Monday, October 31, 2011

Why I Hate Halloween, and My New Name for this Holiday

First off, the winner of the signed ARC of EVERNEATH is...

DenverSims! 

The winner was chosen using Random.Org:

Congratulations DenverSims! Please email me your mailing address: brodiashton at gmail dot com

On to the post! 

Today is Halloween. 

I hate Halloween. 

HATE IT!

The extreme hate started four years ago, when my dad was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer ON HALLOWEEN. 

That night, we digested the news, and despite my positive attitude, I couldn't help but wonder if that Halloween would be his last. If you asked the doctors, it was. Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer comes with a ticking clock: six months. 

But the next Halloween, after an extensive surgery, he was still here. And then the doctors gave us another number: 6 months to a year.

And on the third Halloween, he was still here.I had to wonder if the doctors owned calendars.

Last January, he was given another number: 6 to 10 months. What is it with doctors and their nice round numbers? How come it's never 7  to 11 months?  

Anywho, today is the fourth Halloween since we heard the news. And he's still here. And he's not going anywhere.

So, instead of Happy Halloween, I prefer to think of today as HAPPY "TAKE-THOSE-NUMBERS-AND-SUCK-IT, DOC" DAY!

Not sure it has the same ring as Happy Halloween, but I think with enough practice it will catch on. Plus, it involves fun hand gestures!

My mom and dad a few weeks ago. My dad gained five pounds. Check out his muffin top!
And a HAPPY "SUCK IT, DOCTOR" DAY to you. Here's to you and whoever you'd like to say "SUCK IT" to!

Side note: I think that's the most I've ever used the phrase "suck it" in one post. I hope I didn't offend anyone.

Yesterday, after Kid C said a prayer and asked God to take away Grandpa's cancer, he said, "Grandma, what's the opposite of cancer?"

She looked at him like it was the most reasonable question ever, and said, "Cure. Cure is the opposite of cancer."

Here's to finding the opposite of cancer.  
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28 comments:

  1. Jodi MeadowsOctober 31, 2011 at 9:00 AM

    *clinks glass* Here's to that.

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  2. Lori M. LeeOctober 31, 2011 at 9:00 AM

    What a wonderful post :) I'm so happy for you and your family ^^ Yes, HAPPY "SUCK IT, DOCTOR" DAY!

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  3. Kristin Lynn ThetfordOctober 31, 2011 at 9:09 AM

    Your dad is made of awesome. I'm so glad that he's doing well. :) That picture is great! He looks SO good! Those doctors don't know anything. Here's to many many more years...and to finding the opposite of cancer. :)

    I hope y'all have a great day!

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  4. Donna K. WeaverOctober 31, 2011 at 9:15 AM

    And HAPPY "TAKE-THOSE-NUMBERS-AND-SUCK-IT, DOC" DAY to you, too, Brodi.

    Hear that docs?

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  5. J.R. JohanssonOctober 31, 2011 at 9:43 AM

    I'm so glad he's showing them what to do with those numbers! HAPPY "SUCK IT, DOCTOR" DAY to you, too! :)

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  6. nielsons*love*familyOctober 31, 2011 at 9:46 AM

    here here! (on a cure!) and "suck it" is perfectly appropriate when used with a post about cancer! in fact, you should have used it a few more times i think!

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  7. ShalleeOctober 31, 2011 at 9:56 AM

    I love when people beat the numbers spouted out. So glad your dad is doing well, and Happy Hallo-- er-- Happy "Suck it, Doctor" Day to you! :)

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  8. Brodi AshtonOctober 31, 2011 at 10:06 AM

    Happy Suck-It Day to all of you too!

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  9. S.P. BowersOctober 31, 2011 at 10:20 AM

    I hope there's more "Suck it, Doctor" days. I have a niece and a nephew who found their opposite of cancer. I hope your dad does too.

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  10. Nikki MantylaOctober 31, 2011 at 10:21 AM

    Brodi, that's awesome! Here's hoping for many more Happy Suck-It days.

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  11. Angela BrownOctober 31, 2011 at 11:03 AM

    Well a "Happy Suck-it Doc Day" to you as well.

    I'm thrilled that your father decided that he didn't like the odds and figured he'd do some serious odds-beating.

    And here's a prayer to follow with Kid C's prayer. May the opposite of cancer be found much sooner than later, preferably in like a 5 to 9 month timeframe, or today is great too.

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  12. Mel SimsOctober 31, 2011 at 11:54 AM

    Happy Suck-it Doc Day, Brodi! You know how much I love your ma and pa, and I'd just like to assume your dad will be here for many, many more Suck-it Doc days!

    And now, "Happy-I've-Never-Won-Anything-off-the-internet-before-today-even-though-I-seem-to enter-every-contest-there-is!" I seriously can't believe I won! I have been DYING to read Everneath....I can't WAIT! Thank you!

    Mel

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  13. Nicole MaggiOctober 31, 2011 at 1:01 PM

    I love Halloween, and now I get to love it twice as much! Happy Suck It, Doctors! Day to you and your dad! What a gift you've been given. :-)

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  14. Jenni ElyseOctober 31, 2011 at 2:57 PM

    Fantastic post, Brodie. I always love your "TAKE-THOSE-NUMBERS-AND-SUCK-IT, DOC" Day posts because they remind me of what's important. I'm glad your dad is still here! How is he doing by the way? Is he still getting treatments? Or, is he in between treatments right now? Yay to the 5-pound gain!

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  15. Brodi AshtonOctober 31, 2011 at 3:01 PM

    Thank you everyone!

    Jenni- He does regular chemo treatments, and he's tolerating it quite well. He may even take a chemo holiday in a few months!

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  16. Jaime MorrowOctober 31, 2011 at 6:37 PM

    Hear, hear! My father is a cancer survivor (non-Hodgkins lymphoma) and is pretty much a walking miracle (like your own). Take that cancer, and yes "Take those numbers and suck it, Doc".

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  17. UnknownOctober 31, 2011 at 8:02 PM

    I like Halloween in theory, but in practice it is TOO MUCH WORK! Sort of like surviving cancer. Sounds cool... when it's someone else.

    Please thank your dad (and the rest of your family) for being such an inspiration!

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  18. CathOctober 31, 2011 at 8:44 PM

    Here Here. To the opposite of cancer!

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  19. rental mobil jakartaOctober 31, 2011 at 11:34 PM

    Nice article, thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Suze ReeseNovember 1, 2011 at 9:07 AM

    A big shout out to your dad! I love miracles. My breast cancer diagnosis happened to come in October, when everyone paints the town pink. (Very appropriate time for a diagnosis if you have to have one.) Every year when I see those pink ribbons pop up, part of me wants to party cause I'm still around to see them, but the other part thinks, "Seriously, we're having this party AGAIN? I wasn't really wild about it the first time." So I totally get the mixed emotions - best wishes to you and your family!

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  21. AmieSalmonNovember 1, 2011 at 2:18 PM

    Such a wonderful, heartwarming post! I say jump up and down everyday, and shout suck it!

    Man that feels good.

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  22. Brodi AshtonNovember 1, 2011 at 2:34 PM

    Thanks again everyone! Yesterday, someone came up to me and said, "HAPPY SUCK-IT, DOCTOR DAY!"

    My life felt complete.

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  23. Krystal LarsonNovember 1, 2011 at 6:14 PM

    She's so lucky! Congrats :) I've been dying to review this book :) http://livetoread-krystal.blogspot.com/

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  24. MarnyNovember 1, 2011 at 8:54 PM

    You're so lucky your dad is still around! Cherish every day with him while you can. My mother had pancreatic cancer and didn't quite make two years from her diagnosis. Treasure your time! Happy Suck-It Day to you!

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  25. Brodi AshtonNovember 2, 2011 at 1:39 PM

    Marny- I'm so sorry to hear about your mother. Pancreatic cancer sucks the big one. Here's to finding a cure.

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  26. Small Town Shelly BrownNovember 2, 2011 at 2:07 PM

    Oh Brodi I was thinking about how much I was going to miss my hair and it made me think about you and your hair drama, so I popped into your blog for a laugh.
    Then reading this post made me think I should share one of my latest blog posts with you. If you have a minute:
    http://writingwithshelly.blogspot.com/2011/10/people-are-good.html

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  27. Brodi AshtonNovember 2, 2011 at 2:38 PM

    Shelly- That was a very sweet post! Are you really going to shave your head? That is definitely dedication to the cause. Go you!

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  28. Laura AyersNovember 2, 2011 at 9:32 PM

    Yeah! I'm SO happy to hear that your Dad is still doing well. What a great pic :)

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