Well, yesterday was like a dream but today I was snapped back into reality. The alarm on my phone reminded me of my appointment with my surgeon. It is just a follow-up, but still a jolt to my system. When I look back over these last few days, I feel like I have come full circle. Yesterday I had the amazing experience of celebrating being cancer-free with my wonderful friends and family. And today I’m back at the surgeon’s, where this journey began. While I was sitting in the reception area waiting to be called back to see the doctor, a woman walked in and she was bald. I waited for her to sit down, then said, “How are you today?” She responded, “Okay.” I asked if she was getting chemo and who her oncologist was. Just as we started to chat the nurse called my name. As I was walking away the warrior asked, “How long did it take for your hair to come back?”  “This is three months’ worth,” I said, rubbing my fuzzy head. Once I was in the room waiting for the doctor, I realized that this was the exact same question I asked a women at Cancer Care when I was bald. She had more hair than I do now and wore it in a very cute style. She told me it had taken six months to get that much hair. It is funny how this experience has changed me. Once I was the one with all the questions. Now I’m the one with some of the answers. This is the room I was in with Lorene and Dad when I first went to see the surgeon, when I made the decision to have a lumpectomy instead of a mastectomy. I look at the art on the wall in the room – it still brings as much comfort now as it did then, but now I have lived it. The art is by The Cap Man, a local Athens folk artist. It is a painting of a flower accompanied by the words: “And when you come to the edge of all the light you know and are about to step out into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing one of two things will happen. You will have something solid to stand on or you will be taught to fly.” This journey has taken me to the edge of the unknown; in some ways I am still on the edge. But then, I guess, we are all really at the edge of the unknown. For me, this journey has been about finding my faith. In this blog I have talked a lot about faith as I have tried to find my way. This experience has truly taught me that to fly, to be bold, to be authentic,  to be me – all of this takes faith. This experience has changed me; I am stronger, more courageous, and more willing to take a chance than ever before. As far as I know, we only live once in our present body. So it is vital for me to make the most of this beautiful gift I have been given.