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Milestones - It is that time again.

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Posted 5/29/2018 11:06 AM (GMT -5)
First of all, I would like to share my appreciation for any fellow veterans out there. Thank you for your service.

So those of you who read my posts are aware that I count my progress by milestones. When I started down this road, my oldest daughter was a Senior in High School and my youngest a freshmen. While I have seen several milestones from Katy (HS Graduation, first collegiate soccer game, 1st assist, 1st goal), my youngest daughter Olivia has progressed from a young teen unsure of her self, to a young women who graduates this week from High School. Her academic progression has been outstanding and has resulted in a her being accepted to the University of Rhode Island. She has started and developed her own charity (www.sail4s.org) which helps cloth students in a Boston High School and provides several small scholarship awards. She will be attending awards night at her own High School and I am full of anticipation to see what achievement is recognized . I will keep you posted.

She graduates from High School Friday and I could not be a prouder Father. I am looking forward to seeing her walk the stage. Just another milestone, no it isn't, it is the biggest one in her life to date and much more important given my situation.

It also brings about the perceptions others in your life may have. We will be having a graduation party for her in July. Lots of food, drink, people and some live music. I overheard my wife telling her friends she believes it is important to me since I may not get to see her wedding and its is a stand in. While I disagree with the premise, I can see how my wife would consider this.

So again, life right now is one milestone after another, the stones keep rolling an I keep living. I for one am happy to be alive. God bless you all, brothers.

kmclark1 aka Mike
Posted 5/29/2018 11:55 AM (GMT -5)
Thanks for the update Mike and congrats on the milestones.

Mike
Posted 5/29/2018 12:13 PM (GMT -5)
Great milestones!

There will be many more.

Andrew
Posted 5/29/2018 12:53 PM (GMT -5)
Ouch. I understand. My daughter's HS graduation, and then my son's college graduation, and then the daughter's college graduation were all milestones that were a bit empty without their mom there to see and participate. Each time we talked about how she's watching as the mixed tears of joy and sadness surfaced.

Post Edited (NKinney) : 5/29/2018 12:19:55 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 5/31/2018 9:26 AM (GMT -5)
Just a quick update. So we expected one award, and usually the amounts are a few hundred dollars. She received six scholarships for over $13,000, and paid for most of her first semester in collage. I am so proud to be her father. A great milestone.
Posted 5/31/2018 10:56 PM (GMT -5)

Hello KMCLARK1 ~

It's good to see your post, KMCLARK1 ! We were diagnosed about the same time, and have some common threads in our story.

You're right --- you have marked many MEANINGFUL MILESTONES along the way --- each one counts, and perhaps holds even greater meaning now for you.

Since my diagnosis, I've celebrated five more birthdays ... I've taught five more years in my classroom at school ... I've watched five more Super Bowls ... seen the summertime fireworks five more times on July 4th ... celebrated Christmas Eve five more times with my family ... watched New Year's Day roll around five more times in my life ... enjoyed five more Iowa State CYCLONE sports seasons with my old college buddies ... and I'm heading back to my hometown this summer for another high school class reunion ...

I probably didn't think that "getting this far down the road" since that day I was first diagnosed would be possible.

I honestly remember one of my first sobering thoughts after getting diagnosed was, "Does this mean I won't even make it until Christmas?"

It was a silent thought I didn't share aloud with my family or friends ... but that thought was in my mind.

As my treatments started, the days rolled into weeks ... the weeks rolled into months ... and one by one, the months began to add up into years.

I remember some time back, I finally realized that I had lived to see 1,000 sunsets since the day I was diagnosed ... and that despite the challenges that each of us here all face, those days had truly had meaning and purpose ...

I pay attention to the smaller things in life now, too ... the first snowfall ... autumn leaves on the trees ... a perfect summer day at the lake ... scenic sunsets ... these become meaningful "milestones" along the way, too ... and daily events that maybe I hadn't taken the time to notice as much before my diagnosis.

Thanks for reminding all of us about the importance of MILESTONES ... milestones give us goals to reach ... events to look forward to ... and ways to celebrate everyday living.

Thanks for your loyalty and brotherhood here on the website, KMCLARK1 !

Handshake, from across the miles,
CYCLONE ~ Iowa State University
Posted 6/1/2018 5:40 AM (GMT -5)
I think that any cancer diagnosis changes your perspective on life, drawing more attention to the near-term. Part of that is an increased appreciation for important milestones when they occur, because we all are increasingly aware of mortality and the fact that the number of such milestones we get to see is limited. So, kmclark1, it's great to see that you have been there for these priceless moments, and that you appreciate them so fully. May you see many, many more!
Posted 6/4/2018 12:29 PM (GMT -5)
Thanks all. Graduation was great. Cyclone, always look forward to your responses on mine and others posts. Maybe this will be the year I get my 50 lb stripper.
Posted 6/4/2018 1:19 PM (GMT -5)
Thanks KMC, I can feel your well deserved pride. I just turned 58, so I’m feeling more confident that I can make it to early retirement at 62. I just can’t see getting screwed out of all that SS money I paid into over the years! 🙂
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