Ok...so this time I'm going to try to get back to writing more regularly. Perhaps not daily but hopefully weekly or even monthly. Even annually will be more frequent that this last gap! So much has happened that I can't even begin to relate it all but there have been a few highlights and a couple of what I can only categorise as lowlights.
Let's get the bad stuff out of the way first, not necessarily in chronological order.
On December 31, 2013 in the very early hours, my sister and I lost our younger brother Gordon to lung cancer. He was only 48 and had quit smoking cold turkey when our other brother Robert died in 2007 aged 48, of a heart attack; also a lifetime smoker. I guess that the previous 33 years of smoking weren't obliterated by 6 years of not. A lot of emotions ran through my mind and my heart, to say nothing of the numbness. Other than me and Patricia, all of our immediate birth family members are dead. For those of you who haven't experienced it, it's a very weird feeling. Especially when only our Mum died at a relatively normal age at 78.
Six month's later my son's partner was diagnosed with Hodgkins' Lymphoma and my heart nearly broke to see my 22 year old going through such an awful ordeal. But cancer was beaten and they came through it even stronger!
Another 'lowlight' was that I was diagnosed with osteoarthritis in late 2013. By February, 2014 I was using a cane. By June a walker, by July the pain meds were so strong that I didn't drive anymore. By October I was using a mobility scooter just to be able to leave the house. All in all it was pretty awful for someone like me who has always been someone who walks and bicycles. I haven't ridden my beautiful bike for almost two years now. :( I was booked for total hip replacement surgery for February 23rd this year at Vancouver General Hospital (VGH). Fortunately for me my sister Patricia not only lives in Vancouver but has always been my number one caregiver and protector (aka 'mama bear') and I stayed with her down there. Thank heaven she loves me because once I was down there they bumped my surgery by a month to March 23rd - that was another definitely LOWlight!!! But wait....then there's a highlight!!!
I got my surgery!!! My sister still likes me and Walter still loves me! Even after me being in pain and pretty miserable for the better part of 3 years. Lucky me!
Another highlight is that Walter and I adopted a 2 year old rescue dog who we named Ricky from the Thornhill Animal Shelter in early December, 2013 and then January 28, 2014 we adopted an 8 week old puppy we named Shadow. At first Ricky went all Cujo around the puppy but Shadow wormed his way right into Ricky's heart and now they are inseparable. Ricky has even welcomed Shadow's littermate/sister Clover into his heart. She comes to visit a couple of times a week and it's is wonderful to see the three of them play as a pack. As Martha would say "It's a good thing!"
Yet ANOTHER highlight is that in May 2012 I began painting with my dear friend Noreen Spence. She has an amazing style and helped me give myself permission to not be perfect. Not only that but she gave me confidence in myself and to be honest my painting is what helped me get through Gordon's diagnosis of, treatment for and death from cancer. Last year I had enough confidence going on that I applied for a scholarship to the Island Mountain Art School in Wells, BC and although I didn't get the scholarship I did get a bursary and took a fantastic 4 day workshop on mandala painting that involved preparing our own canvas, grinding our own paints (from ROCKS!!!) and painting a mandala. It was an amazing workshop and I met a wonderful woman, Tracy, from Prince George who I have stayed in contact with. Now that I am feeling better I am looking forward to visiting with her next month when we go to PG for a few days. :D
I know there are more highlights including having some amazing friends who, knowing how important Shabbat dinner is to me, hosted my Shabbat dinners in their homes even though not one of them is Jewish! How amazing is that?
I'm very blessed to have my best friend Kelly in my life since I was 13. Lunch with her every Tuesday keeps me centred and blessed. My kids Jonathan and Samuel check in with me regularly and I feel really amazed at the men they have become. I am fortunate to have a sister who I not only love but like too. Although we've spent a LOT of time together this year and last it will be nice to share some time with her when I'm healthy and we can do fun things!
Last, but not least by any means, I am extremely grateful to have Walter in my life who came into my life after my brain injury and stayed on through everything else in the last four years. He's amazing and my life is better with him in it.
Go forth into the world. If the sun is shining revel in it (but wear your sunscreen!) and if the sun isn't shining where you are then go forth and make your own! Even if it's just drawing one of the wall with crayon, but hey....if you have paint it's WAY more fun! ;)
Let's get the bad stuff out of the way first, not necessarily in chronological order.
On December 31, 2013 in the very early hours, my sister and I lost our younger brother Gordon to lung cancer. He was only 48 and had quit smoking cold turkey when our other brother Robert died in 2007 aged 48, of a heart attack; also a lifetime smoker. I guess that the previous 33 years of smoking weren't obliterated by 6 years of not. A lot of emotions ran through my mind and my heart, to say nothing of the numbness. Other than me and Patricia, all of our immediate birth family members are dead. For those of you who haven't experienced it, it's a very weird feeling. Especially when only our Mum died at a relatively normal age at 78.
Six month's later my son's partner was diagnosed with Hodgkins' Lymphoma and my heart nearly broke to see my 22 year old going through such an awful ordeal. But cancer was beaten and they came through it even stronger!
Another 'lowlight' was that I was diagnosed with osteoarthritis in late 2013. By February, 2014 I was using a cane. By June a walker, by July the pain meds were so strong that I didn't drive anymore. By October I was using a mobility scooter just to be able to leave the house. All in all it was pretty awful for someone like me who has always been someone who walks and bicycles. I haven't ridden my beautiful bike for almost two years now. :( I was booked for total hip replacement surgery for February 23rd this year at Vancouver General Hospital (VGH). Fortunately for me my sister Patricia not only lives in Vancouver but has always been my number one caregiver and protector (aka 'mama bear') and I stayed with her down there. Thank heaven she loves me because once I was down there they bumped my surgery by a month to March 23rd - that was another definitely LOWlight!!! But wait....then there's a highlight!!!
I got my surgery!!! My sister still likes me and Walter still loves me! Even after me being in pain and pretty miserable for the better part of 3 years. Lucky me!
Another highlight is that Walter and I adopted a 2 year old rescue dog who we named Ricky from the Thornhill Animal Shelter in early December, 2013 and then January 28, 2014 we adopted an 8 week old puppy we named Shadow. At first Ricky went all Cujo around the puppy but Shadow wormed his way right into Ricky's heart and now they are inseparable. Ricky has even welcomed Shadow's littermate/sister Clover into his heart. She comes to visit a couple of times a week and it's is wonderful to see the three of them play as a pack. As Martha would say "It's a good thing!"
Yet ANOTHER highlight is that in May 2012 I began painting with my dear friend Noreen Spence. She has an amazing style and helped me give myself permission to not be perfect. Not only that but she gave me confidence in myself and to be honest my painting is what helped me get through Gordon's diagnosis of, treatment for and death from cancer. Last year I had enough confidence going on that I applied for a scholarship to the Island Mountain Art School in Wells, BC and although I didn't get the scholarship I did get a bursary and took a fantastic 4 day workshop on mandala painting that involved preparing our own canvas, grinding our own paints (from ROCKS!!!) and painting a mandala. It was an amazing workshop and I met a wonderful woman, Tracy, from Prince George who I have stayed in contact with. Now that I am feeling better I am looking forward to visiting with her next month when we go to PG for a few days. :D
I know there are more highlights including having some amazing friends who, knowing how important Shabbat dinner is to me, hosted my Shabbat dinners in their homes even though not one of them is Jewish! How amazing is that?
I'm very blessed to have my best friend Kelly in my life since I was 13. Lunch with her every Tuesday keeps me centred and blessed. My kids Jonathan and Samuel check in with me regularly and I feel really amazed at the men they have become. I am fortunate to have a sister who I not only love but like too. Although we've spent a LOT of time together this year and last it will be nice to share some time with her when I'm healthy and we can do fun things!
Last, but not least by any means, I am extremely grateful to have Walter in my life who came into my life after my brain injury and stayed on through everything else in the last four years. He's amazing and my life is better with him in it.
Go forth into the world. If the sun is shining revel in it (but wear your sunscreen!) and if the sun isn't shining where you are then go forth and make your own! Even if it's just drawing one of the wall with crayon, but hey....if you have paint it's WAY more fun! ;)
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