The other day was my Dear, Dear friend Susan Saludo Park’s birthday! Susan is one of the first people I worked with when we moved to New Mexico and I began to work at River City Broadcasting. Susan was the sales coordinator, but she really was more than that, she was the sunshine of the station, Susan encouraged everyone. New Mexico was a whole new ball game in radio for this guy back in August of 1995, Susan helped me to adjust, she accepted me for who I am.
I saw this time after time with her, no matter who it was, Susan always showed them respect and care.
It’s been a long time now since Susan came down with cancer. I have not seen her for years, but I am thankful I can follow her life on Facebook. She is one of the bravest and kindest souls I will ever know. Her recent Facebook post really got to me. I asked her if I could share it with you. Love you Susan……..praying for you everyday……Here is her post…….
Cancer stinks.
It doesn’t deserve our energy or attention, and I constantly fight it defining me. Some may say I’m pretty good about being in denial about having cancer.
Then yesterday happened:
While on the phone with a dude from my company’s IT department, whom I’ve just “met”, we inevitably talk about plans for the weekend while waiting for the hundredth laptop reboot. During a story he shares with me about a family illness (without knowing anything about mine), he says, “I mean, really, how many second or third chances do you get in life??”
That’s when it hit me.
My eyes filled with tears and I struggled to speak, as I immediately recalled a post I had started a few days ago, but deleted.
I had written about how, in life’s craziness with kids and work and family and friends, I inadvertently forgot not one, but TWO, anniversaries of my stem cell transplants. I deleted the post because I didn’t want to give cancer attention, I didn’t want to play victim to it.
Yet, on the phone with IT Ray, I realized it shouldn’t be about my struggle against cancer defining me. It’s about literal second and third chances, and being appreciative of them.
My second and third birthdays!
They helped alleviate pain, bought me more time, allowed my body – like my computer – a hard reboot. Because of those special birthdays, I Wake Up Every Day…and try to not take any of it for granted.
So…happy birthdays to me!
PoundsignChemoDeMayoThe7th
PoundsignYesItsHotInPhoenixOnJune14th
PoundsignSometimesThereIsAReasonWeMeetCertainPeopleAtCertainTimes
PoundsignThankYouGod
PoundsignHeresToYogaAcupunctureAndScience
