My "anniversary"

Cancer, the disease that keeps on giving – even anniversaries. This July marks my one-year anniversary, having been diagnosed with Stage 3 RCC on July 28, 2018. Cancer survivors recognize this “cancer-versary” much like their birthday. The difference is, birthdays mark the day we celebrate life, a “cancer-versary” marks the day we begin living with our mortality. For me, at least, everything changed with diagnosis. Cancer is not only a physical disease with the obvious ramifications. It is a psychological, emotional, and mental disease as well. Soon after my surgery, I opted for a different life. After all, I was “celebrating” a “new normal.” I left my town, I canceled my lease, I sold my stuff and my car. I bought an empty steel-caged cargo van. I've been “on the road,” (homeless, house-less, transient, take your pick) since January, 2019. I have managed to corral a good number of house/pet sitting days, allowing me to travel the northwest and pacific coast areas of the country. It has been fabulous, daunting, easy, hard, welcome, and scary. Kinda like life! I have no idea where this is leading. I have no idea when I will get there. I have no idea what to do when I arrive. For now, that's okay. No one knows how long they will live. Cancer just reminds us, bluntly, that it won't be forever. A true sense of mortality arrives, leaving excuses for doing new things “later” rather lame. Later for me is now, tomorrow may not come, yesterday was good enough. I thank cancer for this freedom.

Pinnacles National Park