November 16, 2012, I penned:

Cancer, it turns out, it is a powerful proponent of simplicity.

Faced with uncertainty, one is forced to examine the complexities of life and cull.

Our lives are reduced to three priorities:

– Making healthy choices

– Caring for relationships

– Reducing financial burden.

Necessity demands that any extraneous commotion be pushed aside.

(Originally posted on One Woman’s Quest.  This version has been edited)

When I wrote this five years ago, cancer was the greatest challenge facing us.  We could not have foreseen Ric’s fall, subsequent surgery, and the numerous operations that ensued due to infection setting in.  We could not have foreseen his series of heart attacks and subsequent triple bypass surgery.  We did not know that illness in the form of ME was stalking me.

Today, we have eliminated our financial burden.  We celebrate our relationship and the relationships we have with family and friends, knowing that these are the greatest gifts of all.  We continue to strive for healthier choices.

I would add a fourth priority to the list, one that are we currently enacting:

– Embrace life.