The sure thing about life is that we all experience trauma at one point or another. Some of us get double and triple chances to be blessed with events that allow us to refine/define ourselves. If you've had your first chance, welcome to the sorority. If you are still awaiting your initiation, we'll see you when you get here. In the mean time, enjoy the respite and kick up your skirt every chance you get, but expect that the gift of pain is marching your way at record speed. You can dart around it and perfect your survival dance, but the longer you do the danger tango, the less agile you become -- in the end, you kind of start to wish for the challenge.
Sometimes trauma it's a sneaky gift bestowed upon us where you'll find yourself dangling from the cliff with no findernails left to claw your grip in to the slope. Sometimes we see it coming. If that's the case, my advice is to go to the edge, hang your toes over and wait for that slight gust of wind that gives you the nudge -- then spread your arms, arch your back and enjoy the thrilling ride.
Our dear friend, Diane, did the cancer dance two years ago and when it came back this last month, she tapped it on the shoulder and said, it's my turn to set the pace. You better keep up because I'm leading the dance this time.
She cut her hair so there was less to fall out with the aggressive chemo and she visited her favorite people (thanks for including me, Diane), before she didn't have the chance to do it later. She knows she'll be gone soon and as she came to terms with it, she smiled the nasty beast down -- a dare-you-to-try-it-this-time stare and presented herself to the biggest ballroom waltz party on the planet.
As I write this, Diane is in the hospital recovery room TEN pounds lighter because the BENIGN masses in her uterus are gone! WHAAA, HOO! The cheers in the office when we got the news paid testament to how much she is loved. And once again, I cried for my friend whom I am so proud and thrilled to be able to LIVE around the corner from her for quite some time.
2 comments:
I couldn't believe how my spirit lifted when I heard this news.
This post was beautifully written. I'm terrified of what is marching my way, but you two make the sorority a little more enticing.
Hearty Congratulations to Diane! Both for being on the recieving end of a blessing and for staring the threat down with grace.
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