I love late summer and early autumn. The night air is crisp and cool, not bone chilling cold but just cool enough to make bare skin get those goosebump things. I like to stand on my back deck and look at the dark night sky. I am fascinated by the moon. I see that old familiar face that my childhood friends and I always looked for when we were out at night. Somehow, he seems older now, as though he has aged with me. Like me he is waning. Five years ago I might not have even noticed him, but my perception has changed these past years. I notice lots of things that I had forgotten from my childhood. The furry creatures in the woods, the beauty of a tree and the wonder of nature in general as I gaze out on this thing we call earth, these things I notice again. I had lost my way, worried about material things, ignoring the spiritual, living only for the physical. Four years ago I was diagnosed with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL). From that day on I realized just how precious all these things really are. I worked from 9-5 everyday of my life, rarely took vacations, and just did not keep in touch with the real treasures of life. I did not consider that I neglected my family, but one thing I do now that I always should have done is hug them every day and tell them I love them. I have considered that cancer is not a death sentence for me but instead an awakening. I feel more alive than I have in years. I know it is fleeting but the reality is life is fleeting for everyone. I recently joined a forum http://www.cllforum.com that has given me an opportunity to meet a great many wonderful people that also have CLL. They are supportive, spiritual, and in general the nicest people I have ever had the good fortune to meet. I love them all. It seems such a shame that a terrible disease is most likely the only reason we all know each other. But at the same time, I am very glad to have found them. I do not yet know exactly what I want to do with this blog. Most of the time I will just ramble about what is on my mind. I do not even know yet if I will make an entry every day, but I will always try to keep the interval to less than a week between posts. I welcome comments about the things I write. Say what you feel not what I want to hear. I will do the same. Take care and be well. See ya later.