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Grizz reflects on his most bittersweet yet most special Holiday Season of all.
Who doesn’t love this time of year? Yeah, we can all get bogged down with the stress of traveling and figuring out what to get our loved ones but let’s be honest; everyone gets a little giddy on Christmas Eve with anticipation of the big day that is to come in 24 short hours. For parents, it’s the joy of watching their children open up all the presents that Santa brought them, and obviously we know what all the good boys and girls look forward to. I feel this is the time of year that all of us revert back to our childhood days and relive all those special moments, if nothing else we are all kids again for at least one day a year!
For me this time of year is bitter sweet, it represents the highest of highs and the lowest of lows in my young furry life! Every year I sit in my cave with a smile on my face thinking back to the days when I was a young cub and waking up at the crack of dawn with such excitement, racing to Mamma Grizz and Papa Grizz’s bedroom to wake them up so the commencement of ripping open all the nicely wrapped presents could begin! Mamma Grizz and Pappa Grizz always provided me with the best Christmas imaginable. After the presents had been open and many cups of coffee had been consumed by my parents all the Aunts, Uncle and Cousin Grizz’s would come over for a nice long day of watching Basketball, Football and eating! I cherish every moment of my young cub life!
Two years ago at this time was particularly rough on me. December 18 just one short week before the big day I was diagnosed with cancer. Needless to say I was devastated, the first thing that ran through my mind was the obvious, “Am I going to Die”? Luckily for me, I had Mamma Grizz at my side to help comfort me along with the Surgeon who performed my biopsy Dr. Kiledjian, who is one of the kindest and gentlest men I have ever met. This moment is kind of fuzzy (no pun indented) for me because of all the things going through my head but I do remember both of them giving me the moment to vent my frustration before reeling me back in to talk strategy. One particular comment by the Dr. caught my attention that set me on my path to becoming a survivor. “Grizz, Cancer is not the death sentence that it use to be, it’s going to be long and it’s going to be difficult but with the right frame of mind you can and will beat this!” This is the day my life really began!
I knew now that I was in the fight of my life, I had to pull out all the stops, clear my head and become mentally focused! As our crowd pumpers at the Grizzlies perfectly put it “IT’S THE 4th QUARTER, ON YOUR FEET, AND MAKE SOME NOISE!” I knew at this moment I had two choices, sit back and let this get the best of me or Stand up and Fight! I chose to fight! I decided right then and there that I was going to put all my energy, strength and focus into beating the toughest opponent I have ever faced! From that moment on I was determined, that was the day I went from a cub to a BEAR! With the support of my family, friends, the Grizzlies Organization and the Memphis Community I was going to be OK!
I now look back at that time as the most special Holiday Season of all. Now, whether this Holiday Season is the highest of highs or the lowest of lows myself and the Memphis Grizzlies would like to wish you and yours Happy Holidays and a great 2010!
Remember if you’re going to be a bear, be a Grizzly.
Grizz
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