Girl power and breast cancer

"Not to live for the day,

that would be materialistic, but to treasure the day.

I realize that most of us live on the skin, on the surface

without appreciating just how wonderful it is

simply to be alive at all."  Audrey Hepburn

These women came together to celebrate the end of hockey season.  To eat tasty and delish foods.  To tell stories and commiserate.  To giggle, and laugh.  To leave the kids home with dad for one night and let him deal...  and to invade Rachel's lovely home.

But this wasn't just an end of the hockey season celebration.

They came wearing pink.  They came by the car load till we were bursting at the seams with women. And they all brought their huge and generous hearts.  

They donned boxing gloves and stood in front of a pink door, standing with me in the fight against breast cancer.  

We got tough and feisty... fighting like girls, like women really.

Some were so tough, I am just glad SHE was on MY side.  I do think there is a little "please don't really hit me" look to my eyes.

We cheered and celebrated what the end of the journey will look like.

And we hugged...

and held on...

and strengthened our bonds of friendship, of sisterhood really.

And these hockey moms, friends, sisters really, showered me with gifts, nourished my frazzled mind, fed my weary body and soul, and infused my battered heart with courage, and strength.  They made me feel like I mattered.  Like somehow I'd won the lottery.  

  Because when we weren't doing photos by the pink door?  They were downstairs, bidding on items donated for a silent auction.  And they were generous and amazing bidders.

Amy put her talents to work and created this canvas, and I can hardly look at all the encouragement on it without tears spilling from my eyes. 

And the coup de grâce, or the "blow of mercy?"  was when I realized the song they had requested at karaoke later that night, was none other than Obla di, Obla da.   And praying my can't-carry-a-tune-in-a -bucket kind of singing didn't burst any ear drums, I graciously accepted the mike and sang along with the rest of them.  

I chose the word Alive for my year to guide me.  Last night I realized, the epitome of being alive, was choosing me.  The tears I shed this morning, weren't for all the days I may one day miss, but for all the ones I may have wasted by " living on the skin," as Audrey says, not fully alive.  

My sweet husband has put a button at the top of my blog for anyone who might like to purchase one of the hockey lace bracelets made by one of our hockey moms, Pam.  They are 5 dollars plus a little for shipping costs and a portion of those funds are coming back to me for medical expenses. Already today, 22 orders have come in!

I'm still feeling well, and we are revisiting the idea of a trip to the Mayo clinic.  My doctor thought getting a second opinion was a great idea and is helping facilitate just that.  More updates later... I'll share with you what happens when you discover you really are a bit claustrophobic in the MRI scanner...

Love and blessings to you all!


PS. I will pick a winner of the book later and let you know who won sometime this weekend!!