A few months ago the Lance Armstrong foundation started encouraging people to write down their story. This got me thinking about writing down my experience. I found so many of the stories submitted amazing and uplifting. I remember what it meant to me to be reading Lance’s books and feel like I wasn’t crazy.

I also feel this need to explain myself. There was a good six months before we knew I had cancer where I was going nuts. My body was trying to tell me something and I was lost, depressed, and scared by the changes. A number of you had to interact with me during this time or put up with long, seemly endless conversations on the pointlessness of life. You know who you are and you all took it very much in stride.

I’m also crossing two years cancer free. Getting this story down on paper turns out to be a cathartic process for me. So part of me wants to tell this story to mark the anniversary and then look forward.

This story is very personal. It is also very long. You by no means should feel you have to read it.

I’ve finished part one. Thanks for listening.