This week on TV I saw the lovely young actress Christina Applegate who, along with another actress Cynthia Nixon, has been walking the breast cancer road recently as did Sheryl Crow and Kylie Minogue a few years ago. All four of them have spoken out about their experiences and all look just as beautiful as they ever did. Such high profile celebrities do, I realise, make a tremendous impression on anyone else in the same position. That they should look so good is one thing, but that they should talk so matter of factly and positively to educate and demistify the whole thing for others not touched by it is quite another. I knew nothing of this whole new vocabulary up until a few months ago and, to put it in the jargon of second language teachers; Immersion is the only way to become bilingual! The more I meet and read about women who have done this before me the more I realise that I am small and insignificant in such a large number. I think that slowly fearful perceptions will change as people realise that, with all the wonderful care and medications available today, the treatments and prognosis are vastly improved. Apart from those who are famous, the others I know of are just as ordinary and small and insignificant as me. It is reassuring to know that they are no more privileged, stronger, healthier or different than myself and that this means that surely, if they can do this thing and look beautiful and smile at the end of being blown off course, then surely I can too.
So as well as Sheryl, Kylie, Cynthia and Christina I would like to thank those whom I know just in MY circle of friends and work colleagues. Aziza, Kathleen,Wendy, Robin, Lisa, Barbara, Sue, Pat, Sheila, Trudy,Tami, Patricia, Erika, Carol, Mary, Jenny, Di, Donna, Kate, Lynn, Louise, Linda, Shirley and Rosemary. [An alarming number! .......all save five have had breast cancer.] As well as this cohort of completers, I would like to send all my thoughts and encouragement to Karin, Pauline and Marj who are a little way behind me and to let them know that they too 'Should be so Lucky' like Kylie after all this .
The photo is of me looking small and insignificant next to a great big, luxuriant friendly Singapore tree.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQ3d3KigPQM&feature=channel This video is fun .......you see it's all in the power of numbers things are much more fun if you share them and get others involved!
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