Beating Cancer’s Ass: The Canadian Way June 4, 2009

Firstly, let me just say that I am late with this post because DOUG AND JEN took a million pictures this weekend and have yet to send them to me. I was waiting for some better ones, but haven’t received them yet. When I get them, I will be posting them as well.

Anyway, this past weekend was C’Anna’s 5 year cancer-free party, which means she is now considered to be in remission! It was an awesome time, especially because Doug and Jen, our friends from Canada whom we met while teaching English in Italy last summer, drove down for the first time! If you read this b log consistently and don’t know who they are then stop reading! C’Anna and I had been up there in November, and I had went to visit them myself in August. We had such a blast!

On Friday night, after Doug and Jen arrived, we decided to make it a nostalgic Italian night and go to the movies to see Angels & Demons, which was filming in Rome when C’Anna and I were teaching there last June. Doug drove the entire way down and seemed absolutely exhausted, so we wanted it to be relaxing but fun. Before the movie we had to take them to Chick Fil A, because all we did when we were together with them both in Italy and Canada was talk about how amazing the chicken and sweet tea was there. We went before the movie, and though they liked it, they weren’t overly impressed. The good news is that they will be back down very soon so they can acquire the deliciousness that is Chick Fil A.

The movie was pretty good, but I don’t think it’s something that I would see over and over again. The effects weren’t cheesy, and the story was interesting, but the acting was just terrible throughout. Tom Hanks needs to stick to Toy Story. After the movie we all came back to C’Anna’s, got in our PJs and talked like it was a 7th grade slumber party. We mainly talked about how sketch everyone is, and how in the dead of winter, Jen fell in to a pool, fought to get out, and then visibly gave up on life. Our friend Clint had to jump in and save her. Though this sounds terrible and not funny at all, somehow we were all curled up on C’Anna’s bed laughing our faces off. Also, I may have cuddled with Jen – who knows?

Saturday we woke up and again, chatted like 7th graders. C’Anna got ready and went to her cabin where we would be eating and celebrating her life. Meanwhile, Doug, Jen, and I went to Wal Mart for some things, and then met up with her later. The food, fun, and family were all fantastic. We stayed out there for about 5 hours, before we made our way back to C’Anna’s. Later in the evening, Lisa and her boyfriend Drew met up with us at C’Anna’s before we went out to Bent Willey’s to celebrate even more! Side note: Lisa and Drew are my new Brangelina. They are the A*Listers of Morgantown, and if you met them you would know exactly why. Check Lisa out on Twitter here.

For the sake of certain peoples’ reputations, I won’t go in to detail the happenings of Bent Willey’s Saturday night, but let’s just say it was a lot of fun to be there with this group of friends. I almost got beat up by a redneck when I was dancing with Jen because all he wanted to do was bear hug her, and though I was paving the way for him, he thought I was mocking. He almost slapped me (not punched), but I wasn’t having it. I ducked, and peaced out. Meanwhile, Jen’s doing the Footloose dance and has no idea what’s going on – mainly because her 5-foot-long hair is in her eyes and she’s moving from side to side. I think Doug’s over in the corner dancing with his neck side to side too. We ended up leaving and coming home, talking for a few, and then crashing.

Sunday we met up with Lisa and Drew at Cracker Barrel before Doug and Jen went on their ways. After a few bites each of us felt like we wanted to barf, so we didn’t stay at Crack Bare too long.

After we got back, Jen and Doug made their way back to Canada, and we all lived happily ever after…sort of.

I had such an awesome time with the Canadians, celebrating C’Anna’s fight over cancer. QueenC08 is such a trooper and a blessing in my life and I don’t know what I would do without her. She is one of the very lucky few that has been able to win the fight, and for that I am eternally grateful. Over the weekend, I also celebrated some of my friends and friends’ relatives who have both won the fight and lost the fight this weekend, in my own way. You probably know who you are if you are reading this. Through it all we just have to stand up and have faith that no matter what happens, cancer can never take away the love that we share with those who are diagnosed.

The weekend was non-stop laughs and memories that I know I’ll always remember. To Doug and Jen, thanks for finally getting down here, I love you both so much! It really meant a lot to both me and C’Anna that you made the effort. And C’Anna, congratulations on cracking that whip against cancer and showing me your halo this weekend. You are the definition of a true friend.