Amen, Omen

What started as a whisper slowly turned into a scream. Searching for an answer where the question is unseen.

Amen, Omen is one of my favorite Ben Harper songs. It speaks to me of how someone becomes a part of you. How all of us are mortal and how we must face this as part of the process of actually living.

Managing my life over the last six weeks makes "The Arab Spring" come to mind, in that it has been so monumental in terms of change, that it needs no less of a distinction to the power of change and challenges.

I learned yesterday that I have cancer. Another mole, removed last week, came back again as melanoma, but this time with cancer. My last day of being the sweet young age of 33, and I learn I have cancer. Not exactly what you are expecting for a Birthday surprise.

I'll be having another surgery next week, to remove the cancer that has been identified, and remove my trademark birthmark and all other freckles that might be of any possible risk. Needless to say, I'm not looking forward to going through another surgery alone, but I also feel extremely lucky.

I've always been on top of my skin's risk, but this was caught very early on. Had it been last year at this time, I would have been trekking around Congo and risking a great deal more than encounters with rebels.

I know my adventures as of late have been far from exotic, but I also feel it is important to share. To remind people to take care in the sun and take care to get checked regularly.

Miel