How Far Will Happy Go

I just upgraded to DSL (yes, I'm out of the cave) and I was loving it. But every time that my phone rang it would kick me off my internet. So I called up the company, and I'm going to name names here now. I called AT&T and was quickly connected to customer service with the push of just a few buttons. I didn't have to repeat all of my information that I had just punched in, just a couple of questions to verify it was actually me that they were speaking with. So I explained my problem and then the unthinkable happened.

They schechuled a service call for the SAME DAY!!!!

Who ever heard of getting service on the same day??? Have you?? I thought they were joking. I seriously did. I actually laughed when they told me that they would have a tech out there the same day. Was this for real?

Sure enough, 2 hours later, I received a call from the tech saying that he was on his way. He diagnosed the problem, fixed it and there was NO CHARGE!!!

What?? Same day service and no charge? What's wrong with this picture? Was this bizarro day?

Needless to say, I am very happy with AT&T and would highly recommend them. I've heard and seen the horror stories of the other big phone, internet, digital TV, cell phone company and if they did business like ATT does, well, what can I say. They'd have happy customers like me too. Yep, I'm happy.

I wish that you knew me. I really do. I wish that you could sit and talk with me for a while and understand why I'm so happy all the time. I have a lot of important messages to spread and this is one of the best ways that I know how to do it.

If you could see me you would see that I am someone's mother. I am someone's daughter. I am someone's sister, aunt,great aunt, cousin. I am someone's best friend. I am someone's neighbor. I am the woman that you see standing in line at the grocery store or pumping gas. I am the woman that you see at the dry cleaners. I am just your everyday, average woman but I am much more than that to a lot of people.

And I am a two time breast cancer survivor.

I am very much alive!!!!. Breast cancer does not mean that it is automatically a death sentance. Did you hear me??? It is NOT AN AUTOMATIC DEATH SENTANCE. The key is early detection.

It is true that there is a family history, so I knew that I was at high risk. The one thing that I want you to listen to is THE BEST DEFENSE AGAINST BREAST CANCER IS YOUR HAND. Both times that I had cancer I was having regular mammograms and both times, I caught the cancer by self exam inbetween mammograms.

Rub your forefinger and your thumb together. Go ahead, do it now. If you do that, once a month, you would notice if there was a change wouldn't you? Same thing goes with your breast. Self exams once a month and you can tell if there is a change. Get a mammogram AND an ultrasound. Insist on an ultrasound even if your doctor says that you don't need it. Breast cancer will show up better, especially on denser breast such as in younger woman or larger breast woman than what it will with a mammogram.

Did you know that there is a difference between a regular mammogram and a diagnostic mammogram. I didn't know that. Only 1 out of 4 breast cancers are caught on a regular mammogram. it's just like an quick x-ray of your breast.By the time that it would show up there, you would definately know it. If you do self exams and feel something, then you need a diagnostic mammogram. They mark the spot and enlarge the area so that they can take a better look at it. But like I said, if you do self exams every month, you'll feel it. You'll know that something is a little different. Don't wait for several months and think it will go away. Don't take that chance. You know your body better than anyone. Pay attention to your gut feelings.Don't wait. Remember, the key to surviving is early detection.So don't be afraid to find out. It can cost you your life if you wait.

And for you men out there, yes you can get breast cancer too. For those sons out there, ask your mom if she does self exams. Husbands ask you wife, boyfriends ask your girlfriend if they do self exams on their breast every month. Don't be embarrased to ask them. You love them, don't you? You may save her life, just by asking her or reminding her.

Both times I caught it, I was in the beginning stages of breast cancer. The first time I had a lumpectomy (where they only cut out the lump and save most of the breast) and then I had 26 rounds of radiation. I did that on my lunch hour. The whole thing only took about 5 months start to finish. Less than 2 years later (again, I was having mammograms every six months) I felt another lump in the same breast. It was back. This time the whole breast was removed and I went through 6 months of chemotherapy. I was cute bald. And I've had hangovers worse than chemo LOL. I gave cancer six months to get out of my body. That's all it took. God works pretty fast.

There were three things that I prayed to God when I found out that I had cancer a second time. I didn't want to look back at my life and say I "should have, could have, or would have". So I always wanted to go back to college. I was working full time and went to college full time. I am Phi Theta Kappa. 4.0 thank you very much. I wanted to live to turn 50. I don't know why that age seemed so imortant to me, but i wanted to make it to a half century. I am now 53. I wanted to live long enough to have grandchildren. Boy, now that was one big wish because none of my children were married and they certainly weren't thinking of having children anytime soon. I now have 4 grandchildren, including one born last week. So many wonderful blessings have happened in the 8 years since I had cancer that I would have missed out on, if i hadn't have used my hand and felt that lump!!!! I KNOW that I am blessed. That's why i am so dog gone happy all the time. God has put his hands on me and healed me, not just once, but twice. Now are you starting to get why I'm writing this?

I'm sharing my story with you because it's an important to know when you look at the women around you, that they too could be a survivor. There are millions of us out there. God has blessed us. He has given us hands. It's in His hands and ours. Use them.

Sorry, it's been a long time in between post. It's been rough again. But that's another story. I'm still alive and kicking, so that's the most important part.

I am so happy how far this blog and website has gone. I didn't realize how many people actually read it until I checked the site meter. Wow!!!!! It seems like just yesterday that I was praying that it would reach 1000. It is well over that now. Imagine that! "Happy" is really busy! I think that it's healthy and good that we have a place where we can talk about the good things in our lives that make us happy. Especially after Ike. I think it changes our priorities about what really does make us happy.

I've been to Galveston several times, even though I shouldn't because I don't have an immune system, but what the heck, they needed help. But what I found were people that had a sense of pride and humor about their situtation. Yes, they are frustrated about the red tape that is slower than the turtle and the hare. But like the turtle, they believe that they will come out ahead and you know what, I believe they will too. They've got it. It's unfortunate that it took a disaster to get it, but the churches are full almost every night. They don't even have to go to church to have it. They've got it. They have faith like I've never seen before. They are helping each other out daily. Not because they have to, but because they want to. They love each other there. Isn't that what Christ wanted for us? To love one another? I'm sure that there are other areas, that they have it too. The thousands of volunteers that took time off of work, to help, have it. I'm telling you folks, if I could just put it into words, the love that I felt over there was unbelievable. Is this really 2008, when the market is crashing, people are living in tents, politicians are making jokes about everything, when things are so devestating? But there they are, right next to you, happy people who appreciate what they have or had, helping each other,loving each other. This is real! In spite of all the hard times that everyone is going through, happiness is still there. Why is that? Why do you think that it's even possible? Do we have to be somewhat happy in order to survive? What do you think?

Life sure would be lonely without friends. It was nice when Tim reminded that God now considers me His friend instead of His servant. I love being friends with God. I can talk with Him easily and often and it's not long distance. Go ahead and give Him a holler. He's available right now.

Then there is my best friend, my soul sister. I'm glad that she actually cares about me, because she could definately blackmail me. She has ALWAYS been there throughout every bit of my life in the past 11 years. She even knows how to shop for clothes for me. Now only another woman can appreciate that concept.

I like having friends that just pop in to say 'Hi, how are you?" Or just to have a glass of southern sweet tea. I make the real Mccoy, so everyone loves my ice tea. Hmm, I wonder if that's why they keep coming over?

I love having friends that I've somehow manage to keep for almost 40 years, no matter what state I've lived in. We talk at least once a month. We've been through marrieges, divorces, children, grandchildren, loss of spouse, loss of child, finanancial crisis, we've been through it all together. Forever.

I love meeting new friends through various sources. Some I've made here because of this blog and my website. I have truly come to love their company even if it is through a computer or even meeting them in person. I'm not one for chat rooms, so I don't meet them there. I can't understand the langauge in those things.

I love being friends with my neighbors. People that I live around that take care of each other. That was most obvious during the hurricane. I was calling my neighbors at 4:30 am to let them know their house was still okay because they were so worried. Friends can call friends at 4:30 am in an emergency. The next morning at 7:30 we were all out working together to clear the streets and debris. Friends help friends.

I love meeting new friends through other friends. Sometimes i even really like the new ones and become really good friends with them. To me that sort of make sense though. If you're friends with someone, then it would be ovbivious that their friends would probably have something in common too.

I love being friends with my sister and brothers. I actually enjoy hanging out with them whenever I get a chance to spend time with them. We had so much fun when we were growing up together and we still have fun together to this day. My brother is my real life hero.

I miss the friends that I've lost. But they will always be there in my heart.

So, I officially declare today "Friends Day". To all my friends, old and new, thank you for all the wonderful memories. For being there. And just because you are you.

Do you have any friends that you could celebrate today with? Tell me about them. You know it will make you happy.

A friend and I were talking about my blog and website "How Far Will Happy Go" and I was feeling a little frustrasted that although it is read all over the world and the US, I was hoping that it would be in the 10's of thousands instead of the thousands. I want so much for everyone to know "Happy" and be able to spread it around and be happy.

My friend pointed out something to me. He said that I talk around it, mention it sometimes, and ask me what did I think was missing from making it real. I didn't understand what he meant. Then he told me. The purpose of this blog is that I want to spread happiness, but the real purpose is that I can't give happinesss away. I can't make someone happy. But God can. I haven't been giving God the glory that he deserves. Because without God, there is no happiness. He is the one who brings the joy and happiness into your hearts. Without Him, your happiness is like a house made of cards. He is the light that shines your way.

So I thought about and I went back and reread my blogs and yes, it was true. I talked all around it, but I never gave the real credit to God. So as much as what I want to "Happy" to travel and reach as many people as he possibly can, I want to know everyone to know that the real reason is because I want you to have the real happiness of the love of Jesus. They go hand in hand. "Happy" will continue to travel, but it is with the real joy of our Christ that he travels for. That is his purpose. So that everyone can be happy. And I want you to feel the love and joy from the the bottom of my heart that Jesus gives you.

So I don't know if everyone who ever read my blog knew that, or if I just assumed it. But that is the real reason why I write this blog. I want everyone to have "real happiness" that can only come from Jesus. Bottom line. I know that there are people who are of other religions that do not have the same beliefs, but that's okay. That doesn't mean that "Happy" still might not show up somewhere and at least you will know who he is and why he is there.

May God bless you all and be happy

Mobea