To my female readers:

Sixteen years ago on Valentine's Day I learned I had breast cancer. It was exactly six months before my second wedding and I was worried that: A. I might not be around for my wedding, and B. if I was around, I'd be bald with no eyelashes. 

I was one of the lucky ones. The lump had been found early; I had radiation which turned out to be no big deal, and at my wedding I had hair and eyelashes. And I'm not the only lucky one – I have dozens of friends and family members who had breast cancer and then got over it. (I don't care for the word 'survivor' cause it implies that those who don't survive are losers – And I loathe all those pink ribbons and damn teddy bears.) Get checked, and don't rely just on a mammogram (mine never did show up on it). 

Have a happy and healthy Valentines Day. xxoo