Tracie's World

So a few weeks ago, I met with my Bishop for the annual Tithing Settlement.  While we were visiting, he asked if I was enjoying the ward.  I was honest with him - I told him it was fine.  How everyone is very nice, but that I don't really feel like I fit in.  I tried to let him know I wasn't complaining, but there was just no one in my same situation.  He was very kind and thanked me for the feedback. I kind of let it go, thinking that would be the end of it.  But nooooo.  The Bishop must have brought it up in a meeting or something, because the week before Christmas ended up being turned into "Project Tracie" week.  It all started the Sunday before Christmas.  There came a knock at the door, and it was my visiting teaching companion and her husband with a bunch of oranges for me (how did they know I LOVE oranges at Christmas).  I didn't think anything of it - I'd given them a few goodies too.  But Monday night came, and brought wi...

I love Christmas music, especially Handel's Messiah.  I especially love to sing the choruses.  It all started when I was in High School, and the Maquoketa Choir sang "And the Glory of the Lord".  I've never been the same since.  The first time I saw it in it's entirety was a couple of years later when I was in my first year at Rick's College.  Later, when I was on my mission, I purchased a  cassette tape of highlights from the "Messiah".  And that year, my companion and I opened our presents to the strains of the "Hallelujah" Chorus.  It was heavenly. Over the years, I kept that tape, and practically wore it out.  Well - what with my move this year, my cassette tapes finally all went to the DI.  This of course meant that my beloved Highlights went with them.  What's a girl to do?  Frankly, I didn't think much about it until I realized what it was that had been missing from my Christmas this year.  Yep - you guessed it....

I read a disturbing statistic this morning.  It said that only 50% of insured women over 40 get their annual mammogram.  Now, I hate the annual boob job as much as the rest of us.  I would so much rather go to my gynecologist twice a year than go and be felt up and have what little there is smashed by some skinny tech in their 20's.   HOWEVER - I make sure I get my annual exam.  And so far, though my girls be small, they are healthy (say HALLELUJAH!). Now, lest you think that cancer can never happen to you, think again.  Just ask my friend Cynthia who is in her 40's, discovered a cancerous lump and is now a survivor because it got caught early enough.  Breast cancer is the number one cancer among women.  If you are over 40 and insured, I urge you - go and have the damn test!  It's free! And if you're not insured, go and pay to have the damn test anyway!  Either way, wouldn't you rather have the peace of mind that comes from knowin...