Lucky us

Whether we deserve it or not

The thing about Thanksgiving is that most of us have so much to be thankful for, that we aren’t thankful.

I know that sounds impossible, ungrateful even, but it’s not unusual. Think about it: The better off we are, the more likely we are to take what we have for granted rather than consider it a gift or a blessing.

We have it. We deserve it. What else is there to say?

Maybe that’s why holidays such as Thanksgiving and birthdays and Christmas and Valentine’s Day come around once a year — they’re here to poke us in the ribs about how lucky we are to have what we have, whatever that may be.

That “memory jogging” isn’t just triggered by holidays. Sometimes, life causes its own reset, often at the most unexpected time and in the most unexpected way.

Nine years ago, shortly after a peaceful holiday season, I visited a doctor for a checkup. Nothing was wrong, nor was anything expected to be wrong.

A blood test showed elevated levels of a marker that generally means one thing: cancer. Since I had successfully been treated for testicular cancer 15 years earlier, that was a mental connect-the-dot moment for me and the doctor — maybe my cancer was back?

More tests ensued, along with more visits to specialists. Even as I made the trek from one medical professional to another and from one machine to the next, my mind wandered. Why hadn’t I signed up for life insurance when I had the chance? Why couldn’t the doctors figure out the problem? And the ever-present, why is this happening to me?

It took a few weeks of handwringing before a verdict was in: The doctor who seemed to know the most said I probably had brain cancer, and I needed to start chemo right away to keep it from spreading.

I shuddered. Literally. The body blow came from nowhere.

My mind disengaged, and I thought sorrowfully about the chemicals that would soon be seeping into my body, trampling healthy cells while looking for cancer. I felt sorry for myself, not because I deserved better but because I didn’t think I deserved this.

Luckily, my wife remained level-headed, even as I didn’t. She questioned the doctors more thoroughly than I could, and she figured out the guy was guessing — there was no proof of cancer, just a strong suspicion based on a single blood test that kept coming back irregularly.

So at her insistence, I didn’t start chemo or any other treatment. Instead, we found a renowned testicular cancer doctor in Indiana (the guy cured Lance Armstrong) who suggested that maybe all I had was an irregular blood test that didn’t mean anything at all.

It turns out he was right. After nine months of mental terror, with monthly blood tests to chart progress, right before Thanksgiving I found out that there was not and never had been — anything physically wrong with me.

It was all just a huge, horrifying misunderstanding.

So when I need a reminder about how good I have it these days, and after all this I inexplicably need that reminder almost daily, I don’t have to wait for a holiday to remind me.

I just focus on that bullet I dodged, a bullet that was never even fired, and my heart automatically skips a beat again. And again. And again.

Rick Wamre is publisher of Advocate Publishing. Let him know how we are doing by writing to 6301 Gaston, Suite 820, Dallas 75214; fax to 214.823.8866; or email rwamre@advocatemag.com.

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Advocate, © 2011, is published monthly by East Dallas Lakewood People Inc. Contents of this magazine may not be reproduced. Advertisers and advertising agencies assume liability for the content of all advertisements printed, and therefore assume responsibility for any and all claims against the Advocate. The publisher reserves the right to accept or reject any editorial or advertising material. Opinions set forth in the Advocate are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the publisher’s viewpoint. More than 200,000 people read Advocate publications each month. Advertising rates and guidelines are available upon request. Advocate Publications are available free of charge throughout our neighborhoods, one copy per reader. Advocate was founded in 1991 by Jeff Siegel, Tom Zielinski and Rick Wamre.

WALTON’S LAWN & GARDEN CENTER

Shop Walton’s Garden Center to create a festive home and garden for the holidays. Great decorations and gifts for the indoors and out! Visit us for Partners Card. 8652 Garland Rd. 214.321.2387 waltonsgarden.com

WACKYM’S KITCHEN

Wackym’s Kitchen bakes delicious cookies and treats from original recipes using fresh, natural ingredients like real butter and cane sugar. Visit our website to order or find a retail location. wackymskitchen.com

Matthew Trent Jewelry

214.871.9170 matthewtrent.com

Polly Dupont

Two Girls Toffee is perfect for holiday celebrations, birthdays, and anniversaries. These delicious toffees come in 4 oz., 8 oz. and 16 oz. boxes of fabulous toffee bliss. 7989 Belt Line Rd., Ste.154 972.991.3689 pollydupont.com

POLK-A-DOT BAKERY

Mention this ad for 10% off every day– Join us Nov. 8th from 7-9pm to create your custom labeled red or white wine! 15615 Quorum Dr - Addison Circle 972.387.CAKE polkadotbakery.co

The Hospitality Sweet

Come taste our fall sweets at the London Café inside Timothy Oulton at Potter Square. 4500 N. Central Expressway. 214.534.2241 thehospitalitysweet.com

LA

Come by Beaucoup for fabulous fashions, unique jewelry, and charming home decor! 2815 Henderson Ave. Dallas 214.823.7906 635 W. Campbell Rd. Richardson 972.235.7906 facebook.com/beaucouphome

Mariposa Imports

Discover the beauty of our one of a kind clothing. So unique we call it wearable textile art! 2813 N. Henderson Ave. 214.826.0069 lamariposaimports.com

Dutch Art Gallery

Come out to The Artist of Texas - 4th Annual Show. Meet the Artist, Wine & Cheese Reception Saturday, November 3: 11:00am-4:00pm. All artwork is on display thru Dec. 31st. 10233 E. NW Hwy. #420 @ Ferndale 214.348.7350 dutchartusa.com

Minime

Dress your miniME up in these adorable hat and mitten sets. Come check out all the fun styles!!! 6719 Snider Plaza minimedallas.com 214.346.5401

Diamonds N Designs

Loose Diamonds since 1983. We Custom Design your Jewelry. Designer & Gemologists on staff. Mention this Ad & get a FREE Jewelry Inspection and Cleaning. By Appointment Call 972.490.0133 diamondsndesigns.net

COMMENTS AND LETTERS Outside the principal’s office at Hillcrest

As a teenager, my encounters with the principal were limited to his telling me I’d be suspended if I didn’t take my nose ring out.

So when I was invited to be Principal for a Day at Hillcrest High School, I thought I’d be sitting behind a grand oak desk and making phone calls to parents who needed to come pick up their misbehaving children. I was wrong on all counts.

Principal Ronald Jones walks the halls of the building and cracks jokes with the students, cheers them up when they look downtrodden and says the occasional, “Boy, what did I tell you about pulling up those pants?” The thing is, though, he knows their names — both the good and the “bad” ones, who don’t really seem that bad.

Cake Carousel

Cake, Candy and Cookie supplies! Take a class to learn how to decorate your seasonal treats. Home of the famous make your own Peppermint Bark. Holiday Open House November 17th.

1002 N. Central Expwy. Ste. 501 @ Arapaho 972.690.4628 cakecarousel.com

Eclectic Galleries

Unique gifts and decor from 200 artisan studios. Glass, jewelry, pottery, turned wood, and more! All handmade in the U.S.A. Like us on Facebook. 6725 Snider Plaza 469.759.6501 eclecticgalleries.com

Yoga Mart

Need a new mat bag or towel? Remember a gift for yourself as well as others this holiday season. 6039 Oram (at Skillman) 214.534.4469 yogamartusa.com

Advocate Ornament

The Advocate Foundation’s limited-edition, numbered, and hand-painted ornament; perfect gift for the new home owner or Dallas transplant. Sales benefit neighborhood organizations. 214.292.0486 foundation.advocatemag.com

The day started with Jones presenting a PowerPoint on Spot Observation Rubrics, which administrators perform after stepping into teachers’ classrooms. Jones gives teachers grades based on performance and their ability to show how their students can demonstrate what they’ve learned.

The purpose of all this is to stay in line with Superintendent Mike Miles’s Destination 2020 plan. The plan calls for eight different key efforts, from improving the quality of instruction to revamping the Department of School Leadership and its function.

If they succeed, by 2020, 90 percent of all DISD students will graduate on time and 80 percent of students will enter college, the military or be “career ready” straight from high school.

Read more about editor Monica Nagy’s experience at Hillcrest High School at PRESTONHOLLOW.ADVOCATEMAG.COM.

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