This week is my husband Kirk’s birthday.  For those who are regular visitors here, you know that he is responsible for this website but in addition, he is the light of my life.  I don’t know how I could have gotten through so many tough times, not the least of which has been my cancer battles.  And I can’t begin to tell you how being able to share all of the fun times have been so greatly enhanced by having him with me.  So, what could I ever begin to find in the way of a present to give to someone so special on his very special day?

I have pondered this question for some time now and came up with absolutely, positively no idea.  I couldn’t imagine any mall having anything that would be special enough.  I couldn’t seem to think of anything that was a bit outside of the box.  But, finally, as I started to wake up this morning, I finally got an inspiration that I believe is special enough for him and something that will last forever.  Please let me share.

I have been working for some time on the concept for a second website.  I know what it is that it will represent and I know that those who are my friends both in person and online are exactly the people who will understand its purpose when all is ready.  I am not quite at the point where I want to reveal what the site is about but when it is ready, you will know to what I was referring when you see “the fish”.

How does this fit with Kirk’s birthday present?  Well, the new site is going to be dedicated to him as my special way of acknowledging all that he is and all that he gives all of the time.  At this point, he does know the concept and meaning of this site and the foundation from which it was conceive.  Therefore, he will understand that this gift to him is the greatest tribute that I can possibly give to him.

So on this very special day, there are no presents with great big bows or “things” that I have purchased just so that I have something to give to you.  As time goes by, I hope that the gift that I give to you this year will be one of the most memorable of all times. 

Okay, it is not tickets to a Notre Dame football game in South Bend and I know that I have to work out some other exciting things for next year so I’d better get started now.  But, long after the coming college football season is over and your favorite birthday shirt is in tatters from wear, I really hope that this lasting tribute to you will be the start of a legacy that you will be proud to have inspired.  And I truly hope that this is your best birthday ever, to date, and I wish you the realization of all of your dreams in the coming year.

Please share any thoughts you have. COMMENTS

January 22^nd has become a very special day to me.  Not only is it the 2^nd anniversary of writing my weekly blog but also I walked out of the doctor’s office yesterday after my final follow up after my reconstructive surgery.  I feel so free.  But, the next thing that came into my mind is the thought that I could never have done the blog at all without my husband, Kirk, and I don’t know how I would have ever made it through the last 2½ years of cancer surgeries, treatments, doctors’ appointments, etc. without him.

 When Kirk first talked me into doing the blog, he designed a beautiful website for me and over the last two years he has continued to update it and move me into the social networking age.  He made it easy for me to learn how to navigate these sites and how to interact with all of the wonderful people that I have found there.

For anyone returning here, you will quickly notice that Kirk has created a completely new website to inaugurate the start of my 3^rd year of blogging and to present other new features that we would not have been able to provide on the old site.  As this site is a team effort in every way, we will continue to bring new and exciting features in the future as the site evolves.  I hope that you will find the navigation around the site to be easier than ever while offering new options for sharing, if you so choose.  I can’t begin to tell you how excited I am for what he has created and how grateful I am for the support that he has provided in giving me this venue.

A diagnosis of breast cancer for the second time was the catalyst for the blogging.  But from the very beginning of this battle, Kirk was right by my side.  He supported the choices that I made in what I elected to do without as much as one word regarding any of them.  He was there by my side through the surgeries and the recoveries when I returned home.  For all my personal reasons, I made it clear from the beginning that I did not want to remain in the hospital for even one night after any of the surgeries. Therefore, it was Kirk who attended to my every need and even came up with ideas like giving me a special gift card so that I could shop online as soon as I was up and about. That was sure motivation to get me moving and it definitely was a great diversion from focus on just the surgery and thinking about what might be in the future.

They call what he did “caregiving” but that does not even begin to describe what he truly gave and continues to give.  The care was such a small part of it.  There are no words to describe the love, the support, the creative ideas, the listening and yes, the care that he gave to me and what that meant to me and I believe, ultimately, to my recovery.  I think that I need to create a new word for this but I knew then as I continue to know now that I am the most fortunate woman in the world because I have him for my husband and I thank God every day for his being in my life.

Do you have someone special in your life who supports you? COMMENTS