February 25/2017 

Life goes by so fast some times, we forget to stop and smell the roses. Or so the saying goes. We all get so busy in our lives, that sometime  weeks months then years go by and we realize that we have some very special friends that we have just not taken the time to spend time with. No one is to blame we all get busy, working and raising our families. Our kids keep us busy too with all the extra activities we put them in to keep them out of trouble. But who are we kidding, it becomes our social lives, and theirs. We don’t ever mean to loose touch, but it just happens. The reality of a true friendship is that after this time goes by you get together, and it feels like no time has passed at all.

This has happen to me and Jamie. We ran into some very old and dear friends of ours at West Edmonton Mall last spring. We had the best visit we had lunch and caught up on each other’s lives, and our children’s lives too. It felt like no time had passes at all, yet it had been years since we had seen each other. We ran into each other two more times after that, and found that we had so much in common still after all theses years. Now we had the  “cancer” thing in common too. He and I both had cancer at the same time. He was such a help to me. He told me to take it head on, fight it like a girl and keep positive. He said don’t let it get me. He actually made me promise him I would fight it every step of the way. Promise I did. 

We got together for supper at our house in the summer after my first cancer and his too. We shared horror stories of doctors and the whole medical system. BUT we were both cancer free and proud of it. Then in the fall his came back, it broke my heart. Then I found out I had cancer again too. We talked and he was again so positive going to beat it again. He helped me so so much I felt so much stronger after I talked to him. He was so sure that we could both beat this cancer stuff.  Both of them continue to keep in touch with me all through my tests and then surgery and finally chemo. But we found out in January that his cancer was terminal, they faced this with such courage and grace. Both of them so strong, even though I knew it was so hard on them. You see there are some couples that from the moment they met were meant to be together. That is Jamie and me. That was also our very special friends. A bond that only true love understands. On Thursday night that big wonderful, strong, funny, amazing man died from this terrible disease ” cancer”. I know his wife will be lost without him for a while, I also know that he will haven give her such strength through him to continue on without him. 

This is where I say. Don’t let time pass, call your friends. Set up times to get together again don’t think to much time has passed. It has not. It is never to late to re-connect. I am so thankful we made time for each other. I will miss my friend. But will still be around for her. After all I know death upfront and personal. I know that theses first few days and weeks are numbing.” Where there is deep grief, there was great love” . I know theses two had a great love. ❤️

This death puts into perspective my cancer for me. I need to fight with all I have, and that’s what I plan on doing. In honour of my friend and his family.  

I had made plans today to buzz my hair off because it usually starts to fall out on the twelfth day after chemo. Which is today for me, but I had no signs. So I “🐔” chickened out. What if I am that one in a million that dosent loose their hair?  Probably not but I left it for another day. When I do feel it coming out I will shave it. Not a big deal,( yea right)  just another step in my journey. Tomorrow is another day hair or no hair, let’s see what day I do loose it. 

Today’s saying : Be thankful for today, because in one moment your entire life could change forever. 

Beth 😇