"But it ain't about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.”
-Rocky Balboa
Woohoo, the kids are out of school...is this what you are shouting today. Or, are you counting down the days until they go back to school? I have shared in the past how I homeschool my girls, and that we homeschool year round. So, we don't do summer vacation here..even though we slow down our workload and they do summer camps and programs with their friends. Today, though, we joined kids from public school to celebrate the end of the school year, as the girls finished 3rd grade. I am so proud of them, as they worked so hard this year, and have accomplished so much. My girls are only 6.5 and almost 8 (in 3 1/2 weeks), and are going to be starting 4th grade work. Time sure has flown by, and I still have to pinch myself when I think I have two healthy girls and they are growing so fast.
In addition to celebrating finishing 3rd grade, we also celebrated another year that I am cancer free. Even though my cancerversary is May 1st, I wait until I see my oncologist, which two weeks ago, to get the all clear with a scope of my nose. Usually I have my girls stay with my Mom and my Dad will come to Boston with me. But, this year we did things differently, and I took my girls for the first time to Dana Farber so that they could see my scope being done and hear that I am cancer free for another year. I waited to tell my girls that I had fought and beat cancer back in 2008, until they were older and could understand. I didn't want to tell the "c" word and have them scared, thinking I was going to die. But, they are getting older and see some of the daily struggles I have with long term side effects, and have been asking why I have to deal with them. So, when I couldn't hide these side effects from them any longer, I sat my girls down and talked about how I got sick before they were born, and how I needed different medicines and treatment to rid my body of cancer. I let them ask all the questions they had, and reassured them that Mommy has been cancer free for now 10 years, and plan to be for a very very long time...hopefully the rest of my life.
I was hesitant to brings my girls to my Dr.'s appt., but they were curious as to what I did every year when I went to Boston...and I think they just wanted an excuse to have a day trip to Boston. :-) As we walked into the building, the girls could see men and women of all ages, who were battling cancer or who were survivors. They noticed some without hair, and asked if I looked like that when I was going through treatment. There were also a handful of people in wheelchairs who looked worse for wear, and they wondered if I ever looked that bad. I told them that I was like that near the end of my treatment, but to look at me now.
My oncologist couldn't believe how big my girls were. He had never met them, but always asked about them each year when I came for my annual visit. Now he was able to put a face with a name. He could tell the girls were a little scared when they saw the tools and scope that was going to be put up my nose. He talked to them and described what he was doing, and that Mommy was very strong. He pointed out the parts of my nose that the girls were seeing on the screen, and they got all happy and had big grins on their faces when he said, no cancer, and congrats on 10 years. After the girls heard this, they quickly grabbed my phone so that they could call my parents and share the news. My Dad really wanted to be there as this has become our norm for the past 10 years...so he said as soon as we heard the great news to call him...and, that is what my girls did. Then, my Dad asked my girls to put my phone on speaker and played a song -- it was Gonna Fly Now from Rocky. This has become my theme song and celebratory song every year I here "cancer-free." It was first played on my last day of radiation (40 treatments in total), when I walked out of the radiation room, to celebrate this bump in the road which I gave my all to fight and overcome, and every year since, I fight to stay in remission.
I couldn't help but smile, as I listened to this song, and saw my girls across from me, also smiling and happy that their Mommy was healthy. We had a great time in Boston enjoying the day after hearing this wonderful news. And, that night I watched Rocky on television like I have done the past 10 years after my oncology appt. When I was done watching the movie, I checked my emails and was happy to see an email about the new CREED II movie, which is set to hit theaters on Wed. November 21st. I searched the Internet to find a movie trailer to see what the movie would be about. But, I couldn't find one. That was, until today, when I was sent the trailer, as a teaser for what is come this fall when Rocky and Creed's son return to "go the distance" to face their biggest challenge yet -- both on and off the ring.
Here is more about the movie, along with the trailer...
PRIDE. LEGACY. FAMILY.
This fall, there is more to lose than a title.
In Theaters Wednesday, November 21st
Official Synopsis:
"Life has become a balancing act for Adonis Creed. Between personal obligations and training for his next big fight, he is up against the challenge of his life. Facing an opponent with ties to his family's past only intensifies his impending battle in the ring. Rocky Balboa is there by his side through it all and, together, Rocky and Adonis will confront their shared legacy, question what's worth fighting for, and discover that nothing's more important than family. Creed II is about going back to basics to rediscover what made you a champion in the first place, and remembering that, no matter where you go, you can't escape your history."
Release Date: November 21, 2018
Director: Steven Caple Jr.
Cast: Michael B. Jordan, Sylvester Stallone, Tessa Thompson, Wood Harris, Russell Hornsby, Florian "Big Nasty" Munteanu, Andre Ward, Phylicia Rashad, Dolph Lundgren
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Doesn't this look amazing? I can't wait for this movie, and will be taking my Dad to the movies with me to see is, as my parents will be visiting for Thanksgiving. We always watched Rocky after my treatments, and after my annual oncologist appts., and now we will be able to share this big milestone of 10 years cancer free with CREED II. What a great way to end this year, by watching this movie with my family, who was by my side every step of my cancer journey. I love how Rocky is by Creed's son's side in this upcoming release to help fight for his dreams, just like Creed helped Rocky during the fight of his life. This movie is a reminder that family is key to help you get through difficult challenges and times in your life...and, I know this by personal experience. Without my family by my side 10 years ago, and pushing when me when I didn't think I could fight anymore, I would be here today to see my girls finish 3rd grade, or me say I am 10 years in remission. We all have inspirational stories...what is yours? :-)
