On Sunday during the Super Bowl, President Barack Obama graciously fielded partisan questions and suffered no less than 32 interruptions to his answers from Fox News commentator and grumpy Republican roustabout Bill O’Reilly.  Yesterday our president spoke eloquently to an assembled crowd of CEOs about the need to work together to get Americans into jobs, spur innovation, and create a future worthy of our great nation at the gates of hell, otherwise known as the Chamber of Commerce in Washington, D.C.

Both of these televised appearances demonstrate that as a leader President Obama is both practical and fearless, that he is not about to be cowed by those who organize and speak against him, and that he means to get things done in a way that is rhetorically and politically savvy.  If nothing else, he proved that he is a real political leader.  He is dedicated to moving us forward as well as to ensuring a better chance at his own reelection.

“Gratitude is not only the greatest of the virtues but the parent of all others.” - Cicero

Readers of this blog know that a couple of weeks ago I was pronounced “cancer free” as a result of a blood test. The confirmation of this status, however, depended on a CT-scan that I had two days ago. I have to admit I had some anxiety about the test, even though I feel fine. So here’s the really, really good news: the scans of abdomen came back with no growth or spread of the disease, and, as Dr. Sud put it, “all that remains is probably scar tissue.”  Hurrah!!!

We will, of course, continue to monitor that status, but Dr. Sud is confident enough to have lengthened the next scan to three months from now instead of the usual six weeks. Put simply, it doesn’t get any better than this. For the foreseeable future and barring any unanticipated change, I have – we have – my life back!

So it is bearing this wonderful news that I want to acknowledge what I am calling “the gratitude particle” in my life.  I want to say thanks to those who have done so much to enable my spirit and my healing, to support our family, and to offer encouragement, love, humor, stories, and prayers, all of which had important parts to play in getting us from where we were six months ago to where we are today.

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