It never ceases to amaze me how many human beings in this world are such good, good people. It may not be evident to everyone and in my case, I get a bit more attention these days due to my illness, and I feel that I am surrounded by such sweet and caring people. I fix computers for a living now and teach drums privately as well. I am amazed that my drum students (all but one are children) have been so comfortable with me since my hair started to fall out. They are supportive and have not changed anything about how they interact with me now that I teach with a baseball cap on my head.

I have gone to computer clients to do work and have returned with that night’s dinner or an invitation to help me out in any way possible. I have received over 200 greeting cards, 1 mass card (I must admit I was a bit nervous when I saw that one in that I thought you only get them in the case of death – I learned that’s not the case), two friends drove 4 hours one way just to sit on the couch with me in Florida when I wasn’t feeling up to doing anything else, I got a surge of “fancy” hats when I needed to wear something a bit more upscale to my daughter’s graduation, I have people who have made food, sent incredible edibles, flowers, sat with me at my infusions, walked me around the neighborhood or down Iron Horse Blvd.

My family has been great. My sister has been to doctors’ appointments and infusions with me, while my daughter studying/partying hard in college calls every day to check on me, my son dotes over me when I’m not feeling well and pushes my buttons when I’m back to normal (so we know he’s normal too), and Mother Theresa is back from Florida and has shot into high gear in regards to being my health advocate and a wonderful mother. And Jeff has been a rock. He is juggling his own workload, house and kids, while I throw my workload (except for drum lessons – he has absolutely no musical talent at all) at him when I’m not feeling well.

I have my “having a bad day” basket full of individually wrapped gift surprises. So far I have a beautiful blanket, a flexible sunflower with bright and happy colors, Burt’s Bees products for hand and face, and a harmonica (can play a little so far). Tomorrow will be another uncomfortable day so I intend to dive into the bag again. In fact I might be in there a few times this weekend depending…

I have also had many of these same people donate to our Relay for Life Team which will be walking in Suffield on June 6th and our team has raised over $6,000 to date. I am so happy, proud and humbled to be surrounded by such wonderful people. If I haven’t said it to you or said it to you lately, THANK YOU!