Drumming Class at the ACS!

Last night John and I went and saw the movie "March of the Penguins".  It was fantastic.  It showed what an Empire Penguin did each year of it's life, each year over again.  I will never look at penguins the same way again.  They are fascinating.  Now I know what they are doing when they are following one another in those long lines that look like follow-the-leader.  It is all about breeding, raising their chick, and trying to stay alive.  They march off to the breeding ground about 70 miles away, then mate.  The females lay an egg and pass it to the male, go back to the sea, and come back to bring their baby chick food that the male has kept warm on his feet!  Then the males march back single file to the sea.  And back and forth taking turns all year long!  I won't tell you what happen to the babies in the end, because that is a surprise. 

My sister Valerie, John and I went to an American Cancer Society Conference a few weeks ago.  It was interesting.  I could say a lot about it, but I think I will just mention one session that we went to.  It was a session on "drumming".  Now when I first heard that I groaned and thought, "I do NOT want to do this."  I knew they were going to make us participate.  But we got there and we started to participate and we all enjoyed it!  There were maybe fifty people there, and that many percussion instruments.  I had sort of a maraca, and John had jingle bells, and Valerie had this really big hand drum!  You would think that with 50 some people playing that the music would be really chaotic but it wasn't.  We had a basic rhythm going and a few people varied from it.  We were really interconnected with one another.  It made me understand how different societies could use music for their rituals.  The fascilitator said a lot of societies used music such as drumming for different things such as celebration or mourning.  Actually all societies use music that way in one form or the other.  Whether it is played or listened to.  Anyway, we were really expressing ourselves and enjoying ourselves.  A good time was had by all, except for a friend of ours, who was sitting next to Val saying, "I hate this."  "I hate this."  "I hate this."  Over and over again, lol!

On to another subject, I was asked to be on the board of a local group, The Cancer Survivor's Association.  I am going to do it.  I want to do some volunteer work with them.  John and I attend the group once a month.  It is for cancer survivors and their family members.

Well, that's about it for now.  I hope I don't have too much to do this weekend.  I want to do something fun.  Maybe if John and I get some time we will go on a picnic.  It feels so nice not concentrating on the cancer all the time anymore and starting to live some normal life everyday.  We are feeling a little bit better everyday and starting to get our bearings about us.  Some days are harder than others, but things are getting better.  Especially since John's attitude has improved.  The other day he said to me, "I plan on surviving."  His positive attitude has helped my attitude to get positive.  He is my fighter!  

Everybody take care and have a great weekend!  Love, Krissy :)