Before I got involved in basketball, the first organized sport I played was softball. My dad was the coach. This was the era when the windmill pitching was just getting momentum in the sport. Or at least was revolutionary for my small town. Everyone else did the slow-pitch number or granny throwing where there was…

It has taken me several days to put some order to this thought. My brain has been swimming with the next things and my numb feet and kids and Easter and the end of school and all the things that I haven’t spent time acknowledging what I accomplished. I did it! I beat cancer. I…

Good Friday was a very somber event in our house. Or maybe I should say Saturday was very somber. Saturday morning always meant cleaning. My dad would be at the church practicing his sermon, my sisters and I would be cleaning the house. Yes, I had chores I couldn’t run away from. I was responsible…

I remember the first time I saw the ocean. I was a freshman in high school. I went with my church youth group to Panama City. Classy. We drove in those huge buses through the night and of course I barfed on the trip because that is what an amazing traveler I am. I silently…

We all have our coping mechanisms. Some people like a sweet treat or a salty snack or a good book or a satisfying sweat or some retail therapy. Or maybe all of the above. No judgement from me. I have a love of shoes. If you know me, you can act surprised by that knowledge.…

When I was in high school, my parents got divorced. Or rather began the divorce process. One night, after another fight with my mom, I called my dad and asked him to come get me. I loaded up my red Nike duffel bag and I chose to move out with my dad. I was 15.…

I was chatting with a good friend when she shared another one of her friends was just diagnosed with cancer. Oof. Another younger person with a spouse and kids. Then it got me thinking of what I would say to someone who just got a diagnosis or anyone in a similar boat. Chances are these…

There is this magical idea that soon I can be back to “normal.” While I am excited to get back to feeling more like myself, I do question what the new normal might be. And quite frankly, I have a bone to pick with the concept of normal. Who creates the benchmark for normal? Think…

There is a common phrase that assumptions only make an ass out of you and me. Cliches are cliches for a reason.  My time in the hospital was, again, not what I expected. Going into the surgery I was nervous about the physical pain. I definitely did not want to keep Babs so avoiding the…

Sorry for the lack of updates today – I was home this morning with the kids and then off to coach Dylan’s soccer team at noon. Back to the hospital in the afternoon and great news…she’s out!