Hollis, my friend, colleague, and fellow cancer survivor (yes, I unapologetically will take the liberty of making that prediction) wrote this in a message to me, after learning the news of my diagnosis:
Something that will surprise you (as it did me) is that you may make a circle of cancer pals.”
One of those cancer pals, is Zeth. My friend, CM, who is also a survivor, knows his sister-in-law, and realized that he and I both teach in the same department at NYU, were both diagnosed with the same type of lymphoma, and both have blogs about it. What are the odds?! Zeth included me in a post in his blog, and so I’m returning the favor, with a thanks to him and all my pals, cancer and otherwise.
Joe, I think it’s bittersweet when you discover more about your friends and associates this way. But, I also think these experiences force us to embrace current and new relationships in meaningful and loving ways. Your discoveries may especially boost your ability to being more present in those relationships – sick or otherwise.
After all those similarities, you and Zeth were finally meant to discover one another, and I’m glad to know you have other pals who empathically understand your journey as well.
In general, you have more friends than you know. I hope you feel love and loved everyday.