could be there for him and be supportive and hold his hand.

Now I find myself in the next ring out for friends who know someone or who have cancer and I am available to talk to–I am grateful that for this time I am not in the center of the ring. I did my time and I stayed standing. I am grateful my kids and my husband are not in the positions they once were. It is nice to move on. We are blessed.