Four years

This is the fourth anniversary of the day that I had the surgery to take out the lung tumor.  I haven't had my official four-year follow up doctor appointment yet but it's very unlikely that I'll get anything but a good report. 

This is a good news sort of day for me but it's a bittersweet one, too.  I spent the day at a memorial service for someone who had died earlier this year.  Troy had kidney cancer several years ago and after surgery and treatment it seemed gone for good.  It came back, though, in a way that couldn't be stopped.  Although the progression of the disease was very hard on him, he made the best of the time that was left to him. 

Earlier this week I also heard that my friend Bruce had died.  He had endured some serious health problems over many years but his death took everyone by surprise. Bruce lived out of town and I saw him last on a camping trip at the end of August.  I will remember him for his laugh, for the sparkle in his eye, and for the way he could take joy in the simplest of things. 

In contrast to these things, my brothers and their families got together at my house last night to see one of my nephews who is in the area for a few days.  It was wonderful to see them together - laughing and talking about important and unimportant things.

So, on this landmark day for me I am reminded again of how lucky I am to be surrounded by dear family and friends. I am also reminded of how lucky I have been in many other ways. I so often lose sight of that.  As I have said before - and have often failed to achieve - I will try to let the awareness of these gifts and gratitude for them guide my thoughts, attitude and actions.