. . . . . . . .Club Membership

About a year ago, I joined a club. It has such amazing benefits, it is hard to believe them all until you experience it for yourself. It also has extremely high dues. In retrospect, I guess this makes sense, they have to charge high dues or the benefits wouldn't seem as valuable.

This is me with my my dear friend, Jodi Carlson. She joined the club a little more than 2 years ago. In fact, it was her example that got me through my initiation in the club! She was the pioneer who led the way.

Her dues were paid by her stroke. Mine were paid with my brain tumor.

We have many friends in the club, some with cancer, others who paid through a terrible accident or degenerative disease. It is strange to be part of this club. You desperately need the other members of the club, though you wish with all your heart that they weren't in it at all. You wish they didn't have to be part of the club, but they are, just like you.

This photo was from our last club meeting, on Tuesday, at the home of Jodi's mom. Her mom is an honorary member of the club, as is her husband, my husband and so many other caregivers.

Our meeting was wonderful. We have missed each other so much since our last club event over the summer. Though we tried to focus on all the benefits of our membership, I have to admit that we also shed a few tears. It is OK though. We know there will continue to be rewards to reap, though the price sometimes still seems high.

As we left, we hugged. No more tears for now. We have come too far, accomplished too much and survived the unthinkable. For that, we could not cry, but smiled crooked smiles and parted ways... looking forward to the next club meeting when we can again meet to love, encourage and remember what life was like before we joined.