16 Do Not Like Secrets

I have been waiting 2 weeks to have enough information so that I can stop keeping this stupid secret.  I told family right away and then close friends and today I did the Facebook thing.  That seemed so lame, but I needed to just have people know and be done with it.  It was a huge relief to have the secret out. 

Later that night I looked on FB and I wondered, "Why put yourself out there for more torture, Beth?"  My status of cancer got me about 38 likes and someone else's birthday flowers got over 100? 

But, then I realized... no one wants to like my cancer. And then I started to read. The comments were not repeated, greeting card responses. They were sweet and funny and touching and thoughtful.  Each note had the personality of the sender. There were messages from people I don't know at all well, but they were kind and genuine.  How did people do this cancer thing in times before texts and emails and yes, even Facebook?