It’s been a year since I rang the bell ending my breast cancer treatment. September 29th was the day. I spent the anniversary quietly at home, alternating between doing some work and sending up gratitude for having cancer behind me.
Yesterday, September 30th, I planned on spending a similar day. As I eyed October 1st as the first day of breast cancer awareness month, I remembered feeling strange about it last year. Every day there would be a reminder of the days I just recently put an end to, when all I wanted to do was move forward.
But mom needed something, so I showered, slapped on some makeup and styled my ever-changing hair. As long as I was out, I thought I would stop at Home Goods to see if I could snag some more maple coffee I had found for the hubby the the week before.
If you’ve ever been to Home Goods, you’ll be aware of two things:
You have to buy something when you see it or it will be gone the next time you come in.
Rae Dunn everything.
I have a weakness for Rae Dunn products. The clean ivory, the simple font and the imperfect shapes speak to me. I’m by no means a “Dunn Hunter”… but I have a nice collection. A week ago with mom, we had seen collection of Dunn breast cancer mugs. Various words dotted the pink surfaces…. FIGHTER, HOPE, SURVIVOR. Mom’s eyes lit up at “survivor”, as they tend to do when she hones in on something likely to end up in my cart. But I didn’t feel the need to have one. I’m still dealing with some after effects - and will likely always have some of them - but I’d like to think I’m doing more than just surviving!
Yesterday I arrived at the store and my eyes scanned the shelves. Suddenly I see “Tinker Bell” and “Pixie Magic” in ivory and green. And then - there it is - In opalescent pink…. “PIXIE DUST”. If you’ve read my blogs about my treatment, you’ll know that I’m writing a book about my experience called “Faith, Trust and Pixie Dust”.
My jaw dropped. It should have been a green mug, right? Tinker Bell’s color is green. Nope - there it was. Pink. On a day I hadn’t planned on leaving the house. The day between my bell ringing anniversary and the first day of breast cancer awareness month. Of course it was.
Well, it’s nice to have confirmation that the Pixie Dust is still with me. I can face breast cancer awareness month with a year under my belt, plans for a trip to Niagara with my mom, and untold gratitude for all of it.
Of course I’ll never drink out of this mug. Pink isn’t my aesthetic, but I will fill it with pens and find a way to fit it into my decor. And, in case you’re curious, they didn’t have any of the coffee for my husband. But I guess I was meant to find something other than coffee yesterday.
Should I be writing my book instead of a blog right now? Probably. I think technically I am, as this is one of those “signs” that came through so strongly during my treatment. And this one tells me that all is well.