The Set Point

In a recent blog

post, my sweet 

friend wrote about

stepping on the scale 

for the first time 

in a while, after

returning home from

spring break.

I can just imagine her, 

 fingers crossed,

eyes squeezed tight,

hoping that she'd either

lost some unexpected 

pounds or hadn't taken

her eye off the ball

for too long and put

some on.

The numbers that

revealed themselves

to her were not, in fact, 

a surprise, but the same

digits that her little body

always seems to gravitate

towards.

I have my own 

number like that.

I call it my set point.

I've had my highs

and I've had my lows,

but invariably, this

is where my particular 

body wants to be.

It's at ease there.

Happy.

As long as I am

mindful of my

eating and give it

plenty of exercise,

it hovers around that

comfortable number.

For many, many years, 

my life has been like that,

with routines that involve

family, school and the

seasons.

Like a graph, it has also

had its ups, like vacations,

births and celebrations ~ and its

downs, such as illnesses, deaths

and worry, but eventually,

 eventually 

we found our equilibrium,

once more.

The straight line on 

the graph.

The set point.

In the next month there

will be some lovely highs

on my graph, including

my daughter's senior prom, 

my annual mother-daughter

trip with my mom, a houseful

of company for my girl's

 graduation, as well as her

very own art show and

open house.

It's all

high high high

until I drop this first born

at college, a long, long

way from home, at the

end of August.

Then there will be just

three faces around our

table, instead of four.

If it is possible for a heart

to leap with the joy of

possibilities for someone,

yet cry at the same time, 

that will be mine.

Over the coming year there

will be peaks and there will

be valleys.

And then, like my friend,

I will open my eyes and

I'll release those crossed

fingers, to be greeted by

our new normal.

Our new set point.

Because that's just how

life works, in its own

amazingly

beautiful

way.

xo

Suzanne

PS:  I'll be back in June

to share all the high points,

{and lots and lots of photos}

and my thoughts, with you.

Hoping to still visit blogs,

despite the mayhem : )

PPS:  I cherish each and

every reader who visits my

blog.  Thank you, from the

bottom of my heart, for sharing

life's journey with me.

You are the best.

All images my own.

Life in the Letter C

The Big C doesn't

define her, but its

presence is hard

to ignore.

You are my hero!

supportive friends and

family members declare

sweetly on Facebook.

But I know she would

trade in her super-hero 

cape without hesitation, to

lead the normal life she

had before cancer.

My bestie, Kathleen, has 

been dueling this foe 

since Summer 2010.

I know she's tired of it.

So tired.

But no matter how

heavy the sword, my

friend keeps on swinging.

She's a trooper.

And she has prevailed.

First, surgery.

Then chemo.

Then radiation.

Three strong swings

of the blade and the

battle seemed over.

But the monster

came back.

Roaring back.

And although it was

a sneak attack, Kathleen

once more rose to 

the occasion.

Take that, metastases 

to the lung.....

And the beast retreated.

But it's insidious.

Take that, metastases

to the brain.....

Again, the Big C was

knocked backward.

But Kathleen will always

have to remain on guard,

different weapons in

her arsenal.

Last weekend, we were

so fortunate to celebrate

our April birthdays together,

along with our other close

friend, Fiona, in Chicago.

We made really

wonderful memories.

Flying home Sunday

afternoon, I had time to

reflect on what Kathleen's

battles these last few years

have taught me.

What came to mind was

not the Big C, but a whole

bunch of little ones.  

Celebrate.....Everything!  A

perfect sunset, coffee brewing,

green shoots popping up from

the frozen soil ~ It's all good.

Calm.....Breathe deeply.  It soothes

the soul on so many levels.

Carry On.....Even when you can't

change the direction of the wind,

you can shift your sails ~ your

mental outlook.

Cope.....Stay focused on today

and don't worry about what

tomorrow may or may not

bring. 

Cherish.....Those in your life who

mean the most to you.  And make

sure you communicate your love.

Contemplate.....Am I spending my

free time on things that truly 

make my heart sing?

Cuddle.....Dispense hugs freely!

It's such a balm to the soul.  

And who doesn't like a hug?

Close.....The door on past regrets.  

They aren't worth the precious time

we have on this earth.

To Kathleen and fellow warriors

around the planet:  

keep fighting

that good fight.

I, for one, will be cheering

you on as you continue

to teach me,

one 

little 

c

at a time.

xo

Suzanne

All images my own.

{Yes, we rode the

ferris wheel at Navy Pier

on the first, frosty night 

of my visit : )}