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Come see The Hot Mammas perform for the Zoomer Show at the Vancouver Convention Centre this weekend. Saturday, Nov. 19 11:00 to 11:20AM and Sunday, Nov. 20 11:30 – 11:50AM. Free passes offered at: http://www.zoomershow.ca/2011/van/img/ZoomerShow2011_webticket.jpg
Today I am 16 years cancer free. I like to celebrate the day I ended my treatment because the day I was diagnosed was my 31st birthday. I remember it well. “Mary Ella, I am so so sorry. “
Actually, I like to celebrate both days-date of diagnosis AND end of treatment. To be very honest, I celebrate any little thing I can. I LOVE birthdays. I shout to the world each growing number that I am fortunate enough to make. I am proud of the years I have behind me. I made it, I am here. I am healthy and I am happy. I am 47 and counting. Yahoo!!!!
Many things about that year of my life are a blur now. I never thought THAT would be possible. At the time I knew every number on my blood work, I could decipher every detail of my pathology reports. I knew lots about this diagnosis of breast cancer. My surgeon made an arrangement with the lab to let the crazy patient knocking on their door, take her own reports. I recall hearing him tell them, “She can handle it.” I was on top of it.
Today, I keep abreast (pun intended) of some things, but mostly I live my life like any other woman. Well, maybe like any other woman at high risk. I make sure to see the doctor on time and am aware of changes that might need tending to.
But I am a mom and wife first, I am a singer, I am a friend, I am many things before the ‘c’ word comes up. Oh, but I love the ‘S’ word. I AM a survivor. But many of us are. We have all survived something that we wouldn’t have thought we could.
Don’t get me wrong; when I think of that time in my life, I don’t have the best memories. But I have to say that there were gifts to be had.
I needed to make some changes in my life. I may or may not have made them without the kick-start. I can safely say WITH the kick-start, I made them a good 10 years before I would have had the guts. Yikes. I could have been an old bitter woman by that time. Let’s just say the disease propelled my life in a more exciting direction.
So 16 years later, I am very grateful. I am grateful for ALL of it. The course of my life was changed and the unexpected path was far better than that the course I was on. I am ever so grateful for the 16 years and the years I have ahead.
So please, lift your shirt ladies and gentlemen. Have a look, have a feel, see a doc. Early diagnosis is the key. Sixteen years later….Yeeeeeoooowwwww!
There was magic in the air the last few nights with The Hot Mammas. We have had the privilege of working with Mister Steve Dawson on a few Christmas tunes. We met him and immediately felt like we were in the best of hands. He had some fabulous suggestions to spruce up the tunes. Spent last night with the band in studio and the house was a rockin’. A huge shout out to Mister Geoff Hicks on drums and various other percussion instruments, Mister Keith Lowe on bass, our own Tom Arntzen on piano and of course Mr. Dawson on steel guitar and more. We can’t forget Sheldon, our ever patient and accomplished engineer. We are very excited to be back with Steve next week to finish off our vocals and hopefully have these tunes ready for you in a couple weeks time. Stay tuned…
I can’t end this blog without mention of our very own Mamma Georgina and hubby Tom- now forever known as the songwriting duo Georgina and Tom Arntzen. We are so excited to share the new tune they wrote for The Hot Mammas. We are very proud and honored that they are sharing their song with us. It was so special to watch them see their song come to fruition with these talented musicians. Can’t get their perma-grins out of my head! They have written an ultra happy-killer tune. Can’t wait for you to hear it!!!! It is sure to be one of your new Christmas favs.
TTFN (ta ta for now)
Mamma ME