Do you believe in karma?

A few weeks ago my employer hosted its annual company-wide campaign to raise money for a well-known national charity, and as always, I ponied up. In three years, I've never won any of the lucrative prizes that the company and the charity sponsor as donation incentives. But this year I won a mac daddy, just one week after Chopped Liver made its online debut: A free trip to Aruba for two! Do you believe in karma? I do today!

Black-out dates limited us to going by December 20 or sometime next May-September. My lucky friend Amanda and I were planning to go next summer, then, but after my surgery date was delayed into mid-January, we decided to squeeze it in before the holidays. We leave Friday for a six night vacation -- one more blissful romp in the sun for my scarless mid-section! I'm packing three bikinis, one juggernaut bottle of SPF 30, flip flops and some beach reads.

Friends and family: I'll understand if you excommunicate me from your thoughts and prayers for the week. Please promise to resume feeling sorry for me when I return, though! Remember... liver transplant! Karma!