my mom took me out to lunch today. i mentioned that i notice folks using the word "benign" a lot these days, as a descriptor of something harmless. she said that when she was pregnant with me, she noticed a lot more pregnant ladies than she ever had before. makes sense. perspective.

i got to thinking about "benign" last night. in the "cancer or not cancer" sense, my brain tumor was certainly benign. but in the "not dangerous or harmful" sense, it certainly wasn't. and part of it is still in there. the plan is to keep an MReye on it, so that if it starts to regrow it can be treated in a non-invasive way. i am so thankful that my tumor was not cancerous. certainly. a major relief. but the word benign still makes me bristle now. probably always will.