Happy Birthday. . .

March 23 is my birthday, but it is not exactly the day I slipped forth from the womb. It celebrates the birth of my new and improved bone marrow 12 years ago. Sometime ago, I was told that I had a life ending disease and had about 10 years to live. All I could think, was my boys (one was just a toddler) would be teenagers and wouldn't have a mother.

NO HAIR DAY

First I was afraid,
I was petrified
Kept thinking I would never live . . .But I spent so many nights
thinking what did I do wrong . . .
(cancer doesn't work that way)But I grew strong
I learned how to carry on . . .

(with the help of a stem cell transplant)

BAD HAIR DAY

Go on now go walk out the door

just turn around now
'cause you're not welcome anymore
weren't you the one who tried to hurt me with that final goodbye

you think I'd crumble

you think I'd lay down and die

Oh no, not I , I will survive

A BIG HAIR DAY

as long as I know how to love

I know I will stay alive
I've got all my life to live

I've got all my love to give
and I'll survive

I DID SURVIVE!!

Happy Birthday” is a victory song for the 11 million cancer survivors celebrating birthdays this year. I am just one of the millions and it feels great! So it is only fitting that you go to this link and listen Gloria sing Happy Birthday to me!!!

http://morebirthdays.com/artist/gloria-gaynor

My youngest is almost out of the teen years and I have had to remind myself many times, that I was looking forward to this. I have almost survived that!

I love this quote from Carl Sagan:

Six times (2 for me) now I have looked Death in the face. And six times Death has averted his gaze and let me pass. Eventually, of course, Death will claim me–as he does each of us. It’s only a question of when. And how. I’ve learned much from our confrontations—especially about the beauty and sweet poignancy of life, about the preciousness of friends and family, about the transforming power of love. In fact, almost dying is such a positive, character-building experience that I’d recommend it to everybody—except, of course, for the irreducible and essential element of risk.

BF from 6th grade(one of the many caregivers I am so grateful for)

The sweet beauty of life as I stepped outside Stanford Hospital 1999

HERE'S TO MANY MORE BIRTHDAYS!

SUPER MOON RISES!!!!

Thanks to a fluke of orbital mechanics that brings the moon closer to Earth than that it has been in more than 18 years, the biggest full moon of 2011 occurred on Saturday, leading some observers to dub it a "supermoon." Scientists estimate the “supermoon” was 14 percent bigger and 30 percent brighter at its peak. ?? The moon arrived at its closest point to the Earth in 2011: a distance of 221,565 miles (356,575 kilometers) away.My impressive view!?!?!?!

Disclaimer: But experts say that people will need to look very closely to spot the 0.3% difference.

Some folks were luckier!

CAT NAP

I count it as an absolute certainty that in paradise, everyone naps

YENA . . . THE ORIGINAL PRIMA CREAMA DONNA!

MY CREAMA DIVA OUT OF CREM

We have all encountered them.
When you think of a prima donna, (not pre-Madonna) you sort of think of someone who is a little demanding and temperamental. They love to dispense tons of advice, whether welcome or not. If they ask, "Do you want a piece of advice?" it is a mere formality. It doesn't matter if you answer yes or no. You're going to get it anyway. Even though their "good advise" is certain to be ignored, there is still no reason not to give it!

They can be visionaries,
highly creative

with outstanding talent.

Divas are confidant, exuberant and full of energy. They often dress distinctively, and don't care about what others think of them and a bit of a drama queen.

"Having said that"-- the best way to manage a prima donna, is to make her your close friend!

Of course, there will be persistent nagging. She doesn't call it nagging, it is just a nudge to reach my higher potential, or the best in me. . . She just sent me an IM: "I am not ragging you,but just sayin'. . .!" Now isn't that precious!

She does have outstanding talents besides seeing others imperfections.

She is an awesome chef and is known for her culinary masterpieces made from simple wholesome ingredients. Her meals are accompanied by carefully chosen libations (ok-cheap swill or home-made rotgut).

And served with gales of laughter and her homegrown wit.

Yes, this crazy wild prima donna is one of my dearest friends. She is my four leaf clover and I am lucky to have her. Of course, she is opinionated, but she has a warm heart and is ready and willing to help in any crisis. From rescuing neglected animals to throwing a life raft to a soul adrift in the sea of life.We share the tears, the laughter and so many memories.

"A good friend is a connection to life - a tie to the past, a road to the future, the key to sanity in a totally insane world."

We'll be friends forever, won't we, Pooh?" asked Piglet.

"Even longer," Pooh answered.

DO NOT WANDER!!!

Have you ever got instructions like this? You would have thought I was a 5 year old!

On my recent trip to Lo de Marcos, I was anxious about my connection at Puerto Vallarta. Would I get picked up or would I have to take the bus to Lo. I had emailed, but the internet link was tenuous at best. . . . then this email arrived from my cuz:

"We will meet you right there. . . inside. . .just stay in the area. . . do not go outside. We will be looking for you right there, inside. . . easy peasy. Stay put. . . do not wander away from the area!!!
We will shoot for 2 o'clock.
DO NOT WANDER AWAY!!

If you have ever been at the PV airport, you will know that the place is not huge, in fact it is down right small and where would I possibly wander. The bar 1/2 mile away? You can look around the general area and besides a couple exchange and variety stores, not really much else.

Needless to say, as soon as I walked out of the security area, I just had to scan the room and my eyes rested on my cuz! Lucky for her, I didn't wander, but I did WONDER why she would send such a message. . . . . .She doesn't even have kids ---just a dog. That must be why I got the directive not to wander. She was afraid after getting off the plane, I would head straight for a fire hydrant!?!?!?

She did let me off my leash and let me wander once we got to Lo. Here are just a few spots I wandered to!