Back in 1995, we were on a trip to Arizona. I stumbled upon a simple water-color painting of a brightly-colored clown figure kicking its heels up along with the words “I dance because…”    On the back side of the painting, penciled in by the artist Natalie Mizicko, are the words “…I am rich.”  I purchased the little painting because I felt so happy and blessed in my life at that time.

Fast forward sixteen years.  Now I look at that little painting with a whole new set of eyes.

Artist: Natalie Mizicko

…I am alive and well.

…I am “Mom” to two fun and crazy kids who make me laugh and cry, sometimes at the same time.

…I love my husband and am loved in return.

…I am surrounded by funny, loving, supportive extended family members.

…I am privileged to have some of the best friends in the world.

…I had amazing support from all kinds of folks during the hardest year of my life. Some I don’t even know.

…I have the best medical team in the world.

…I have the chance to give back.

These are  just a few things that come to my mind. It doesn’t take much to feel like the richest person in the world.

Here’s where things are with me today.  It’s been  six weeks since chemo ended.  It took three of those weeks before I stopped feeling very fatigued.  It’s only been two and a half weeks since M.D. Anderson confirmed that there still is no evidence of disease.

Things seem so different now.  All I want to do is MOVE.  I’m happy to wake up, have a little coffee and get my day going.  I’m walking three miles every morning and taking the occasional bike ride in the afternoon.  Started yoga and it is kicking my butt.  Eager to start swimming.  Have been sailing a couple of times this week.  All of this movement makes me feel every muscle which means I am ALIVE!  Nothing like a year of getting bombarded with chemo or recovering from surgeries to make me revel in the ability to move.  Life is good.

Happy Mother’s Day!