Health

Today’s prompt is a bit of a gut-puncher, not gonna lie. Bryan was diagnosed with prostate cancer just a few months after his 50th birthday. We built a really beautiful life with a Damocles sword hanging over us. We did our best to bring levity and humor to the most painful things. Our favorite toast was “to your adequate health.”

Just like time, health is an increasingly fraught game with each day that passes. The pandemic and Bryan’s brain cancer put a bold black line under that notion. So in that same spirit, I cherish health, even when it’s just adequate. Sure, we have a responsibility to do what we can, when we can, with nutrition, exercise, rest, and eliminating unnecessary stressers. But taking care of our families, work responsibilities, paying bills, world calamities, climate change, and access to quick and processed foods mean that we are often in an uphill battle.

Let’s not forget the role of genetics and trauma. These affect our health through no fault of our own, so the uphill battles gets weighted down with baggage we were given and had no say in. This post may sound a little darker than I intend, but I watched my Mom die at 66. My Dad was only in his 70s. My oldest brother and my husband were only in their 50s. Old age and health are absolute privileges not everyone gets, so I’m grateful for the days of adequate health.

And of course, I can’t leave it on a dark note, so here’s a fun, little story. Todd, my oldest brother, and I enjoyed exchanging pop culture references and threading them through our conversations and texts. If I would complain about a cold or he would mention having the flu or something, we’d always reference Count Rugen, the six-fingered-man, from The Princess Bride. On that note, please enjoy:

And here’s to your adequate health…

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