Happy New Year my friends!

Sometimes I forget that when you disappear from a blog that is heavy on cancer posts, people might suspect you’re having a health crisis of some kind. Or that maybe it finally got me.

That isn’t the case – thankfully. Or not, depending on your perspective.

Life just somehow got in the way of my writing. 2011 was a heavy topic sort of year and I found that I didn’t want to write about it. Although I have to say, after writing my 5yr cancerversary post, I felt like a huge weight was lifted off and I’ve been able to put much of that experience deep in the back of my mind. It helped so much you’d think I would continue to do it.

I’m a slow learner and checked out instead.

I mentioned along the line all the stuff that was going on with friends and health issues. D2’s friend lost her mom in January. I lost my friend K in August. My daughter’s friend has been fighting leukemia since September and another dear friend and her family lost their husband/father in October. It was all just too much darkness.  I think maybe I didn’t want to see it in print.

Now it seems, there are things I want to share with you.

On a bright note, I made a trip to San Diego mid December to see my nephew graduate from Marine Boot Camp. It was a truly joyous 3 days that showed that no matter the teen struggles, it can all turn around. He is so happy with his decision to become a Marine and the pride just radiated from him. He had a few days leave and went back yesterday. He is a new man and I am so proud to be his aunt and Godmother!!

On a darker note, while we were home for Christmas, my dad had is hip replacement replaced. Does that make sense? Dad got a new hip close to 6 years ago. A year ago he got a call that the artificial joint had been recalled. Is that not the stupidest thing you’ve ever heard? The socket and ball were both metal and it turned out that was a bad concept.

The two metal parts were rubbing together and it was putting toxic metal shavings into his blood stream and destroying the surrounding tissue. Do they not think of these things before they approve them??? Who the hell is in charge of that?

After some struggles getting the company to pay for testing, they hired a lawyer (a trustworthy family friend who happens to be a killer in the courtroom) and things started moving along. A year later, he got the revision! He is such a strong man with such a high tolerance for pain that it broke my heart to see him after surgery looking a little more frail. This company needs to pay dearly!!

On the other side of the family, I received a call from my MIL 6 days before Christmas asking me if my cards were out yet. She felt the need to remind me exactly how many days were left until Christmas and which of her friends should get their ANNUAL card.

When I replied that I was well aware of how many days were left and that I’d been busy with my trip to CA and 3 kids, she told me she’d better “let me go”. It was probably for the best. It’s been 18 years and the previous 17 she reminded SG to get cards out, I suspect on the 19th Christmas she’ll go back to that. I enjoyed it 🙂

Oh yeah, January 16th is my next CT scan. I want to thank all of you for talking me through the last several. I still find myself torn between wanting to be tumor free and wanting to stop taking this damn Nexavar. The love/hate relationship continues.

I don’t know what 2012 will bring but I promise I’ll be better about keeping up with posts.

I wish all of you the very best in the new year. May it be one of peace, prosperity and of course, good health!