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Tonight, Joyce Ferrar plans to be watching the Dayton fireworks display from the roof of a downtown condo with friends. According to her oncologist, she isn't supposed to be there — or anywhere — this month.

Two years ago, "just two weeks after I retired that April, I was diagnosed with stage three colon cancer — even though I had been having colonoscopies," she said. "I had surgery and 26 chemo treatments.

"Then, I felt good until last summer, when more tumors were found. I had chemo, but it didn't work. My doctor told me I had six months, which would have been up in June."

Although Ferrar can actually feel the tumors and is in pain, she is out and about more than most healthy people — laughing, talking about current events, and answering honestly when people ask "How are you?"

"Several months ago I went on a cruise with friends, I was in Myrtle Beach with family in May, and in late June I went with friends from my book group to Atlanta."

And, she's preparing for her 69th birthday July 11 and an August trip.

Ferrar knows better than to think she'll beat the cancer, but said that her late husband, Bob, "was a good teacher. He suffered from lupus for 10 years and died 13 years ago, but he was very courageous and in good spirits even when I knew he was suffering."

The couple moved to Dayton from Cleveland in 1980, when Bob became dean of the School of Business at Sinclair Community College.

Joyce worked in social services, primarily as a family and child advocate. They adopted three children, one of whom died of a brain tumor 11 years ago.

Living with death is not new to Ferrar, but facing her own is.

"I've lost weight and get compliments," she said with a laugh. "All you have to do is be a fat lady and lose weight and everyone says you look marvelous; they don't see that you're sick."

And she doesn't look it, but is.

"I have a lack of energy and a lot of pain in my ribcage," she said. "There are moments when I feel really alone; those are hard times and I guess I could get really depressed. Sometimes I have to push myself, but that's one of the reasons I get out with people as much as I can.

"My doctor has talked to me about what I can expect, and I'm on medicine for pain and nausea. We've talked about Hospice, and if I can manage at home, I will do that. But, my outlook is to keep on going while I can; we're all here for a certain amount of time, so make the most of it."

Let's hope that this year's fireworks display is grand, and that Joyce has a front row seat on that roof.

She deserves it.

Contact this reporter at (937) 276-4441 or vburroughs@woh.rr.com.