Six months ago today, I was diagnosed with stage four cancer. The changes that this diagnosis brought to my life have been profound.  

All of our journeys are unknown from day-to-day and the knowledge that I still have a future keeps me going. What the future will look like, however it is unknown to all of us. Best to keep looking at the glass half full.

Six months ago today, my son Brenden and daughter-in-law Claire welcomed Abigail Jodie into the world. She has been incredible delight and blessing for the whole family. Today we will celebrate her half birthday with her maternal grandparents. Claire has hired a professional photographer,  and it should be fun. Like Claire, I’m a big believer in celebrations. Life is what you make it!

Coming home from Sarasota last night, Hans and I had a very funny conversation. He had farted, and it was quite stinky, and I followed up with one of my own, which I felt was even more stinky. It turned into a competition. Unfortunately, before I have gas, or a bowel movement, I still experience significant pain. But if i think back to earlier in the year, when  farting or pooping was not even in the playbook, I’m grateful to be able to do both 🙂 what a sophisticated world I live in now! 

Here is my new song. I wrote it just in case someone ever wants to stage a production of “Colon Cancer : The Musical. “ It is sung to the tune “ loverly” from the musical My Fair Lady… feel free to sing along 

My love of silly songwriting comes from my childhood experiences.  I have fond memories of visiting New York City from various places we were stationed… Hawaii… Panama… Mom always took us into the city to watch Broadway musicals and bought the album and of course the playbook. I knew all the words to those Broadway shows back then and played the records long after they had scratches in the vinyl. 

I also loved reading Mad Magazine. It was irreverent and dealt with real issues in funny ways. They had a feature called “Sung to the Tune Of” that parodied songs. That definitely was a big contributor to the fun that I’m having creating an imaginary musical.

Brenden. and Claire continue to have so much fun with baby Abby. Abigail is a very good sport as you can see. Her parents stripped her down to her diaper and set her inside a hallowed out  pumpkin and yet still she smiles and laughs.