It’s the winning that helps you overcome the losing.
I was given wonderful news today. I am receiving compensation from my insurance for my cancer diagnosis in February last year. It could not have come at a better time. I had put this information in the back of my brain for a while. It’s been a year and a half, and I’m still here, so time to revisit this condition. It’s not like I can forget it completely. Of course, every day the urostomy is a reminder. But not to worry….I am still here, enjoying my family, and very happy.
I’m going back to the VA hospital this coming week as a volunteer. I had some doubts about showing up in a wheelchair – if I could be helpful and not a reminder of the patients’ plight, but I’m going to give it a try. It is time to get out of myself and help others, which I love to do.
The good news I received comes at a particularly good time. I feel elated! This is a fine example of getting a lemon, and making lemonade, which I love. I wanted to share this because the few of you who follow me know I’ve been sort of down-in-the-dumps lately. But like our weather here in Wyoming, there’s sun, then thundershowers, hail, and then sun again. Mother Nature has a good attitude.
I hate to admit I am guilty of this. I think it is a result of spending too much time alone, or too much coffee….In either case, I am unable to fall asleep at night even if I am tired. Something about the night or darkness? My mind just won’t shut down and let me relax. I uselessly go over things, decisions I’ve made, consequences, what I should have or could have done better. As a parent, I’m sure we all do this to a degree. As a grandparent I try to be a better “parent” than I was with my own children. Looser, more amenable to their attitudes, actions, and decisions. As a mother of two boys and a girl I have mixed feelings on things. At the time, you have to take responsibility for the advice you give. The peer pressure put on kids with everything in your face…videos, movies, magazines, Internet, all of these can undermine the basic values even the best parents try to teach. Trusting they will make the “right” decisions is difficult, but necessary for parents these days. Communication is key.