Pink

Little did I know a few weeks ago how large a part of our lives the color pink would become. First the Yin – We knew all along that our next trip to the doctor would be the one that we found out if we were having a boy or a girl. Our appointment was on a Monday morning which made for a very slow weekend. It felt like Monday would never get here (Maybe we should schedule more ultrasounds on Monday). I think I was more excited about being able to actually see the baby than I was about “finding out.” I needed something visual to make it real. I needed something other than a slightly oversized belly for the reality that I’m about to be a dad to sink in. Well it sank in. And it came from a weird place – a hamburger. It was news to me that a little girl’s “parts” look like a hamburger. So when our nurse pointed out our baby’s hamburger I had no idea what that meant until Hollye said “It’s a girl” At which point all of the reality I had been waiting for arrived. A girl??? That is like me???That is a part of me???? Uh-oh. So with that said, Mary Burke is due sometime in February. I can’t wait to meet our little hamburger – I mean girl.

Now the Yang….

For those who don’t know Hollye’s parents, the best way to describe them is worker bees. They are always doing something – painting, fixing something, gardening, cooking- you get the picture. Well it just made sense for them to want to come to Rome last weekend and have a “work weekend” to help with getting the nursery ready. Which meant Jimmy was in trouble. No football for me Saturday afternoon. Thank the Lord that the Dawgs were playing at 9 that night. It was a pretty selfish attitude, I’ll admit. But, I needed to get all of my selfishness in before our little bacon double cheeseburger arrives. On Friday night I was ready to start working. I was ready to be submersed in a hell of blue tape, Kilz and trim. I was mentally prepared to miss football all weekend and fill the void with paint. I was not ready for the pink bomb that was dropped before dinner. Pink Bomb? what the hell is that? Just before I was about to take a bite out of my cornbread Hollye’s mom told us…”I have breast cancer, but it’s ok” I’m sure she said something else and frankly I know she said something else, I just can’t tell you what it was. I was in shock. I can tell you it was one of the most matter-of fact statements I have ever heard. There’s no beating around that bush. She just came out and said it followed by her throwing (literally) pink wrist bands at us. I have always said that Hollye is the toughest girl I know. Well, I think I can safely say that Hollye has been knocked down a notch. Hollye’s mother is the toughest woman I know. She proceeded to tell us her plan and how she was going to beat this little “bump in the road” she calls Cancera. How many people do you know who nickname their cancer??? Michelle does and Cancera has no idea what it got itself into. Without going into too many details I can tell you that she started Chemo on Tuesday. And will go through that for a period of time until they remove the tumor and start radiation. All I can ask is that you pray for 3 very important girls in my life Hollye, Michelle and Mary Burke.

I have a feeling that Michelle will handle Cancera with no trouble. But I do worry about Hollye and Mary Burke - they get the task of handling me for the rest of their lives!!

I would also add one more thing. Please visit www.komen.org it’s the website for the Susan G Komen Foundation. Read it, study it, appreciate it and by all means if you feel so inclined drop a little change their way. After all October is Breast Cancer Month.

Take care,

Jimmy and Hollye