You Can Do This

My Dad dropped the cancer bomb on us this summer.  It's a big deal - but in ways different than you might think.  You see, my Dad can be a bit of a quitter.  He'll be 79 years old this December.  His own father died at the age of 72.  My Dad thinks he's been living on borrowed time ever since his 72nd birthday.  I'm told by those older and wiser than I, that this will make sense to me when [if] I outlive my parents.  As for now, it seems like pure nonsense.

When his cancer diagnosis came along...well, I was pretty angry.  I figured Dad would use it as an excuse to give up the ghost.  So, we're working hard to keep him upbeat and focused on the things that matter.  He started his radiation therapy last week.  The kids and I took advantage of a nice afternoon to put this message together for him.  I sure hope he gets the picture.  And if he doesn't...well...maybe somebody else will.

First Kiss

 "Kiss Me" by Paola Zakimi :: http://holli.etsy.com/

Four days into his first school year, my friend's son was already in trouble. He kissed a girl in his kindergarten class. When questioned about his actions he replied matter-of-factly, "I just wanted to say thank you without any words."

Now that's the kind of trouble that makes a mommy proud.

Synchronicity

I had a synchronous moment at the gym this morning. As I was crusing on the treadmill to Dawn Tyler Watson's incredibly funky version of the Beatles tune, Come Together, I looked around to notice everyone on the treadmills was keeping stride with me. For a moment, it made me feel like I was indeed part of something much, much bigger.

Check out more of Dawn's music here.

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There are moments in life that change you…for good. These moments can be horrible.

The phone rings. You’re panic-shopping for your 4th of July party. You almost don’t answer – you’re just so busy. It’s your dad calling to say he has cancer.

Weeks later, you’re desperately trying to get the laundry put away so the kids have something to wear this week. Again, the phone rings. Again, you don’t have time to chat. It’s news that a dear friend, a father of 2 year old twin girls, dove into a lake and broke his neck.

There are moments when you realize how little control you have over things. Thousands of fans waiting to enter a football stadium surge against you as you hold one of your children and try to shield the other. You know you can’t pick the other child up without getting trampled.

And then…. Then there are the moments that you can’t believe. Those moments you're afraid to wish for. The cancer isn’t in the lymph nodes or the bones. The spinal cord’s intact and there’s sensation in a thumb. A beautiful stranger on your left sweeps up your son while three lovely, powerful ladies on your right holler out and push back the crowd creating just the space you need to get out of the crush. These are the moments you realize that there are reasons to celebrate. There is good in this world. There is reason for joy.