Here comes the serious train....

I am tired but I don't want to sleep right now. Too much to process. This past week has kind of been an information overload. Sometimes life hits you with full force, ready or not. Good or bad.

So, I turned 29. That was cool. I got to spend it with Cindy and the boys. Nothing fancy. No need for that. The boys drew me some awesome pictures that Cindy made into a book. Cin got me a great book about the Iwo Jima flag raisers. I highly recommend them both.

Then the other shoe dropped.

A call from Louisiana. My Aunt Maresa got some bad news from her doctor. Breast Cancer. From what I know it had spread partially to her lymph nodes. I am floored. I hate cancer. I hate what it can do. I hate that it exists. That we can't rid it from the face of the earth is inexcusable. I try to play tough, but inside I am shredded.

Almost 13 years ago, cancer took the life of my Aunt Linda. She was one of the coolest people I have ever known. She fought as hard as you can and then some. When chemo failed, she went alternative. When that failed, she went home. Just before she passed, I was too scared to go see her. My good-bye is incomplete and I will never forgive myself for that.

Cancer doesn't care how brave you are. Doesn't care how much you love your children. Doesn't care how much you are loved in return. Doesn't care about anything.

So now, we wait. Surgery has been performed, and chemo will start in the next few weeks. The doctor seems pretty upbeat I guess. I don't know, never met the dude. He better know his skill-set for his sake. In the mean time, we pray. We pray for her, and I'm asking that you do to. Even though you might not know her...just send a good one up for her. It can't hurt. If it helps.....rock on.

After taking that in a bit we got some good news. Yesterday, my buddy GW got to come home for his 2-week mid-tour leave. Cindy and I have known it was coming since December. His Mom didn't though. He finally got her. I wish I could have been there. I want to be there now. For him and for me. He always knows some interesting ways to get a persons mind off real life. He can also lay down some heavy truths and listen as you vent like a steam engine. He's a good friend and a great man. Welcome home G-Dub.

So...ups, downs, in-betweens. What's new though right? Life is still a pretty dadgum good proposition. No matter how sad I get, how many tears I cry....there is a smile waiting for me when I get home. Three smiles to be certain. Three people who give me perspective on all this weirdness. They reinforce these basic truths;

Tears dry. Wounds heal. Laughter is contagious. Smiles are free. Life happens, get on with it.