I Get By With A Little Help From My Friends

I've said it before, but it bears repeating: my annihilation of cancer and my super-quick recovery is, in part, because of the love and support that I've received from family, friends, colleagues, and blog readers -- even those of you whom I've never had the pleasure of meeting in person. The prayers, well wishes, and good vibes that you've sent me over the past several months have not gone unnoticed. They buoy my spirits in times of struggle or pain (which is not often, fortunately) and they supercharge me during times I'm feeling strong and happy (which is all of the time, (also) fortunately). 

Today, I got a special dose of that supercharging power, as my parents opened their home, welcoming any and all family and friends who wanted to pay me a visit after my East Coast extravaganza. My great aunt and my second cousin arrived first, bringing a delicious gift from Edible Arrangements and chatting me up about my cancer-killing adventures. After that, my best friend Tim swung by -- I don't think I'd given my stomach as thorough of a laughter-based workout until this afternoon with my little Timmy. As always, we had a great time. My friend and colleague Carlos came next and I had a great time showing him my scars and telling stories about my adventures at the hospital. Then, my parents' friends Bob and Lore stopped by and lifted my spirits by telling me how much the blog had impacted and inspired them, which is always so gratifying to hear. About an hour later, my best friend from middle school, Nick, arrived -- the laughter-based tummy workout continued. And finally, my friend Dan dropped in for dinner and an impromptu screening of Steel Magnolias. Nobody knows all of the dialogue to Steel Magnolias better than Nick and Dan, so watching the movie with both of them was a serious treat.

Oh yeah, and it snowed at my parents' house in Burbank this afternoon. Shocking and marvelous, it was a definite first for me and probably most people in the city. Of course, I had to jump smack in the middle of it. Living life in super-HDTV requires nothing less!

Although I'm a little sleepy now, after a full day of hanging out, I feel more revitalized than ever. Friendship is truly the stuff that powers the spirit, and, in my case, a strong spirit equals a strong body. 

A true testament to the healing power of love and friendship: I took my first pain pill at 10pm.

The warm, fuzzy good times will keep coming tomorrow. My family is coming over, and I can't wait to see them. So far, being back home has been truly blissful.