It’s My Month!

He has made everything beautiful in its time…

Ecclesiastes 3:11

Happy Fall y’all!   Or in my house I call it “Pumpkin Spice Season.”  October is one of my favorite months of the year for many reasons- the leaves are changing, pumpkin spice EVERYTHING, lots of football, the crisp morning air, Halloween…  and my Birthday!  This year is the big 50 for me.  In case you did not know, 1971 was a great year.  Not only was I born, but Disney World opened (in October of course), my daughter’s college was founded, and everywhere we look we keep finding more and more things that turn 50 this year.  October has always been a great month! 

This year I find myself a bit torn over my love of October.  As you all must know, October is also Breast Cancer Awareness month.  It takes on a whole different meaning once you have actually had breast cancer.  Sadly (in my opinion), and because of the world we live in today, some people have mixed feelings about the “propaganda” surrounding the pink ribbon that is on literally everything this month.  Some complain that companies just use it to sell more products.  Some complain that just wearing pink does not actually do anything to further research of the disease.  I guess I can understand their point, but still…

I have always loved pink, and I thought it was nice to see sports teams pause from their usual uniform and support curing this disease and those that have been diagnosed with it.  So now that I find myself being one of those they wear pink for, do I still think it is nice?    The month has just started, so we will see.  

What I can say is that I appreciate the support and the awareness this month has brought to the public.  The reality is that 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer, so why shouldn’t a month be dedicated to it?  I appreciate that this month has removed the stigma and embarrassment of the disease.  

I meet a nurse early on in my diagnosis who said her grandmother had died of breast cancer years ago.  She told me her grandmother was embarrassed and ashamed, so she did not tell anyone until it was too late.  Sadly, for generations before mine that was the case with many women.  A double mastectomy was a horribly disfiguring procedure (it’s still no fun at all, but much better than it used to be) that scars many women physical and emotionally.  

So, for now I feel that if sports teams wearing pink and putting pink on products saves the lives and improves attitudes and the mental well-being of women, why not wear your pink proudly!  If you do, I thank you for doing your part in raising awareness of this horrible disease and supporting those going through treatment.   If you are able to donate to support additional research, even better!  I was able to conquer this disease without embarrassment or the social stigma once attached to it, and that’s thanks in no small part to this month!  

Our family is doing great, and we hope you all are too!  Our daughter is back at college and living the marching band life.  She loves the football games, entering the roaring stadium where the football team enters, and playing as they run onto the field.  Her school really supports the marching and it is great to be in a full stadium again.  Our theater son is back on-stage, playing Pugsley in the Adams Family musical and back playing lead guitar in the youth band.  Our drummer/athlete beats on everything in sight (did you know anything can be a drum if you think creatively?) and he played with the marching and for 8^th grade band night.  He plays the cajon (a box drum you sit on) in the youth band and is tearing it up on the flag football field on a rec. team with friends.    I am back teaching preschool and kindergarten music.   Chris is still working from home but has adjusted to it.  He enjoys the quiet of everyone being gone, but also misses us.  

So, life is back to normal – we just wear masks everywhere.  

Thank you again for the prayers over my cancer last year, they truly sustained us through many sad and uncertain times.  If you wear pink this month, think of me and all the others who are and have fought breast cancer.  Have a wonderful Fall Season and get your yearly mammograms!