Dear Mom, George Strait's Merry Christmas Wherever You Are album will always be my favorite Christmas album. In fact, I think I will always believe that country Christmas music is the best. It's my childhood, what I grew up with. Well, this song has been ringing in my head this holiday season.
I just hope that wherever you are mom, that you are safe and happy. Holidays can be hard without you, but music like this gives me a smile. One of these years I will dig up our old ornaments, all of your stickhorse ones. But for now, I'll just listen to your main man's music, imagining us listening to him together in the car. Just like old times.
Dear Mom, It seems like yesterday when I donated bone marrow. D-Day, I like to think of it as. I just got asked about the process of donating, and even though I have explained it dozens and dozens of times, I still get jittery and excited. I love talking about Be the Match! But even more, I love hearing that people are considering signing up themselves. The more I think about it, the more I am sure. I want to meet her. I want to meet the woman, this woman who needed me. The funny thing is, I needed her too. We needed each other for the same exact reasons. She needed me, to give her life. And I needed her, to give me purpose, and closure. An answer to why I am here. I'm getting all philosophical, and I feel like any minute I will break out into "Purpose" from Avenue Q. But really, she has given me so much. I am so in love with talking about Be the Match, and getting people to listen about my experience. I can never explain enough to people how amazing it was to get to be a part of something where you truly made a significant different in someone else's life. To be a direct cause of something bigger than yourself. So to be able to meet the person who has given me a mission to get more people to sign up and get a chance to donate... Man. That would be a dream come true. I tear up whenever I imagine it. We were learning about cancer in class last week, and it was a little unnerving. But whenever I get mad at cancer for hurting so many people in my life, it gives me a drive to keep pushing, keep fighting. I am so glad there are organizations like Relay for Life and Be the Match, where I can feel like I am helping the cause. Helping to fight back. Fight back, the theme for Relay this past year. Two little words, with huge meaning. I promise Mom. I won't stop fighting, helping others with their battles, until this horrible disease is cured, once and for all. Love your babydoll, Tessy Loo Loo Readers: You want to learn more about the national bone marrow registry? Be the Match has all the information you need to know. Please consider signing up. You won't know if you're someone's match unless you sign up.
