My "Coming Out" Party!

While the treatments have been going on for a while, so have my preparations for a story about my illness. WGAL is a wonderful forum for sharing stories and I was privileged enough to share mine on the air last night. It wasn't an easy decision to share what is going on. I was a little nervous, Chris was a lot nervous, but now, a day after it aired I'm feeling it was a good choice. I feel proud of what my News Director and my photographer, friend and funny man Andy helped me put together.

I received about 45 e-mails since yesterday and many of them refer to me "coming out" with my story. I just think that sounds funny. The only time I say coming out is when someone is gay. So to be clear, my story had nothing to do with me announcing I'm suddenly a lesbian. Nope, strictly a heterosexual still. The other time people refer to "coming out" is for a debutant party, big social affairs where 16 years olds are formally introduced into society. The craziest thing is this tradition still happens in Lancaster. My wonderful sister-in-law Hilary had a fabulous Deb party. But, alas, there's no country club fete full of surf and turf and escorts for me. Instead my "coming out" was simply me and my bald head in a bright yellow zip up that made me look like I just stepped out of Saturday Night Fever. At least it was a bright color so I didn't look too depressing telling my cancer sob story.

So here's the link to the story on WGAL. I hope our web guys are excited I'm linking to it so we get a lot of hits on the web page. These are the things that make the "Web Boys" happy.

Meredith's WGAL Story

This will be the first in a series of four stories. This one is "all about Meredith." Typical. It's the MoJo Show. While this one focuses on why I've been missing, my diagnosis and prognosis, the other stories are about the friends I've made along the way. The Chemo Lounge which is really a party room. My friend Agnes, who is like the Ambassador of Hope at the office and then the final story is about the Wig Lady, a breast cancer survivor who now sells wigs to women suffering hair loss. They are all such amazing women and have meant so much to me. It's time to tell their stories too!

So I knew I would post this today and all my family and friends who don't live in the WGAL coverage area would be able to see it. Well, I'm like 12 hours too late because my sister Ashley is a WGAL stalker. She googles WGAL and finds stories of mine that are posted online. She got a hold of this one before I even told her it was on and she's forwarded it to everyone. I talked to Grandma today and she said she loved the story. Gram is great at e-mail but finding that story on her own is pushing her technological limits. When she said Ash sent it, it all made sense. Not only does Ash stalk me online, but she stalks her own West Palm Beach TV station personalities. She has a serious crush on the weather guy and knows he whole life story. She's contemplated going to events that he was hosting just so she can see him. A little creepy, Ash. But she's a perfect example of the people in Lancaster who thought my story was good. They said they missed me being in their living room each night and now they're happy they know why and I missing and that I will soon be back. Gotta love devoted viewers.

I hope you like the clip as much as the crazies like Ashley!