Reasons To Be Cheerful

I was diagnosed with diffuse large b-cell lymphoma in mid-November. It's a form of blood cancer. You can read about this here.

My sister set up a Go Fund Me and it’s here. Thank you to everyone who has contributed. Please share as you see fit.

On Tuesday, Feb 11, I’ll be back in Edwards, Co., at the Shaw Cancer Center, for the 2nd round of treatment.

My hair is now coming out in chunks. Delightful.

Have you heard of a singer/pop star called Ian Dury?

It’s unlikely, unless you grew up in England in the 1970s and 1980s, as I did. You can read more about him here.

He and his band, The Blockheads, had a song titled: Reasons To Be Cheerful, Part 3. I’m not sure there’s a part 1 or part 2 but who cares? You can hear the song here.

Below you’ll find my reasons to be cheerful.

The love and support from so many people.

The medical community promises me my hair will grow back.

My doctors, who have helped me so much.

The nurses at The Shaw Cancer Center who have cheered me up.

All the people who have driven me all over Colorado.

The melting away of the cancerous mass between my eye and nose, which I named "The Mogul" because I'm a ski instructor. It was getting pretty nasty.

My writing clients and the direct marketers I work with.

My ski guests/clients who have been super-supportive and have been so happy at the end of the day. You're thankful for my help and guidance but you help me more than I help you.

The management team at The Aspen Skiing Company who have been there for me.

Cancer is serious stuff, obviously, and I have blood cancer. But I’m lucky that my form of cancer is common, treatable, and curable. Yes, I had an operation on my tonsils but it was easy and nobody is zapping my brain or chopping off limbs or digging into me or giving me 12 weeks to stay here.

The prayers.

The amount of normalcy I have. This surprises me. Maybe this will change. I hope not.

My mental and emotional state, which has improved so much over the last two weeks.

The occasional text from a friend who is checking in to see how I’m doing.

People stopping to say hello and simply asking me how things are going.

Remembering to be cheerful cheers me up.