I Will Survive

Three of my closest and dearest friends came to visit me yesterday and, while they were here, we conference-called four other of our closest girlfriends so that they could be part of the "party." These are all friends whom I met while in graduate school 10 years ago and we have all remained incredibly close since then. When I think of these friends, the qualities that they all share (and which I love most about each of them) is that they are all strong, feisty, determined, smart, fun-loving, beautiful souls. We all became friends in our late 20's and, through our collective friendship, I think that we all gained an incredible amount of confidence about ourselves at a time when we were all struggling to define who we were and what we wanted our lives to represent. Together, we learned that we all have a tremendous amount to offer this world and that we should never compromise on our goals. Most of all, though, I learned how powerful and comforting and healing female relationships can be. Graduate school was an enormously influential time in my life -- I absolutely would not be who I am today were it not for that experience -- and I give these 7 women so much credit for helping to shape me into who I am today. I feel so incredibly blessed to have each of them in my life!!

One of the trademarks of our friendship has always been the song "I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynord. During graduate school, the song carried a tremendous amount of symbolism for each of us since it represented the feisty, determined, strong individuals that we were becoming. And since that time, whenever we get together we play the song just for old-times sake and laugh about how much we have all changed and how much we have stayed the same.

Anyway, in keeping with their ever-witty, clever personalities, my friends showed up yesterday with a modified version of the song in hand (see the lyrics below). When I read what they wrote, I immediately burst into tears. I was overcome with such an incredible sense of love for each of them and it gave me so much comfort to know that they are here for me, that I am not in this fight alone. I can see each and every one of them standing at the top of my mountain dancing around, shaking their hair, and screaming these lyrics at the top of their lungs. And when I get to the top, I know that they will be waiting for me there ready to sweep me off to another girls weekend where they will help me relax and laugh and begin to put all of this behind me. I know this, because this is what best friends do for each other.

I Will Survive

At first I was afraid, I was petrified,
Found out the Bitch had latched onto my inside
Then I spent so many nights thinking what had gone wrong
and I grew strong.
And I learned how to get along.

When chemo and radiation in place
And walking everyday, you best be damn sure I'll win this race
I'm going to eat that vegan crap
I'm going to take my daily nap
There's just no way you're going to come back and bother me.

Go on Bitch, go get out of Me
I've got my friends and my family
Weren't you the Bitch who tried to break me and metastasize
Did you think I'd crumble
Did you think I'd give up and cry
Oh no, not I!
I will survive

For as long as I know how to love,
I know I'll stay alive
I've got all my life to live
And I've got all my love to give
I'll survive I will survive
Hey hey

(I, I will survive)
Hey hey
(I, I will survive)
Every day
(I, I will survive)
Oh yeah

It took all the strength I had not to fall apart
I've been puking, sick and tired and feel like an old fart.
And, I spent so many days blogging on my site
And with Luke, Kyle and Pete I will not lose this fight.
You see me, someday new,
I'm healthier now, so Bitch F-U.
So you felt like dropping and and messing with my Chi
But I am stying here, so Bitch, Good-bye!

Go on Bitch go, get out of me
I am stronger than you'll ever be
You just picked the wrong person because I was born free
Did you think I'd crumble
Did you think I'd give up and cry
Oh no, not I, I will survive

For as long as I know how to love, I know I'll stay alive
I've got all my life to live
And with so many friends, my love to give
I'll survive I will survive
Hey hey.