Good morning family and friends. Today is April 4, 2014. “A photograph can be an instant of life captured for eternity that will never cease looking back at you.” ~Brigitte Bardot My buddy Oliver -- he’s my black lab that has been a source of companionship for our family for 13 years. We bought him as a pup and have watched his personality grow as time went on. It’s hard to see your pet’s health start to falter, but such is life. Oliver’s advanced age is catching up with him as we witness his eyes filming to hamper his sight, his hearing become dull as we whistle and clap to get his attention and his mobility become unsteady as he gimps across a room. His torso is laden with fatty tumor lumps as well that recently break open and cause open wounds. Yes, my little puppy has grown into an old man, and we have decided to make sure he is always comfortable through various medications but will not put him through biopsies or anything of the sort to extend his diminishing life. Oliver and I have had our talks throughout this past year – it’s hell getting old but it beats the alternative – and I’m just thankful that God has granted him a good, long life. I believe we have come to the unspoken conclusion that we will probably arrive in our eternal home in close proximity so I better remember to pack the Kibbles and Bits! I have been feeling very well as of late so I certainly am not complaining. I am not taking any type of treatment or therapies that would cause side effects, so my days are presently not spent dealing with illness. The only thing that I still suffer from is neuropathy -- that ongoing, constant neuropathy -- in both my hands and feet. I am beginning to wonder if the feeling in my extremities will ever return. I was hoping by this time, the effects would lighten up, but they have not. The one drug that was administered during my chemotherapy is the cause, of course, and my oncologists advised me that the return of feeling would be extremely slow, if ever. I am textbook on this -- I so wish that wasn’t the case. But when I see paraplegic Amy Purdy compete on “Dancing with the Stars”, I realize it’s time to stop sweating the small stuff and just get on with life. So despite my neuropathy, I can’t wait for the weather to turn warm so that I can begin to take daily walks. I think this would be great therapy for me not only physically but mentally. There is nothing more invigorating than to breathe in fresh air while getting exercise and I’m hoping it will improve my balance. I think I might need to become creative and find new places to venture to, -- you know -- change it up a bit – – and get a change of scene. Yes, I think that’s what I will do… Any suggestions? I wish to thank all of you that have supported Nanci’s Posse in its efforts to raise money for pancreatic cancer research at the PurpleStride 2014 Chicago 5K Walk/Run. The event will take place on Sunday, April 26, which will be here before we know it! My gratitude runs deep -- I will never forget your generosity. Yesterday was another day of lively laughter as me and my kids sat down for another round of dividing up old photographs. These sessions are simply priceless to me. Not only do I get to point out old relatives and friends that Nicole and Brett may have never met, but we get to reminisce about all of our years together as a family. It’s pretty interesting to see their tactics of how they want these old relics to be divided. They pretty much agree on who will take possession of certain pictures, but there are those treasured ones that they would put into a separate pile to be “bartered” with. “You can have Mom’s first pet picture if I can have her first communion”. “I’d like Grandpa’s picture with Ronald McDonald when he first went into the McDonald’s business. You take the one of him with Little Oscar when he worked for Oscar Meyer...” “If I let you have the picture of our house on the first day that mom and dad moved in, can I have the picture of mom’s family back in 1968 sitting at the kitchen table that we still have?” ... and on... and on... and on. Yes, my ironic blessing – – cancer – – has given me these precious moments to treasure... Perhaps you don’t have been ironic blessing that makes your perspective on life so crystal clear. If not, then consider yourself blessed just the same – – just not ironically. Put on your rose-colored glasses and view your world in all its splendor. Embrace all the goodness that surrounds you and have it bring you joy and fulfillment. Face your disdain as if there was no tomorrow -- from that perspective, your load will lighten. Have a nice weekend everyone! Love to all. EXCERPT from “Jesus Calling” by Sarah Young: “April 4: I met you in the stillness of your soul. It is there that I seek to commune with you. A person who is open to My Presence is exceedingly precious to Me. My eyes search to and fro throughout the earth, looking for one whose heart is seeking Me. I see you trying to find Me; our mutual search results in joyful fulfillment. Stillness of soul is increasingly rare in this world addicted to noise and speed. I am pleased with your desire to create a quiet space where you and I can meet. Don’t be discouraged by the difficulty of achieving this goal. I monitor all your efforts and am blessed by each of your attempts to seek My Face.”
Posted on: Fri, 04 Apr 2014 11:10:49 +0000
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