Up to Date...

I need to change that trivia question. It was Marx, by the way. And now another update. You want the good news or the bad news first? Okay.

The Good News: The cancer was in fact localized and did not spread to her lymph nodes. They found it in the beginning stages. They are going to treat it with...

The Bad News: Radiation and Chemo Therapy. It starts this upcoming Monday, and takes 6 weeks. She'll go in almost every day.

I'm not so much worried about her receiving the treatment. She's a fighter and she said she wants to see her grandkids. Now all the pressure's on me. Not really, but what I am having a hard time envisioning is her reaction to a nicotine-free existence. They say smoking goes hand in hand with many activities, and kicking the habit is basically a lifestyle change. You really can't understand this unless you grew up with a smoker in your house.

So many of my memories of my mother are tainted by a Basic Menthol Light 100. It was like having another sibling. Smoking after meals, on long car trips, outside relatives' houses on the holidays, before and after my games in high school, et cetera. I'm not trying to make her out as a monster or anything, she has other great qualities, but let's call it what it is: disgusting. Like a sad, smelly puppet.

Now that that is off my chest I'll remember to keep you all updated with, well, what is going to come out of her chest. Thanks again for the prayers...