Cancer Chicks PJ Party 2009

Cancer Chicks, what?

These pictures reveal a special bond,
a bond no one can understand,
unless they have been touched by
the nasty monster,
CANCER!!!

Me having had cancer is not something
I want to talk about most days, but spring of last year
when I ventured out on a photography forum
sharing about my writing of my cancer journey,
a new door opened for me.

It was then and there, right among photographers,
I found others who have been touch by the "C" word,
it becomes exhausting to constantly say cancer!

A photography forum is not a place for cancer,
actually no place is, although the group of photographers
are like family! This is when my fellow photographer sister
said okay I am starting a small cancer group, wallah,
and we had Cancer Chicks.

Although most of the group is from the
photography forum, the door is still open for others,
and others are members.

A place behind close doors, we can share anything
and everything , from first being diagnosed, treatment,
to surviving, all because you feel misunderstood
in the outside world but yet we still are expected
and do keep on living, we even talk about death.

A fear we all fight once hearing the "C" word!
Like living in slow motion waiting to see if the plane
is to hit the trade center or not.

On April 24th of this year, the group lost it's first member.

A day that made me madder than anything, it's hard
for me to see others lose their life, due to the "C" word,
when my life was spared for now, just like it's hard to
see one still fighting. Why did I get the GO pass....???

After our loss, the group was rather quiet for several days!

Out of ragging desire of what the group means,
a PJ party was planned, in stone,
something we talked about before our loss,
but never took
place.

Quickly, most of the group made plans for the PJ party.

A condo was provided, free of charge,
by another fellow photographer sister, noncancerous,
lucky her, but lucky cancer chicks...
Whew Whee...!!!

Destin, Florida here we come,
unfortunately, I was unable to attend,
for numerous reasons,
I will spare
you!

Plane tickets as far as New Jersey, Indiana,
Kansas all were arranged free of charge also,
not certain of those details. Most of the group going,
had never even step foot on a flying metal bullet,
as they called it,
a plane.

Reaching the Atlanta airport, three of four,
all at different times, meeting each other for the first time
in person, said it was like meeting up with an old friend.
Aboard another plane together, all three members, flew to Destin.
The condo provider and the fourth member of the group,
who arrived a day earlier,
came to the airport with red rose in hand,
for pick up. A fact stressed, the drive to the condo
from the airport was longer than the flight down
and back!

June 18-21, Father's Day weekend,
late night talks, hot days,afternoon walks on the beach,
sand in between toes, group photo shoot,
in the ocean, dinner, all for lasting
memories.

Ones I am not part of but with open arms
I am still part of the group,for them, them for me, giggles...
They call me their cheerleader, please I am no where near
cheerleader material but okay, whatever!
Ask them how hard headed I am about the group, feeling certain
whether I belong in the group or not,
not because of not going on the trip,
but just in general...

The answer to that is for another blog entry! or is it???

Back home, each one reported to the group,
thrown right back into to reality, as they put it!

Just as I am honored to share their trip with you,
I am as honored to be a Cancer Chick,
thank you ladies....!!!



From left to right, back row,
Jane, Follicular Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma,
Chris, Breast Cancer, second time active, metastatic
front row,
Brenda, Rectal, remission
Donna, Breast Cancer, remission
in the picture,
Lisa, Colon, our lost member.

Each one of these ladies, have families,
they are mothers, wives, sisters, friends, cousins,
aunts, nieces, workers, etc.....!!!