Good Times

When I wake up every morning, I can’t help but smile. Not just a happy smile, but one of those “cat ate the canary” smiles. Because I know that, no matter what the day is, it’s bound to be stuffed with adventure, activity, good times, and excitement. I know that I’m about to run circles around a lot of people, and I know that I'm about to have the kind of a day that leaves some people exhausted but leaves me forcing myself to go to sleep at the end of the day. 

Hehehe, I think to myself as I open my eyes to the morning light. Yessssss. Another day to do my thing in this world. LET'S GO! 

Sometimes I almost feel like I’m getting away with something. Here I am, a Stage IV colon cancer warrior in treatment for over a year and a half now -- not actually supposed to have lived this long and definitely not supposed to feel and be this well -- having the time of my life. It’s like a light switched on when I was given my diagnosis. Not a light that lit up a previously dark room, but a light that made an already-lit room glow like neon. I know I’ve talked about “life in super-HD," but now my days are practically glowing with energy. 

Some examples.

Sunday was Easter, and I wanted to be with my family but also knew that I needed to get my brand new house in order. I figured that the best decision would be to combine the two – to get the house in working order and in showable form before 3pm, when my loved ones came over to celebrate the day. I popped out of bed and started unpacking and restacking boxes, cleaning walls and filling cupboards, and singing from the Sister Act II soundtrack at the top of my lungs (it was a holy day, after all) as I did my part to get our home looking sparkly and ready to be seen. Without hesitating, I soaked my pjs with our leaky garden hose as I gave a good watering to the trees and succulents and flowers in our backyard.

Then, I noticed something a little awry. One of the potted cacti on our deck had died (it was probably dead when the previous owners left it for us) and was looking dreadful, so I decided to put it out of its misery. I dug my hands in the dirt, trying to uproot the behemoth. Then I pushed and prodded the thing, making little progress against its considerable heft. Then, I had a bright idea. I crawled into our storage space, over to the bag with my softball equipment. Moments later, I was sweating and swinging, and making some real progress. I hope my neighbors didn’t see the wild-haired, soaking wet, PJ-wearing new neighbor with a bright red softball bat whooping the crap out of a dead cactus, but if they did, they’ll at least know a little about me already. I scampered off to the bathroom, showered off the dirt while feeling very accomplished, and greeted my family in my big terrycloth robe. After visiting me in the hospital a few times now, they’ve seen me in less put together shape, so I figured why not. Eventually, I put on real clothes and had a wonderful, sun-soaked day with them.

The next day, I busily buzzed around my office, tearing through mounds of work and getting plans in place for The WunderGlo Foundation’s 3-on-3 basketball tournament at Duke on Sunday. And then I got some awesome news not at all related to my health: I found out that I won my first legal award – I was named one of the 50 young attorneys on the “Fast Track,” according to the legal journal The Recorder. I’m going to be honored at an event in San Francisco in early June with my other Fast Trackers, and I’m beyond grateful for the recognition. You may think WunderGlo is all about killing cancer, but don’t sleep on my legal career, guys. To be nominated by O’Melveny for this award and then to actually receive it is incredibly satisfying and a true honor. I rounded out the day by taking my surgeon, Dr. Genyk, to a delicious vegan dinner at Sage Vegan Bistro. Unlike Dr. Lenz (yup, I’m calling you out, my man!), Dr. Genyk is actually open to a vegan diet and its benefits, and I intend on showing him the ropes.

How to top off a Monday like that? With Tuesday. Opening Day at Dodger Stadium with my best friend Timmy, a full and satisfying day at work, a meeting at Norris with the cancer survivors council, a meeting with Dr. Lenz to talk about one of my BIG ideas (that is actually getting put into motion (more on that soon, but trust me -- it’s huge)), and packing for my trip to Duke.

And here I am in my hotel room in Durham, North Carolina. After a full day of travel, a delicious vegan burrito at Cosmic Cantina, and a drive around Duke’s East and West Campuses, I’m here with all of you and thinking about winding down my day. After all, tomorrow is bound to be a big one. ;)