Angelina’s decision to share such intimate details with the world is both gracious and humble. I’m a firm believer in sharing information – both tragedy and joy – with others. It’s the only way we can grow as a human race. What good is it if we all have to live and learn each heartache or enlightenment on our own?
I’m not saying you have to share every detail of your life with the whole world, but if you share insight and knowledge – just within your circle of friends and family – now those words can help others and also spread the globe. To me, we should always be moving towards better understanding, knowledge and a “we’re in this together” attitude.
I’ve mentioned this theory of mine before – back in 2011 when I was grateful to the women who had shared their information with me on how to get pregnant:
I’m happy there are women out there who share their personal journeys with others so we can all benefit. Women who are embarassed, or trying to appear perfect, or just hoarding good news to themselves can go to hell! Or at least go to some some deserted island. Where they can sit around giving each other the stink eye all day. I say get over yourself! We’re all in this (life) together. We may as well help each other out instead of holding each other back.
As you already know, I was Angelina’s double so you may think that I’m just bias. But, I’m not. If I didn’t believe in her – I wouldn’t blog about it.
Now, as to what everyone can do with the information she has shared? That’s determined by the individual. It may help someone feel better about their own double mastectomy. It may prompt someone to get tested. It may inspire someone to be more accepting of their loved one who is going through the same thing. Whatever the article did for you, I’m sure you can find a way to pay it forward.
Since the test that Angie mentions is $3,000 – I won’t be getting it done anytime soon. But I am curious if I too have that gene. My maternal grandmother (still alive and well at 98!) did have breast cancer, but survived. And an Aunt as well. So… I don’t know. Maybe I too may have this gene? Hopefully someday testing will be available to everyone. Maybe someday health insurance will cover the testing as part of a ‘well, routine visit.’ But that’s getting into a whole other blog post.
I had a fun Mother’s Day. It involved a little ‘me’ time which I used for some quiet reading and to attend my favorite work out class, RIPPED, at the gym. Then a lunch date with Joe – without the kiddies. And then some hang time with the kiddies.
Trying to get a photo of me, Max and Sarah – with us all holding still and looking at the camera – was nearly impossible. We did it, but I always find the other ones – the slightly chaotic looking ones – so much more interesting.
For awhile, Max was always putting this little red bucket on Sarah’s head. Now she often puts it on herself. She probably assumes that’s what it’s for… Oh, this is a head bucket!
“Hi there. My name is Sarah. I’m learning how to pick up pieces of banana and eat them on my own. I just had one in my hand, but somehow it didn’t make it to my mouth. Have you seen it?”
I love my little troublemaker, Pixie, so much. And her sidekick Stella. They don’t get as much attention as they used to, but I think they’ve adapted pretty well to 2 new babies in the house. They have a different routine, a different place to sleep and eat, and did I mention, much less attention?
Which is possibly why, lately, they keep waking me up in the middle of the night. It’s mostly troublemaker Pixie. She comes and sits next to my bed and whines and talks to me until I pick her up and put her in bed with me to sleep. And there is no ignoring that whine. I’ve shown you before how she goes on and on. The nights Pixie does that, then Stella wills sometimes crawls under the bed to sleep! Why? Why would she leave her comfy dog bed to sleep there? If only I could speak dog and know the answer.
I also wonder if this new nighttime routine might be partially my fault. Not only because I let Pixie get her way when she whines, but because I’ve been known to talk in my sleep. Maybe my talking and laughing in my sleep wakes them up first. Hmm… Maybe I should set up a video camera at night and see what happens. Or learn to speak dog.
