This morning a new blog reader’s message gave me quite a chuckle, so much so that I decided to share it with you all…Mainly, though, it gives me the opportunity to clarify a few points…First, though, here is the email:

“I have myeloma and only recently came across “Margaret’s Blog” while researching curcumin.  The blog looks fantastic, with so much information.  I’d like to know who Margaret is, or how this got started.  Is Margaret a real person??  If so, I can’t imagine how she replies to all these questions nor how she has time to look up all these articles.  A little background please.  Thanks!!!“

I replied to this message, of course, telling the new reader to scroll down my Pages on the right and click on “Living with smoldering myeloma.” The info therein needs to be updated (I’m now 51, not 49 years old, e.g.!), but it does provide a bit of background for those who haven’t been reading my blog from Day One. Another Page that new readers might want to check out is “My discovery of curcumin.”

Here’s the thing: back in 2007, when I first began blogging, I never imagined that I would come across so much information about non-toxic anti-MM substances. Not in my wildest dreams. I also never thought that my blog would become so big…to the point of being unwieldy, I know I know I know! Or so popular, to be super honest. 🙂 So those two above-mentioned Pages were linked to each other. But that was BACK THEN…when I had only created a few Pages and had no idea that I would be creating any more. Hah.

Now, I would like to reassure everyone that I am indeed a REAL person. I’m married to my best friend, a sweet generous loving talented tall dark handsome Italian genius whose name is Stefano. We have been together for, uhm, 15 years or thereabouts…married for more than 13 years. Our six cats fill our lives with joy (and a bit of asthma, too…turns out I’m allergic to cats! Oh well!).

I have three university degrees (B.A., M.A. and Ph.D….not in the scientific or medical fields, though! 😉 ). I’ve always been a bit of a nerd…I love studying and learning new things. Always have.

And I love teaching (Italian or English). For the past five years (plus) I’ve been teaching English in a company in Florence, Italy, where I live now but where I also grew up (I’m one of those odd, purrfectly bilingual creatures…). I’ve recently also accepted a part-time, online job that has to do with English grammar. In my free time (!!!), in addition to doing research/writing for my blog, which means A LOT to me!!!, I get together as frequently as possible (at least once a week) with my fabulous, funny girlfriends…

I also enjoy cooking, reading, and watching good movies or “Downton Abbey”…and traveling (whenever economically possible…) and birdwatching with Stefano. Yes, I do indeed have a busy life. And it’s not always peachy, let me tell ya…My in-laws’ health has been steadily declining in the past few years, for example. And my parents have also had a few health-related issues. But, in my blog, I prefer to focus on the positive aspects of my life, which are many…Overall, I’m a lucky gal, a verrrrry lucky gal! And for me, the glass is always half full…Always!

I’m currently visiting my parents who live on Cape Cod, in Massachusetts, U.S.A. It finally snowed last night…So this morning, as soon as it was light enough, I went outside in my jammies, coat, boots and hat to take a few photos. That was such a glorious, happy moment for me. And in fact that is one of the positive lessons that myeloma has taught me: it’s the small things in life that bring the most happiness…like being out in the snow for the first time in years…

Yesterday I found a funny little item on Facebook (where my blog has its own Page, by the way). As follows: “Today I will live in the moment…Unless the moment is unpleasant, in which case I will eat a cookie.” My mantra. 🙂

A HAPPY, HEALTHFUL NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE!!! 😀