I'm NOT a survivor?..........................

Last night, after running three miles (in about 34 minutes) I went into town to the local running store to pick up my race packet for the Susan G. Koman Race For The Cure 5K that I am participating in this Sunday, along with over 4300 other people.

I found my number, and said (out loud) "Wow! I have never had a number this low before (it was 11)." One of the women standing behind the table said to me, it is low because you are a survivor." Knowing that she was referring to cancer, I had to tell her that I was not a survivor. I was then informed that I must have clicked the survivor button on the computer when I registered (Computers NEVER make mistakes now do they?). Anyway, another lady led me to another table and announced to the crowd, "This lady needs her number changed. She is not a survivor." By the third time she explained this to someone I could not stand it any longer and had to say, "Okay! While I might not have had cancer, Honey, you had better believe I AM A SURVIVOR!" The lady laughed and left me to be helped by the people behind the table.

They still were not sure how to fix the number thing, so led me back to the first table where I heard the first lady telling the end of the story about me having told her I was a survivor. I am always glad when I can make people laugh!

Finally, I got my number. Guess what number it is? Give up? 1112. Had they been a tad faster I would have had 1111, which I took as a sign that in reality I am a double survivor.

In a way I am. Two of my sisters have had cancer. One lost the battle, one is currently cancer free. I applaud the research and the dedication that people are putting into fighting these diseases don't get me wrong. Still, there is a tiny part of me that really felt resentful when I heard the words, "She is not a survivor." I know what they were referring to, but I also know all the things I have overcome from the past. I would have liked to have heard, "She is not a cancer survivor" instead. Am I a knit-picker or what?

All of us have had things in our life that were difficult, that tested us beyond measure. All of these things count and make us who we are today. Here is a list of some of mine:

Being orphaned at age 8
Being sexually molested by two different people before age 15
Divorce, not once, but twice
Completing a college degree (graduating with high honors)while being a single mother of three
Starting three different (successful) businesses
The death of three of five siblings
My first-born growing up and leaving home
The first time (above) first born made a decision that I didn't agree with (she joined a sorority)
being morbidly obese (by the charts) and now being a few pounds away from un-obese
Not one but two half-marathons
The discovery that the world does NOT really revolve around me (this was a really tough one)

That is just a short list and I the point is NOT to discount how great it is to be a cancer survivor, but to cheer myself on and acknowledge where I have come from.

Having done that, it is now time to move on towards my goals, running and otherwise. One of my favorite saying is, "It isn't about what happens to you, but about what you do about it afterwards that really matters." Everything in my past had led me to this particular fork in the road, headed towards the 26.2, and I have not one tiny bit of desire to have eat from any different fork. I love what life has served up to me, and continue to gobble it up with relish. Maybe even mustard and onions, I am not a fan of ketchup.