Marilyn Claire Murphy

I’m making an effort to not “futurize” too much about chemotherapy. It’s a bit challenging, however, when all my medical people ask with an expectant tone, “Have you experienced ___________________ [insert: nausea, vomiting, pain, and/or fatigue] yet?”

My answers are, so far, “No, No, No and No!”

Who knows what the future will bring? But for now – which is the only time that matters – I’m feeling as good as can be after three chemo cocktails. They call them “infusions”!

Which doesn’t mean y’all can relax with the prayers, white light, spiritual mind treatments and well wishes. Keep ’em coming, pleeeeeeze!

Here’s what I’m especially grateful for this week:

1.  My fabulous CTP team

I’m working less these days, but hopefully I’m still contributing enough so they don’t put me out to pasture!  Here’s what my team is up to: Gabriel is just wrapping up a fabulous WOW! Travel Club program in Armenia in which he beat me to the punch doing some fun things I’ve always wanted to do with my WOWees. Good job, GH! And Whitney celebrates her 3-year anniversary this week, for which Howard has promised to bake his famous Earthquake Cookies. Ellen is sorting through dozens of resumes related to our search for a bookkeeper so that she can take on greater responsibilities in other areas where she’s needed.  Yeah, team!

2.  My fabulous business partner and friend

Michael Day and I have been collaborating on a handshake for nearly 20 years – creating some wonderful business relationships and – more important than that – an enduring friendship. Michael and his wife, Lynn Anderson, have just made a very generous donation to my favorite charity, Dining for Women, in my honor. Thank you, thank you, thank you … this makes my heart SO happy!

3.  My girlfriends 

I continue to be inspired, lifted and supported by friends, far and wide. The calls, calls, gifts, good deeds, emails, Facebook posts, texts and comments to my blog posts are precious gifts which I treasure.

And I had two lovely and relatively new acquaintances in my universe – both named Debra B. (What are the odds of that?) And relationships with both Debras have developed and deepened since my diagnosis because we’ve made time for a friendship to flourish. And there are many more friendships for which I am grateful – which I hesitate to name because I will most certainly forget someone: Kathleen, Donna, Maureen, Sheila, Connie, Lorraine, Joyce, Maurci, Karen, Jill, Andrea, Jane, Felice, Sue, another Donna – and all the others I failed to mention by name. I could not do this without you!

4.  My Cats

5.  and of course, My Family . . .

I am infinitely blessed to have these precious ones in my life: Scott and my stepkids – Sandy, Danny, Erica and Ashley.

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So thank you – everyone – for your care, prayers, white light, good wishes and love. I am, indeed, blessed beyond measure!