Whatever it takes!!!

Melanoma steals so much from so many.  It frightens all of us if we think upon it too long.  It petrifies those newly diagnosed ~ almost beyond bearing.  Still, it has allowed me to meet, and know, and love, REAL heroes whose outlook on life, while forever changed, is nothing short of amazing.  They light my path.  They bring me smiles.  They inspire my efforts.  They give me strength.  I want to be just like them when I grow up!!!  So, for ALL of you there is this ~

(With much credit and appreciation to - Imagine Dragons!!!  Listen to the link, words below.)

Whatever It Takes - Imagine Dragons

Falling too fast to prepare for this
Tripping in the world could be dangerous
Everybody circling is vulturous
Negative, nepotist
Everybody waiting for the fall of man
Everybody praying for the end of times

Everybody hoping they could be the one

I was born to run, I was born for this.

Whip, whip

Run me like a race horse

Pull me like a ripcord

Break me down and build me up

I wanna be the slip, slip

Word upon your lip, lip

Letter that you rip, rip

Break me down and build me up

Whatever it takes

'Cause I love the adrenaline in my veins

I do whatever it takes

'Cause I love how it feels when I break the chains

Whatever it takes

You take me to the top, I'm ready for

Whatever it takes

'Cause I love the adrenaline in my veins

I do what it takes.

Always had a fear of being typical

Looking at my body feeling miserable

Always hanging onto the visual

I wanna be invisible

Looking at my years like a martyrdom

Everybody needs to be a part of 'em

Never be enough, I'm the prodigal son

I was born to run, I was born for this.

Hypocritical, egotistical

Don't wanna be the parenthetical, hypothetical

Working hard on something that I'm proud of, out of the box

An epoxy to the world and the vision we've lost

I'm an apostrophe

I'm just a symbol to remind you that there's more to see

I'm just a product of the system; a catastrophe

And yet a masterpiece, and yet I'm half-diseased

And when I am deceased

At least I'll go down to the grave and die happily

And leave the body and the soul to be a part of thee ~

I do what it takes.

Whatever it takes

'Cause I love the adrenaline in my veins

I do whatever it takes

'Cause I love how it feels when I break the chains

Whatever it takes

You take me to the top, I'm ready for

Whatever it takes

'Cause I love the adrenaline in my veins

I do what it takes.

And so we melanoma peeps do ~ whatever it takes.  At times, merely whatever it takes to make it through an hour, or day.  But, bit by bit, we grow stronger than melanoma.  No matter what that bitch tries to dish out.  Despite forever half diseased, we are a masterpiece!   

With sincere appreciation and remembrance - Artie, Patti, Josh, Juan, Ms. Ituah (and daughter), Bob, Santos, Dfeng, Jamie, Paul, and Rob's Adriana - you are forever part of my heart.

Great thanks to my dear J and F, Jeanne, Eric, and Ed.  You guys rock and are part of the foundation on which I stand. Tammy B, Danita, Ashia, Anita - you stand by me, watch me like mother hens, and put up with NONE of my BS!  It is a blessing.  Roo, your spirit and determination are contagious.  I would not be running or doing those push-ups were it not for you!!  Ruthie, your support and example are more than inspiring.  And B.... you're always there, for whatever it takes! 

And to all of those who think you can't...  Yes, you can!!!  Whatever it takes.

~ love and gratitude, les