Tag: cancer

The Gift of Cancer

.Reading time less than 1 minute.

I was honored to do a guest post for the Cancer Knowledge Network under their “Living with Cancer” heading. Don’t be fooled by the title, cancer is no gift. But can it be used to get child through the emotional battle and to the next day?

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My grandmother had chutzpah. Like many children of the depression, she hoarded sugar and ketchup packets from every restaurant trip and we found boxes full of them when we cleaned out her home. She clipped coupons and saved every dime she could like a miser afraid they would run out. But she also gave the best gifts….

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I Didn’t Recognize Her

.Reading time 6 minutes.

“Hello, Mr. Myers,” she said with a beautiful smile.

Startled, I replied in kind. She stood before me in anticipation while I watched the sun peak through her golden hair. Searching for something to say, I told her that I liked her dress.

“Thank you. When we went to the store, I made sure it had some yellow in it,” she beamed as she twirled slightly to let the flow of the dress boast its color.

“Kylie would love that,” I answered.

“I thought so, too. Well, I’ll see you later,” she said as she bounded off toward her friends.

I watched her rush off until she was engulfed in a sea of young women all flaunting perfectly-styled hair, manicured nails, and the prettiest dresses their closets could produce. The boys – awkward in their ties – stood off to the side bucking horns, pretending not to be fascinated with their more delicate classmates. At fourteen, I could see the beginnings of the magnetic pull that they would deny as long as possible then succumb to as if they ever had a choice. Read More