I don’t know about you but those letters people include in their Christmas cards about how wonderful their year was make me crazy.

“Chad here…me and Penny want to let you know how wonderful our life was this past year and make you feel like your life sucked….our daughter Caliope starred as Annie in her school musical. The sun will come out tomorrow never sounded so angelic. Chadwick the 4th mastered tying his sneakers. We are so proud…” Yeah, I hate these letters. So I’m not writing one. I am writing a brief reflection of the past year.

As we all know, two knee replacements and a funky cancer diagnosis pretty much dominated the year for me. I began a course of immunotherapy treatment that will hopefully knock this shit out once and for all.

There is an odd feeling that takes over as the toxic chemicals are dripped into your bloodstream. There is that part of you that thinks it’s a good thing because it’s purpose is to help kill cancer cells and shrink existing tumors. Then there is the part of you that fears the side effects of this stuff. And to be honest, I sat there wondering if this would work…will it be enough? Did we catch this in time? Should we have started this back in September? Will I die?

There are no perfect answers to these questions. We can only hope that all the research and trials that have been done that show this is a effective treatment are correct. (Fuck you Robert F. Kennedy Jr) I am beyond fortunate that I live this close to the best hospital in the world. I have an incredible medical team. I have incredible insurance. I have family near and far that root for me every day. I have friends and chosen family members supporting me every step of the way. I have pools and ponds to run in. I have ice cream dates and cookies and coffee with those that love me. I have ladies who lunch. I have the Patriots and Drake “Drake Maye” Maye. I have the Bruins…when they actually play well. I will have the Red Sox as the year rolls on. I have Jason’s bat. And so much more…

The coming year brings great uncertainty. But there is one thing that is for sure very certain…me. I will face this challenge head on and fight every step of the way.

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

Robert Frost

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound’s the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

Happy New Year.