think PINK

It's October.

That means a lot of things to a lot of you.

It does to me too.

It's my birth month.

It's my momma's birth month.

It's Halloween.

It's BREAST CANCER awareness month.

And it's also the month I learned my mom had cancer, 4 years ago.

 I always knew cancer was a horrible thing.

Who doesn't??

My grandmother died from breast cancer.

My Aunts passed from cancer.

I knew it was awful.

But I can't say I really understood how horrific this disease is until my mother was diagnosed with Lymphoma.

And the thing is, I'm sure I still don't know the terror of it--first hand anyway.

I watched my beautiful, strong mother deteriorate before my eyes, feeling I had zero power to do anything.

I spent as much time with her as I could. I loved her as best I could. And in the end it had to be enough.

It had to be, because I ran out of time.

The sweetest woman I know died on December 15, 2009, just 1 month and 22 days after her diagnosis.  

I love this picture.

Through pain and agony she never lost her smile.

I guess today I am asking you to not feel powerless. To do more than just "think pink".

Cancer is real and it's mean.

Pray for someone.

Walk for someone.

Do something for someone today.