In 2017 Randall Munroe posted a strip called "Seven Years" about being the caregiver for a loved one dealing with cancer:

https://xkcd.com/1928/

That strip literally made me cry, it was such a clear telling of what that experience is like; much of it could have been about my own life.

Except that my own experience had a different ending.

Today he put out "Fifteen Years":

https://xkcd.com/3172/

This one made me want to cheer. What a joy to see a story that has played out so differently, so much better. I have never crossed paths with Mr. Munroe, but I rejoice in his and his family's good fortune as if he were a good friend.

Here's to many more years.

@corbet lovely! Thanks for sharing it.

@corbet I saw "15 years" earlier today, but I didn't know about the earlier "7 years" - thanks for sharing that, it is indeed touching.

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This right here is why cancer research is important.

@corbet I even remember the Two Years one. https://xkcd.com/1141/

@argv_minus_one Yeah, and the rump administration is killing it. @corbet

@corbet seven years this fall since my own diagnosis of breast cancer. I’ve never seen this xkcd until today. That is indeed what it feels like. A sword of Damocles that somedays you forget is there and other times not so much, and also there are alligators lol

@corbet Yes, that’s good. Chemo saved my wife too and I’m thankful for it every day.

@joncounts @corbet Ditto-ish... surgery and chemo.

@corbet That last line really hits home 🥺

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Right in the feels. Thank you.

@corbet This happened with us , we are at 10 years remission. Old age is wonderful.

@corbet today I cried at an XKCD strip

@corbet totally unexpectedly, cuz I'm an emotionless android, it did me too.

@corbet Aaand, I'm crying. (Thank you!)

@afewbugs @corbet so say we all.

@corbet thank you for posting this.

@corbet that one hit me hard. In a good way.

@corbet Those both made me cry a little bit - the last one maybe slightly more than that 😭🥰

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Who knew xkcd could make me cry.

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I need that as a postcard

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You might enjoy the results of a 7-day poll that I just ran, which finished earlier today:

@corbet ditto

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I'm not cry...OK, I'm crying.😍

@corbet @etchedpixels ditto here too. Also hugs to you both. Take care.

@etchedpixels @corbet 💙💙💙

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Our kids: going on about how old we are.

Us: one day, *if* you're lucky, you might be as old as we are now.

@corbet That is beautiful. That's all we have. The journey. But it's good to have longer journeys.

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Yeah, I had the same experience when I saw both strips. Because mine, too, had a different ending. But I'm so happy his did not.

(I also cannot watch the opening to Pixar's 'Up' without crying.)

Fuck cancer.

@corbet damnit might something in my eye

@corbet @balanza you can count me in your victims good sir

@corbet I think the whole Internet does, and I love it a lot!

@corbet Thanks for sharing, I read both and was a beautiful history.