The one when I use some strong words

If you're not a fan of strong words, please skip this post. I don't usually like to say things like this on my blog, but in this instance I'm feeling particularly sad and upset, and I have a few things I want to say publicly about it. So bear with me. I'll give you a chance to leave.

You might want to check this out, instead.

Good to go? Alright!

On Monday my best friend in the world, who I've known since 2nd grade lost her dad to a (brave) battle of ALS (also known as Lou Gehrigs's disease).
For those of you who don't know, ALS fucking sucks. It eats away at your muscles until you have nothing left, and need help with everything. ALS is kind, though. It leaves your brain, so you know exactly what's going on, and yet can't do anything about it. Eventually it moves to your lungs, and you can't breath, and then, finally, it takes your life. It can be fast or long and drawn out. My friend had 3 1/2 years with her dad. In my opinion, it's one of the worst diseases you can get. (I realize those of you with experience with a variety of other diseases will disagree, but this is my blog and I can say what I want. Plus, I've had way too much experience with this disease to have any sort of pity for it)

Source

The other day I learned that a blogger I follow on twitter found out that her father-in-law has pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer also fucking sucks. It's what took Steve Jobs' life, and, horrible as it was, I was happy to educate one more person on this horrible form of cancer. Unfortunately, the reason I know about it is personal experience. This blogger was given 1-2 years. My father-in-law had it as well. We had 3 months.
Pancreatic cancer is difficult to diagnose until it's too late, because there are no nerves in the pancreas. There are no symptoms until it's almost too late. Some are luckier than others. A co-worker's husband discovered it when he couldn't eat; he was already full. The cancer had spread to his stomach and had it's horrible grip around it.

So what's the point of this post, except to bitch about two diseases I'd never wish on my worst enemy? It's to tell you how fragile life is. We don't like to think about our deaths, or the deaths of loved ones. I'm not telling you to dwell on them, but I am telling you to love on your loved ones. Love them with everything you have, every day, whether they're across the country or down the street, because one day your world may be shaken by a fucking word like cancer. Or ALS. Or tumor. Anything. Life can change in an instant. Never forget that.