It’s been a huge week for me – Thursday marked the 1st anniversary of my surgery, I had my one year check up with my oncologist the same day and then it was my birthday on Friday.
Last year I was titless and off my face on painkillers for my birthday – this year I was just titless (well maybe just a little off my face).
My family all flew in to join in the celebration with my friends. My gorgeous daughter organised an amazing party for me. I even managed to give up control and allowed her to organise the whole thing – I simply turned up.
But I didn’t want it to be just about my cancer experience as I said in my speech – it is just one of the many experiences that have contributed to who I am (some would say crazy and just a little neurotic).
This birthday did have an added dimension that previous ones haven’t – think it is harder for my family and friends to separate that then it is for me.
Got me thinking that each birthday will now be a celebration of a year well lived (but not an “amazing I climbed Everest cos I survived cancer” well lived kind of year) as well as a recognition that not only have I just ticked off one more year of my allotted time but that I have also made it through another year that takes me one step further away from that which could have shortened my allotted time.
No idea if that makes any sense?
Guess the only thing that I can be certain of is that at every birthday from now on I will still be titless.
Anybody else view their birthdays differently post cancer?
Pauline
