Viva, US!!

On March 19, 2007, Alan and I had a very bad day.  Actually, it was SO terrible, we gave it a name:  Worst Day Ever.  This was the day that Alan's boss called in the morning, on behalf of the company for which Alan had worked for fifteen years, and told him that he was being laid off.

"But Joan," you may say, "that's pretty horrible, but 'Worst Day EVER?'  Really?"

Wait, there's MORE!!  Later on that day I received a call from the surgeon who had removed a lump from my neck.  This was actually the last of three he had extracted, all with inconclusive lab results.  The surgeon informed me that the biopsy findings of my latest mass were in.  "You have lymphoma," he said.  Worst.  Day.  Ever.

The really, really good news, though, is that we survived, and now absolutely refuse to dwell on the horror that this day provoked.  In fact, every March since 2008, Alan and I board a plane and head to Las Vegas.  We spend a fantastic week playing penny slots (me!) and betting on the sports book (Alan!).  Then, on the morning of March 19th, we head over to the Roulette table and we place all of our chips on number NINETEEN.  Guess what else?  We WIN, EVERY year!! Take THAT, stupid Worst Day Ever!  You have no power over us!!

So, I'm telling you this because tomorrow we jump on a plane once again to begin our yearly pilgrimage, so I wanted you to know I won't be around for a few days. This year, we've even purchased tickets for Donny and Marie Osmond's show at the Flamingo Resort!   I'm guessing there will a little bit country, and a little bit rock and roll involved!!

I hope you'll indulge me, though, as I want very much to pre-set some of my earliest posts for you to read while I'm out.  I promise you haven't seen them yet, unless you're one of my siblings or dear, supportive friends from back then!!  These are the stories that were knocking around in my brain when I initially started my blog, the ones that were persistently bugging me to be told! I'd very much like to share them with you and get your honest feedback. You'll see how dear they are to me once you read them!

I've got one about our trip to Ireland scheduled for posting on St. Patrick's Day, and another called "Lost" that reveals my complete lack of direction and some interesting qualities about my Dad, the man who inspired my blog title!  Lastly, on March 19th, I'll post the entry I wrote for Alan's blog in 2008 on the occasion of the first anniversary of Worst Day Ever.  Hope it will adequately describe the tone of that surreal, now irrelevant day!!

I'm going to check in (in between slot pulls!) to read your comments, so feel free to be honest and open!  I'll miss you all!  Wish me luck!!

Thanks for Reading!!