As I walked out to my bright red wagon when we finished those tacos, I felt a thrill go up my spine as I unlocked the door. I have the ability to go anywhere, I thought. I am moving under my own power. It’s such a simple, every day thing that I can’t help but celebrate. Every day is now full of these small victories, and I’m slowly becoming master of my own destiny again.

Erin Marquis is the Managing Editor of Jalopnik, a car-focused blog I read every day, and is recovering from thyroid cancer. She wrote a great post on her first drive after getting back on her feet from treatment. Thyroid cancer is no joke–she’s got to deal with shitty medication issues every time she has to get scanned–but I can relate to the heady feeling of freedom that comes from the first drive after a long time off one’s feet.