It's a Cancer Thing

Someone asked me once why I wear mismatched socks. "It's a cancer thing," I answered, pretty much ending the conversation.

It started with my uncle who, after starting aggressive treatment for his cancer, started the practice. It caught on with his doctors, nurses, and family members as a way to keep things light in the face of a dire reality.

I still wear mismatched socks even though he's no longer with us. Now, it's more than a "cancer thing." Now, I do it to remember him and all the people we've lost to cancer - far too many people. It also reminds me to keep things light.

Cancer sucks and the reality is some people make it and some people don't but we have to remember that we're all in this together - this business of life and all that goes with it, including cancer. We need to help each other through it all. Sometimes, that's with humor or a smile. I wear mismatched socks to help me get through the stuff that's not much fun.

Today, I'm wearing mismatched holiday socks. Today, it's about not wanting to fold the laundry (people do fold socks, don't they?) so I grabbed a couple of clean ones out of the laundry basket.

This is what I pulled out and it makes me happy.

I've lost people to cancer. I know you have, too. Mismatched socks won't change that but maybe they'll make you feel better for at least a moment.