Christmas is a time of surprises. From the smallest child looking with awe at a stocking filled with candy, to the adult who opens a gift from a loved one that was just right, there are all manner of surprises we experience each holiday season.

But what about when Christmas itself is a surprise?

For the last couple years my mom has been living with my sister in California, while she struggles against lung cancer. I called my mom today, to wish her a happy birthday. Something she said in casual conversation made me pause.

She was talking about adoctors visit earlier this week, her first in 3 months. She has been responding well to Chemo, and they had decided to skip it for a couple months.

The results this week were very positive, and she will apparantly be skipping Chemo for another 3 months.

So while we were dicussing this, she mentioned, as she has before, that she basicially ignores birthdays. But she also said, that this one, and Christmas itself this year, felt just a little strange.

Christmas is a time of surprises. From the smallest child looking with awe at a stocking filled with candy, to the adult who opens a gift from a loved one that was just right, there are all manner of surprises we experience each holiday season.

But what about when Christmas itself is a surprise?

For the last couple years my mom has been living with my sister in California, while she struggles against lung cancer. I called my mom today, to wish her a happy birthday. Something she said in casual conversation made me pause.

She was talking about adoctors visit earlier this week, her first in 3 months. She has been responding well to Chemo, and they had decided to skip it for a couple months.

The results this week were very positive, and she will apparantly be skipping Chemo for another 3 months.

So while we were dicussing this, she mentioned, as she has before, that she basicially ignores birthdays. But she also said, that this one, and Christmas itself this year, felt just a little strange.