Welcome to the Island of Misfit Toys, A Red Sage Primer
Red Sage started blogging this year, and some of us are less than thrilled about it. I won’t point any fingers, because when I point one at Kelli there’d be three pointed back at me, and that would be fairly accurate. The way this blogging thing works is each week one of the Red Sagers writes a post about his or her area of expertise. This is the last time my name comes in rotation before the new year. And for that reason, I’m taking a few liberties with this post. As I’m writing this, Dragon Lady doesn’t even know what it’s about.
I hope you’ve learned from reading our blog, browsing our website or following our social media streams that we all genuinely like each other. Sure there are stressful days where we try each other’s patience, but that’s true in any good, dysfunctional family. Kelli likes to refer to us as The Island of Misfit Toys. (If you’re unfamiliar with the term, relax it’s the perfect time of year to get up to speed – Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer will be on CBS December 4th) So while we’re each a little quirky in our own way, together we make a pretty amazing group.
I learned just how amazing this year following my cancer diagnosis in February. Ellen allowed me the time I needed to receive treatments and recover, she stood by and laughed along with me the night I had my head shaved and visited regularly in the days following surgery. She came to the chemo cave and sat next to me during the first stabbing and poisoning. Kelli has shot down every fear I’ve had of a recurrence and always pointed out the silver lining in a way that made me laugh. She also made sure my morphine pump was being utilized following surgery – even if I was too sleepy to push the button. How can you not love that!?
Mark and I have shared an office for over 3 years and I think I spend more time with him than I do my husband. On more than one occasion he’s walked by and given me a quick hug, the kind that says I’m here if you need me (however, after I was out for almost two weeks following surgery he forgot my name and referred to me as “ol’ girl”). There’s never been a day that Mark hasn’t made me laugh so much that I completely forget I have cancer. Drew, the new guy, had just started when I was diagnosed and he fit right in and covered the web side of things like a total rockstar!
Heather did her dead level best to handle any web requests that she could to keep from overloading me during the weeks of chemotherapy. She always asked how she could make things better and meant it when she asked. Amanda kept a close check on me during treatments and recovery. She also helped me fill in gaps on projects and keep things flowing in the right direction (which she does for all of us).
As a group they’ve tagged my car to celebrate the end of chemo, gathered for a celebratory drink after the final radiation treatment, and been more supportive than a pair of industrial strength Spanx. So while it’s the time of year to give thanks for the things in your life that are good and as we begin to look toward a new year, I want to say that I’m thankful to be a part of this crew of Misfit Toys. If you’re fortunate enough to call any one of them your friend – you too have a reason to be thankful, because when the chips are down and life is stacked against you these are the people you want on your side. They have truly been the high point of 2012 for me.
