That's what you get for offering...

Ever since the C word entered the building, we have received a deluge of help from our family and friends. We've been spoiled with dinners, offers of help, prayers, kind words and thoughts... I'm never going to get caught up on the thank-you notes.

It's an amazing and generous thing to behold... but I feel like a poser. Thyroid cancer is like real cancer's lame little brother. It has the same last name, but just about anybody can beat it up. I mean, I have absolutely nothing to complain about. I'm tired (who isn't?) and my burps feel a little weird after all the neck surgery. That's all I got.

It seems like a shame, though, to not properly exploit  graciously accept the offers of help we have received. What kind of friend would I be if I didn't allow those close to me to go out of their way on my behalf? So here's what you can do to help (and I have cancer so you have to do it):

December 14th is the 3rd annual Wear Star Wars/ Share Star Wars Day. I want everybody I know to try to participate. Wait. Not try. Do or do not.

It's very simple. On Friday, December 14th, wear something Star Wars or anything else you're geeky for. Dr. Who, Star Trek, Abraham Lincoln, Dr. Horrible, Auburn, Gummi Bears... whatever charges your phaser.

*Editor's note* By "wear something Star Wars", I don't mean full on, 501st cosplay. It just means maybe you wear a geeky t-shirt or lapel pin. A fabulous accessory or perhaps a hat. Though you would totally get bonus points for wearing full Storm Trooper armor.

Then, buy a geeky toy (may I recommend the new line of Star Wars Angry Birds games?) and donate it to the toy drive of your choice. Or get it to me and I'll drive it to a donation site for you. But here's the catch: you have to put a sticky note on the toy specifying that it can go to a boy or a girl. Otherwise, all the Star Wars and other sci fi stuff will be automatically sorted to the "Boy" pile. And that's a shame.

By now, you may be wondering where this whole thing comes from. It was all over the news a few years ago, but you may not have noticed or you may have forgotten. Here, in words far better than I could use, is the original story of Star Wars Katie. You know that I will get all kinds of supportive for blonde haired, glasses-wearing, adopted girls named Katie. After Katie's mom posted that blog post, the geek world went off. I've never seen anything like it. Calls, messages, and gifts poured in to Katie, all bearing the message, "It's OK for girls to like Star Wars." The geek community rallied to protect one of our own... and it was beautiful. From that, Katie's mom started the Wear Star Wars/ Share Star Wars tradition so that something positive could continue from that experience. Now, I'm inviting you to join in... even if you don't know who Wil Wheaton is.

p.s. This movement can go both ways. It would be equally as awesome to donate a "girl" toy with a sticky note specifying that it can go to a boy or a girl. Apparently, some people figure this out earlier in life than others.

And spread the word, would ya?