The "You're Alive?" Club

I'm higher than the kite Elton John could only sing about.

I'm also happy as Lainey drags me across the Islands YMCA parking lot.

Completely enthralled by the rapture of 5 guitars simultaneously playing separate yet perfectly complimentary solos as Bill Callahan extolls the virtues of "Sycamores" is streaming in my ears and in my periphery, I spy a fast moving green Chevrolet Impala.

Lainey drags me across the medium to another packed lot.

The Impala speeds up and somewhere through my ear buds I think I hear my name.

Squealing car tires demand my attention and I see a little old lady behind the wheel screaming my name, "MICHEAL!" as the Impala grinds to a halt beside me.

"YOU'RE ALIVE!" Nancy screams.

"YOU'RE ALIVE!" I scream back.

Reaching out of her car window as I lean in we awkwardly hug in celebration as the Impala idles.

"You look good," she says once back inside and behind the wheel.

Rolling my eyes, she laughs.

"Last time I saw you, you looked like warmed over death on a stale bun."

"I know," she laughs. "You know what?"

"What?"

"I just decided I can't control the way I look. You know? I just roll with whatever it is and try to laugh."

"I have to say Nancy, it's working for you. You look great!"

She rolls her eyes and I laugh.

We met earlier this year in the Y's "Live Strong" program for cancer survivors and managed to graduate. 

This is the first time I've seen any of my fellow cancer buddies since.

"A new "Live Strong" class starts today and there's only two signed up. You wanna keep surviving and crash it?"

I laugh.

"Seriously, I'm gonna plan a reunion," she says, holding my hand for the briefest of seconds yet conveying an entire lifetime of understanding and solidarity.

"I'm in!" I happily exclaim.

Our eyes meet and we watch salt water well over a set of blue eyes and another of set of brown, the seconds crashing to a halt, suddenly seeming like a thousand years.

"Take care Micheal," she says kissing my hand.

"You too Nancy."

The Impala peels away spraying gravel so Lainey jerks me quickly to the safety of the walking path, leading me towards home.

On the way, I wish every greeting in life was as full of excitement, enthusiasm, anticipation and surprise as it is when you're shocked to find someone you like is still alive!

I wonder why every greeting isn't like this one; two people shocked to have another moment together when, odds really are against it, yet HERE WE ARE!

What else is there to ask for?