Happy Birthday, Lisa!

Today is my sister's birthday. She's older than me, that's all you need to know. She's also smarter than me. And she has a better voice. And she has an awesome daughter (of legal drinking age???), something I will never have. I'm sure at one time I wanted one - a daughter, I mean - but right now I'll just settle for having (a) life.

Because today is also the day I celebrate the 7th anniversary of my last "drip trip" in 2005. The last afternoon I sat in hospital recliner with bright, (how'd you like a) Hawaiian Punch pink poison snaking into my hand via plastic tubing, my hair already gone gone gone, and the chemicals in the concoction turning my blood ice cold. I can't remember the name of that one chemical, but I call it the "brain freezer" and I still cringe when I remember that surge of icy discomfort course through my (then) 96 lb body. And I still get phantom pains on the top of my hand where the chemo nurses sought a few good veins.

October is a big month in our family. We celebrate life. And we blow out a LOT of candles - well my sister does anyway... :)

Happy Birthday, Lisa.  I love you from the bottom of my (younger) heart.