JIM BUTTON,
TELLING TALES.

Stampede Cancer

Yesterday was a very interesting day. Let me tell you about it.

I hope I can capture the journey of 18 hours as it was something for me to pay attention to. And I say 'I hope' cause it's not an easy thought to describe on paper.

Stampede has been a riot. I saw a lot of friends, had tones of fun, raised money for Prostate, gave a $15,000 cheque to the Foodbank, hosted an 800 person party, hosted and presented at a press conference with our Federal and Provincial Agricultural minsters....all in all it was another very busy week.

Which may have been why yesterday I said to myself 'I honestly feel like I have cancer today'.

Now don't panic.  Nothing catastrophic came out of this thought other than a recognition that I felt lousy. This lousy feeling was due to timing (last day on cycle today), and to the fact I haven't really done a great job of rest or diet...and maybe a bit too much stress.

I started the day really draggin myself out of bed. I felt like crap and wanted nothing more than to stay in bed. But I had 6 meetings that day, a photo opp with the Foodbank, press conference etc.

As the day went on I started getting in to my usual groove, I was making stuff happen. I was in my happy place with chaos around me and shit getting done. 

And at the end of a very successful day I had a beer (I tried to have a beer, couldn't do it) and dinner with my pal Greg (1st year roommate at University).

By the end of dinner and after many many laughs I drove home to bed and had a smile on my face. I still felt like crap, but after all the awesomeness of the day I realized, yet again, that cancer is in the eye of the beholder. And this beholder just needed to fill his mind with positive awesomeness and push the cancer to the background.

As I type this I am sitting at the airport on my way to Muskoka. Can't wait to see the family and get some serious play and relaxation into the calendar.

And hoping to improve on my previous summers respite. 

Cottage Life

Prairie Oyster Ale