Keep Calm and Carry On with Plan A

This year, our brownie troop chose For 3 Sisters as their cookie charity. We donated almost 100 boxes to the charity that has been such a godsend to me. It was very personal and so exciting that we could give back.

And today was the big day to present the cookies to the organization. The Pink Fireman was set to visit the girls and we were going to deliver all the cookies. We had a pink ribbon cake, we made cards and we set-up a table of items from my 3-Day Walk to share with the girls. The Pink Fireman was coming and we were all so excited.

Life happens.

And sadly, death happens.

One of our breast cancer warriors lost her battle this week and today she was laid to rest. She was 29 years old. She was a brave young woman and a known face of advocacy for the Susan G. Komen cause. She had many friends and supporters...one of them being the Pink Fireman. So, at the last minute, The Pink Fireman couldn't make it to our event. He was at our dear warrior's funeral; he and his pink angel wings were needed somewhere else.

So what do you do with 20 girls and 10 parents...
All waiting for the Pink Fireman? 

Look to Plan B? 

Well y'all know how I feel about Plan B.

So I spoke to the girls. I shared my story of briefly meeting the Pink Fireman at the 2011 3-Day Walk. I shared how I called on him a year later when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I shared how amazing For 3 Sisters has been for me - the resources, love and support they have provided. I answered questions about breast cancer and then I thanked the girls for their hard work in selling cookies and donating them to this fantastic organization that means so much to me. I also asked them to remind their moms to always go to their doctors and to keep healthy. And when they grow up, they need to do the same. Thankfully, I have the gift of gab and it all seemed to go okay.

Here's the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5D52rAQMH_Q

Then I told them the news...that The Pink Fireman had an emergency and wasn't going to make it to our event. I told them that he was with a family of someone with breast cancer and they needed him more than we did today. 

I then reminded the girls that when I found out on October 18, 2012 that I had breast cancer; I wasn't prepared. It wasn't something that me or my family had planned on. And, that's how life works. We can try to plan and plan and plan but sometimes things just don't go the way we expect. And rather than trying to control it, we have to accept it...and celebrate life no matter what path it leads us on. So I asked the girls to celebrate - to celebrate their accomplishments and have a great party anyway. So, they ate the pink ribbon cake and had chocolate covered strawberries and finished their cards for the Pink Fireman.

And no one was sad because we chose to be happy.

No one except the Pink Fireman, who felt terrible.  

No need, my friend.

You see, The Pink Fireman might be an amazingly compassionate icon of the breast cancer community but he's also just a guy. His name is Marshall Moneymaker. He lost his 3 sisters to breast cancer - a horrific situation - and yet he spends every day working to educate women on early detection. He makes his rounds celebrating survivors, visiting with warriors and honoring those that lost the battle. He extends himself to the people that need him and he's really good at it. But he's still just a guy...not superman (although we think so!)...and he can't be in two places at once. And it's all okay because today we tried to do what he does everyday.

Make the most of the unexpected.

Make it work for the good.

Teach a life lesson.

You know why? 

Because there's no "Plan B."

Today WAS "Plan A."

God doesn't make mistakes. 

I got in the car and cried after it was all said and done. Not because it didn't go as planned...but because I have finally learned to make the best of things in a way I couldn't before I was diagnosed with breast cancer. The old Holly would have had a total panic attack. I would have been a mess.

Cancer sucks...but life doesn't. 

And, I thank God every day that cancer taught me to 
Accept Plan A and celebrate it.
What's the point of "Keep Calm" if we don't?