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Tracy Gaines

Heartfelt, humorous, and cynical narratives written by...an almost famous blogger. "Publicity can be terrible--only if you don't have any"! ...Jane Russell
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LYLAS!

November 29, 2016 16 Comments

lylas

My first offer for a “guest writer” to write for my blog.

A beautiful story: by Kelley Gaines Friedman

 

There are some things in life that you either luck out on or you don’t. And that’s that. And there is nothing you can do about it. For example, the family you are born into this world with. God gets a lot of gratitude from me about my family. There are definitely some things in life that I didn’t score on, but this one, I did!

I thought growing up the oldest with two younger brothers was the best it could be, but the best was yet to come….

This girl came into my brother’s life and into our family and we were all in love with her immediately. My sister in law, Margaret.

I thought about writing this blog after the 8th annual MelaNoMo, because at MelaNoMo this year, I had a moment of clarity. As I stood on the bank of the river on that beautiful day, I took some breaths of gratitude, some breaths of being fully present and awake to my surroundings. I was looking at Margaret and thought how this is just as much about her as it is my brother Neil, and the disease that he has fought. I want her to know that I truly feel that way! If you don’t know Margaret, you may not know that this girl can get some shit done!

So, being the “mole finder” that she is…once she found that spot on my brother’s back 8 years ago, she has not stopped. She knew all the questions for the doctors, pushed for earlier treatments and surgeries, researched, researched, researched and she found THE treatment. That one, that magical one. She was the advocate, the nurse, our family’s guide through all this mess. We leaned on her…Neil leaned on her. Her strength throughout this continues to amaze me. She is just as much a fighter as Neil and together they kicked melanoma’s ass.

She continues to do so each year as she organizes the event, which takes a lot of work. She does it with that Margaret-ness endurance she has. I could go on and on about Margaret and her amazing ways. I love her like a sister. The sister I never had, but now I do and always will. LYLAS!

 

 

 

 

Comments

  1. Carol says

    November 29, 2016 at 7:50 pm

    Beautifully stated, my sweet Kelley girl! She is a gem! Love to you all!

    Reply
    • Tracy Gaines says

      November 30, 2016 at 9:01 am

      She’s got heart!

      Reply
  2. Julie says

    November 29, 2016 at 7:54 pm

    Well written , Kelley 👏🏻. What a wonderful tribute to Margaret . I love your mama and your family and I am so happy Neil is doing so well. God is so good 🙏🏻.

    Reply
    • Tracy Gaines says

      November 30, 2016 at 8:59 am

      Thanks Julie…aka Bon Bon! What a perfect name for the EXTREME high maintenance! LOVE YOU TOO!

      Reply
  3. Haley says

    November 30, 2016 at 12:00 am

    Kelley-This is amazing!! So true and I couldn’t agree more. I thank God for bringing her into my life everyday too. She is such an awesome sister! I’m so lucky to have the Gaines as a bonus family too!

    Reply
    • Tracy Gaines says

      November 30, 2016 at 8:57 am

      And your sweet little baby girl will think she has TWO sister from day 1! Lucky little girls. I can’t wait!

      Reply
  4. Amanda Evans says

    November 30, 2016 at 12:55 am

    LOVE!!! Who knew my bestie was a writer!?! So very impressed with you Kel, as I so often am!

    Reply
    • Tracy Gaines says

      November 30, 2016 at 8:53 am

      Well who knew…And she got some of that sweetness from her thoughtful bestie! Love you!

      Reply
  5. LeAnn Nethery says

    November 30, 2016 at 8:31 am

    Love this❤️

    Reply
    • Tracy Gaines says

      November 30, 2016 at 8:51 am

      These girls in our lives are something else!

      Reply
  6. Lisa Aldridge says

    November 30, 2016 at 9:57 am

    As the mother of that sweet girl, Margaret, thank you for saying exactly what I have been blessed to know for 32 years. She is amazing but, so too, are all of my Gaines family! Love you all! Lisa

    Reply
    • Tracy Gaines says

      November 30, 2016 at 10:25 am

      They are growing strong….and we are a growing family! I can’t wait to add on to the “sisterhood” with your newest little girl coming soon! Share the love!

      Reply
  7. Karen says

    December 1, 2016 at 12:48 am

    Nice written Kelley! Special family…love you all❤️

    Reply
    • Tracy Gaines says

      December 3, 2016 at 10:53 am

      Love to your family as well, and can’t wait for your family to be close by! Play dates instead of lunch dates/ 😉

      Reply
  8. Robin says

    December 1, 2016 at 3:41 am

    A lot of beauty in the picture of those two. And so much of it you can’t see with a glance.

    Reply
    • Tracy Gaines says

      December 3, 2016 at 10:48 am

      Thanks Robin…they are are kind people…but every now and then I get a glare not a glance:)

      Reply

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About Tracy Gaines

Tracy Gaines My job is to have a good time every day. So I try to plan a lot of trips and parties with family and friends as often as I can. I will drive 10 hours to have a glass of wine with "the girls"! I enjoy the challenge of a long hike or bike ride from time to time, but a bottle of wine, and spending time … [Read More...]

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