My Inspiration

The theme for this weeks Girly Girl Nail Art Challenge is "What Inspires You".  The answer for me was easy, especially this time of year - my brother.

Two years ago my oldest brother was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer.  He fought bravely.  He amazed and inspired me with his strength and willingness to not let it get the best of him.  He smiled, he laughed.  He didn't want his final time on this earth to be filled with sadness or anger, he wanted it the way he always wanted it, with laughter.

He fought hard for a year and never gave up.  One year ago on Tuesday he celebrated his 25th wedding anniversary, renewing his vows with his sons by his side and his beautiful wife in front of him.  She wore blue and was amazing.  Then, he took a turn for the worse.  His cancer had spread to his spine at this point and began to cause him excruciating pain as well as cut off his ability to use his limbs.  He decided he didn't want his final time to be extended if that meant being a quadriplegic doped up in pain, he went ahead with a radical spinal surgery to remove the sections affected and replace them with metal rods.

The surgery was a success, but his liver, also riddled with cancer, was never able to recover from it.  His health quickly deteriorated and he was sent home to his beautiful home on the water he loved to be with his family.  I said goodbye to him on October 30th.  On October 31st he turned and looked at his sons and wife one final time, smiled and passed on.

Recently, the amazing and lovely Amy of Amy's Nail Boutique created a polish to honor another man who was battling with colon cancer who sadly also has left this world.  Jonathan.  Another father and husband and close friend of another lovely women I've met in this community.  A man who fought bravely and made the best of the time he had left.  For weeks every time I put it in my cart, I cried.  But I knew I had to buy it.  So I finally did.  Half of the sale proceeds of this polish goes to Jonathan's family.  Please check out the polish at Amy's Store for more information.

I could think of no better polish than this to wear today.  To my amazing brother Kevin, who was the most well liked man I've ever known.  To remind me of his beautiful wife, the pillar of strength and dedication, who wore blue on their anniversary.  To remind me of how I wish I could be more days when I complain or cry.

This is one coat of Amy's Nail Boutique For Jonathan over 3 coats of OPI My Boyfriend Scales Walls.  For Jonathan has blue and copper glitter with a ton of blue micro glitter in the base.  As with all of my Amy's polishes, it applied perfectly.

Thanks for reading.


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