I've taken the liberty of copying the following from a Cancer Support group that I host online. Someone has taken this as being offensive, but I would like opinions from you folks.

Hi everyone!

This time of year can be very difficult for anyone who is involved with a serious illness, whether the patient or the caregiver or family and friends. It can also be difficult for those who have recently lost their family members or friends.

To all of us, I would encourage us to celebrate LOVE. This Christmas season is all about LOVE. It's about sharing our pain, and our joy. It's about giving the gift of love to those who are hurting.

To any of you who are in difficult circumstances this season, I offer my hopes and prayers that you can see beyond the difficulty and pain to the love and joy of the Christmas Story.

To all of you who are remembering a loved one, I would offer my prayers that you will remember the love and joy that was shared, and pass that love and joy on to someone who needs to be lifted up.

There are those who have no family, no home, and no hope for a future. Those of us who do need to offer hope to them. We can share whatever we have to give to them, and offer them our warmth and smiles. Even if we don't feel like smiling, we can offer a smile. To that very tired cashier at the store, offer a thank you. To that homeless person, offer a meal from a fast food place. To the person you hear complaining, offer a smile.

In short, we can make a difference to those around us, even if we don't feel like it. It will not only help them, it will help US.

Celebrate LOVE.

Frankie

Is there such a thing? I love fresh garlic in most everything. But I have had friends who have come over for dinner, and made comments like "you'll never have vampires here" or "how about a little spaghetti with the garlic".

It doesn't seem like too much. I love the taste of garlic! When I make Italian salad dressing from a mix, I always add a couple of cloves of fresh garlic to it. When I marinate meat, I use lots of garlic. Making spaghetti? How can you make it without garlic?

Is it just me?

Frankie

What does it take to be a hero?

My hero is 34 years old. She is married, and has three children but only two of them are still here. Her first little girl, Miss Emily, was a Borrowed Angel, and had to go back to Heaven when she was only 5 1/2 months old.

My hero is a wonderful wife and a great mom.

My hero set a goal for herself a few years ago, and today she achieved the recognition for completing that goal.

My hero is now a nurse.

My hero has been going to school full time, working full time, and trying to keep peace in her home and her sanity. She has worked harder than anyone I've ever known. She has done this for the past four years.

My hero has determination and stamina I never knew existed in human form!

My hero has had numerous health problems during the past four years, and has had to function in spite of the health issues.

My hero has been able to rise above the problems, and keep her sites on her goal.

My hero is my daughter, who is now a nurse.

I only hope that she will someday know how proud I am of her!!

Frankie

"Lessons in Life"

By Regina Brett for The Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio

To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It
is the most-requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolls over to 50
this week, so here's an update:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey
is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never
blinks.

16. Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living, or get busy
dying.

17. You can get through anything if you stay put in today.

18. A writer writes. If you want to be a writer, write.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up
to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an
answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't
save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: "In five years, will
this matter?"

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will.
Stay in touch.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or
didn't do.

35. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.

38. Read the Psalms. They cover every human emotion.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd
grab ours back.

41. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

42. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

43. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

44. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

45. The best is yet to come.

46. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

47. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

48. If you don't ask, you don't get.

49. Yield.

50. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

My daughter, who is 34 years old, will be graduating from Nursing School this coming Saturday. It's been a Hell of a ride this past 4 years, with her going to school full time, working full time, and she and her husband have 2 kids at home who are now 7 1/2 and 5.

So lately she's been under a lot of stress, finishing the last semester of Nursing school, studying for the State Board exam to get her RN license, and all the pressures of work and home. The stress is taking it's toll on her. She had to have a scope procedure this morning because her stomach is so bad they thought she had a bleeding ulcer. As it turns out, it's major inflammation and irritation, but no specific bleeding site.

She needs to learn to de-stress a lot!! I wish I could help more, but all I can do is keep the kids occasionally, or like today, I took her to the hospital for the test. Her husband works a 4 AM til noon shift. It sure was hard for me to get up, after getting off work at 11, coming home and feeding doggies and stuff, getting to bed about 2, getting up at 5:45, then having to work again tonight from 3-11.

So I'm off to bed now.

Nite Nite.