Like many with Eastern European genes, my capacity for self pity, regret, and dark ruminations about the future is profound. And, of course, I have loved every minute of the misery.
But this morning I had to re-think all that, which may be more nurture than nature. Yale Medical Center called me up to inform me that the results of the second biopsy on my left breast showed no sign of cancer. My sister died of breast cancer at age 60. Another close relative has colon cancer. Those two cancers tend to cluster in families.
It might just be that in more ways than I realize I have the genes associated with the long-living Italian side of the family. They also tend to have a quick eye for where joy can be found and augmented. Now that I am reflecting on this, it's pretty obvious that I am probably more similar to the Italians in my family than the Polish. For example, we are all well below normal height, with a stocky body type. The hair on our heads never thins. "Never sick a day in our lives" seems to sum up our overall health.
For New Year's my resolution is to try not to prejudge life, in general and my own. Not carrying the burden of self-pity, regret, and gloom about the future could make me an emotional dead ringer for the Genova side of the family.
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