Guess what I got for my birthday? Eyebrows!

Yup, it's true. On my birthday I noticed that not only were my eyebrows starting to come in , but my eyelashes have begun to return as well! Not exactly in keeping with my birthday wish lists of years past but certainly able to stir up some excitement this year. I have also noticed some very fine hair starting to cover my bald head. It is not that noticeable yet to the naked eye but if you look at it in a certain light it looks like a halo of sorts (You know, like in Touched by an Angel when the main character would finally tell people, "I am an angel of God." and they would backlight her until she seemed to glow...)

Anyway, it's been a long time since I've written - mostly because there has been so much going on and I've been pretty exhausted, but also because I want to write about everything and that takes time and energy so I have just put it off.

Let me just tell you one story and then I will go back to the beginning and finish my post about radiation...This story takes place in a bank...well two banks to be exact. I have been a rebel. You know those signs they have in banks these days that tell you to remove your hat and sunglasses so that they can film your face in case you plan on robbing the bank? Well, I don't always comply...Bank number one is a PNC bank in my neighborhood that I have been going to for over six years. When I go to make a deposit or cash a check, they are usually very polite and say, "Have a nice day sir." Now I get the whole bald headed thing, and I even realize that men may wear dangling earrings, but come on, I hand them my photo license and my check, etc. has my name on it. Strike one for them.

On the other hand, I have been going to watch Colleen's daughters Becca and Olivia play lacrosse all over the place. One recent evening I had to cash a check and we would not have made it back to my bank before it closed so we went to a local PNC bank (in Warminster, I think). It was a warm day so when I walked into the bank I didn't have my hat on. I witnessed an amazingly friendly staff. There was a tall woman dressed in bright colors - a yellow blouse with lots of beads - who was behind the counter and seemed to be the manager. She was attending to people in the drive up window and she seemed to know everyone. She called people by name and asked about their family, plans for the weekend, etc. The teller didn't seem to know everyone as well but she intentionally chatted and commented on the weather or asked about weekend plans.

I was waiting in line when the manager spotted me and said, "I just have to come around the counter and give you a hug." And so she did. She said, "You keep fighting and know that we're all pulling for you." Or something like that because I was too surprised and speechless to know if I am remembering the conversation verbatim. This genuine act of kindness felt comforting and not intrusive at all. Soon after, a man came in and commented on some renovations that were happening in the branch. The manager said that she had fought for the changes and that it was good for "the team" to see them taking place. She said that all the branches around them were beautiful. The man agreed and said that he could do his banking at any of them but he chose this branch because it was the friendliest. That's all it takes - a few words, a kind act, an expression of empathy - to make all the difference. It certainly made my day and has stayed with me long after. When I went to leave the bank that day, the manager called after me, "Now you stay strong, take care of yourself," and she waved to me. As I waved back I realized that the list of specific strangers that I find myself praying for is getting longer and longer.

Now I will try to update the radiation post so that you can get a sense of that delightful process. Just picture the movie Ground Hog Day (only with a million rads going through you...) but I don't want to spoil the surprise...it should be up in a few days. Enjoy the weather!