My father is a tough guy. He wakes up at 5:30 A.M. Monday through Friday without an alarm. He doesn’t leave for work until 7, but he has a workout to rip out first, which consists of 300 pushups and 45 minutes of cardio after he makes himself breakfast. Then he cleans up, kisses his wife of over 30 years goodbye and drives to work.
At work, he’s the Controller for All-American Co-Op, which basically means he handles all the financial decisions for the company. He wears jeans to work everyday for the rare occasions of a trucker calling in sick and a delivery still has to be made. He’s gone to court against power companies and upset clients, always to receive a ruling in his favor. Last month someone in the company tried to oust someone else out because they didn’t like them and finally had a little dirt for a case. My father spoke strongly against this, being the only one, and she still works there today. He hasn’t told me that story yet and he may never because if you ask him what he does, he’ll say he’s just an accountant.
On the drive home he’s given rides to several hitch hikers and estimates that he changes about two to three tires a year for people on I-90.
At home, he’s the provider and protector of the family. Thanks to him I’ve been skiing in Colorado since 5th grade and camping ever since I can remember. When we wanted a deck, he made it. New shingles, he roofed it. A shed, he built it. He took apart his mother’s piano, refurbished it, placed it by the door in our house, and yet he only knows how to play Jingle Bells using one note.
He comes from a large family, which means he knows how to cook and pinch pennies. To this day we still don’t have cable but we always eat well so nobody cares.
A big family also has other benefits especially if you are towards the younger side. As uncles and aunts become diagnosed with diabetes or heart disease, you know to change your diet and prepare earlier. Well, my aunts seemed to have an uncommonly high rate of breast cancer. Turns out they’ve discovered a gene that ups your risk to 88% if you’re female. It also ups the risks for males as well.
My father was diagnosed with breast cancer last month. He has undergone surgery, is on some medication and will not need chemo. Everything is fine, two large scars and some time off work but no more cancer.
The only reason this is fine is because he was aware of his family history and was man enough to get screened every year for all types of cancer, including breast cancer.
When it was detected, the cancer was the size of a pin head. My uncle’s breast cancer was the size of a pea. The pea size needed a year of chemo to cure while the pin head needed a surgery and a pill.
Men can get breast cancer too. Early detection is the only cure for cancer. Our parents are hitting that age where cancer develops. Cover your bases.
Spread the word; save a life.