Turned 41 today and survived it. I found a saying recently that was timely, "Don't complain about growing older, it is a privilege denied to many." Of unknown origin, but it makes sense. Had we been born at any other time, in any other country, to other parents our chances of mere survival would be vastly different. The last year has been trying, frustrating, greatly clarifying, and has provided some new priorities like exercise and eating correctly - at least 50% of the time. Also clarified what is truly important and what can be trimmed away from my stress factors. Thanks for hanging with me and being my BRA Chix this year, here's to more good times, great memories and adventures that await us in the coming year(s)!
Peace and Blessings ;-P
Michelle
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Thursday, September 25, 2008
What to do when we don't know what to do...
So many times we hear someone is ill or has a challenge in their lives and we call to say let me know how I can help. When I received these calls, I was like "OK, but I don't even know what to do myself right now let alone what to ask anyone else to do..." I saw this article on the CarePages.com website and think it's a good one to keep with our condolence cards and such to remind us of positive steps and simple things to really make a difference. My usual MO was "they are so busy right now, I'll leave them alone." My new MO is at least to check in and let them know I'm thinking about them, I also give a time in the next week that I can help with housework, meals or errands. Our pals and family members aren't getting any younger and the sooner we learn to comfort the better comforters we will be.
27 ways to comfort a sick friend
We all want to be there when a friend or loved one needs us most. Why not step outside the box and use these creative ways to offer help, a boost or just some much-needed distractions?Provide a dose of delight. Take a sick friend on an excursion to a “delightful place,” such as a botanical garden, nature trail, beach or forest preserve. It can be a soul-soothing experience.
For a friend who is seriously ill and housebound, drop off some food, books or videos, but keep your visit short so as not to tire them out.
Burn a CD of your friend’s favorite songs or a selection of soothing, tranquil music.
Organize a group care network for a sick loved one. Email a group of close friends and set up a rotating system for coming over and helping with household chores or caregiving.
Offer to help with the day-to-day stuff that needs to be done, such as a grocery trip, a Target run, doing a load of laundry, bringing home cooked food or walking the dog.
When you’re at the grocery store call your sick friend and say “I'm here what do you need?” Or, “I have the kids after school... don't worry.”
Be a stable, reliable presence in your friend's life. Speaking calmly and checking in regularly can be a huge comfort to someone whose life has been turned upside down by a health challenge.
Keep in touch through regular emails or CarePages website postings. Say something. Say anything. Let him or her know they are not alone.
Send a weekly care package to a sick co-worker. Set up a drop box on your desk and ask co-workers to “lend” their favorite magazines, DVDs, and/or CDs to help your colleague pass the time.
A plant or a small bouquet of flowers is always appreciated--even after the healing process of surgery, chemo or other illnesses has begun.
Offer to arrange child care at no cost to the family when an illness happens that involves small children.
A health crisis can create chaos in so many ways. Send over a cleaning service to clean the house and restore a sense of serenity and order.
Create a gift basket with fruits, granola bars, magazines, a deck of cards, candies, a package of thank you cards, stamps, a notebook and a pen.
Donate your frequent flyer miles or give an airline gift certificate to a family member of a sick friend who lives far away.
Send books, DVDs or CDs through Amazon to help a sick friend pass the time.
Send a box of seasonal fresh fruit through Harry and David to a friend who is recovering from illness or surgery.
Hire a manicurist/pedicurist to do a house call for a sick friend.
Buy a gift membership to an online DVD rental service so your recovering friend can receive movies through the mail. Gift memberships can be purchased for one month up to a year.
If your friend is bed-bound or in the hospital for a while, send or drop off some soft, fluffy slippers, a soft bed pillow, lavender scented linen spray, wonderful pajamas, comfy socks, or foot massage cream to make them feel pampered.
Throw a feel-good get-together. Shower a friend with practical and meaningful gifts to help him or her get through a tough time, such as surgery or chemo.
Provide food for the soul. Organize a pool of cooks to whip up comfort food to give and share, and make sure you've got a team in place to create your own meals-on-wheels network.
Become the wheels. Offer to accompany your friend to his or her medical appointment.
Put together a get-well kit. Include bottled water, green tea, Kleenex, fruits, vitamin C, and a bundle of healthy remedies.
Provide healing hands. Massage can be a powerful tool for calming our psyches. Get your friend a gift certificate for a massage that can be redeemed when he or she feels up to it.
Empower your friend or loved one by providing them with a box filled with inspirational books, inspiring quotes and music.
Provide entertainment. Offer to take a sick friend to the movies. Or bring over a DVD, make some popcorn and watch a funny movie together.
Laugh, chat, and share as you normally would. Remember that a person is not defined by illness. They are still the same friend to you and want to continue to do their part in the give and take of friendship.
Peace and Blessings ;-P
Michelle
FL Trip in 3 weeks and counting...
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Check out the cover... not Vogue or anything stylish.
http://www.nwhospital.org
Scroll down 1/2 page to the right and see if you recognize the BRA chick in the lavender jacket...
I'm the cover story for the NW Hospital Med Info magazine. It's never a for sure thing until it is published, so I kept it quiet for a while. Take a peek. I'm getting a few issues for "posterity". Yuk!
This should be the final wrap on all things cancerous/surgical/recovery for me, except keeping others in prayers for their own adventures.
Michelle
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Last published on Aug 9?!... Life Happens.
Hey, sorry to have been in disposed so long. Life has been in rapid-fire motion since mid-August but not doing anything substantial - kids camps, work, short day trips, etc., and balancing the juggling balls of work, school, boys, house, you know the drill. Then, on top of things D/D (the newlyweds) decided this current housing market slump was the perfect time to buy! So they've been dragging us along for acquiring moving boxes, and then helping to pack them, moving to an apartment this weekend (because of course no house could close by the time their rental lease was up), and then moving to a house 3 months later. It will be great for them and is large enough I won't be hosting every family gathering (SCORE !)
As if that weren't enough, my sister then invited me to accompany her on a CME trip to Florida in October - and knowing I cannot resist travel without Dan and the boys I said not only yes, but HECK YES! So, we'll be off 10/14 through 10/18 carousing in the greater Tampa area armed with a rental car and GPS, since we can both get lost in the bathtub. But you know what that will mean for the blog - TRAVEL photos! Whoo hoo! I picked up a FL travel guide at the library yesterday and was just bemoaning the fact that I didn't go snorkeling in AUS - guess what?! Another opportunity may present itself in the near future - and I may wimp out again, but it will be an informed wimpout and only called so due to shark sightings. Swimming with dolphins is another attaraction I may have to explore.
School news - Joe is now attending FWPA Federal Way Public Academy and is enthused about school, learning and his classes - reread for emphasis... we haven't seen this since 3rd grade and it's a welcome change. This is the kid that asked me if he could get his GED at 13 last year, because school was just a waste of time. So we are thrilled, he's writing down assignments, doing homework, learning Spanish for the first time and charged up about participating in extra-curricular activities!! He has a group of about 5-8 "homies" pals and seems to be fitting in well. The school has a very diverse cultural base, common for Federal Way, covers Grades 6-10 and after 10 the kids are ready to assimilate into another FW high for Int'l Baccalaureate program or to community colleges for Running Start. A win/win plan either way.
Nick is at the old school Kent Mountain View Academy KMVA and I see a wide chasm already between the two schools in comparison. High parental involvement makes a big difference. We'll transfer Nick over to FWPA (pronounced Fwhoppa, that's what all the kids call it) at 6th grade and he and Joe will again be in the same school for the next 3 years - YEA! But he's comfortable with his old friends and teachers for another year.
We found an existing carpool to join that had space and ride with 5 other kids, two Muslim families and mostly girls so conversation with Joe while girls are in the car is strictly VERBOTEN!! I was informed of such at the end of my inaugural carpool drive - Joe may get some prime walking opportunities very soon. He walks from the last carpool stop when I do not drive which gives him some fresh air and exercise toting his substantial backpack. Good thing Dan invested in an REI product for him.
I reduced my work week to 3 days and spend the other two mornings in the pool committed to an exercise program! It's slow starting and I creep around like I'm an 80 yo woman the next day, but I feel good after doing it and the community pool is a new and well-designed facility with lots of perks like steam/sauna, hot tubs and an exercise floor upstairs with exercise machines. When I get into the schedule I'll arrive at 8:30, dry exercise for 30 mins and then do a 1 hour cardio water class. So I should be in good shape in about 6-7 years.
Had an outing with long-time gal pal Wendy from NC this week and she has self-published a book of poetic art with 2 other poets. With her permission, I'll post one of my faves from her treasures. We had dinner at Green Lake and picked up boxes for my sister, am I a fun date or what?
I nearly forgot the most important development. I had a call from my surgeon a few weeks back asking if Iwould be the NW Hospital cover story for their bimonthly magazine. I thought about it for 10 seconds and said sure. Had a phone interview and photo shoot the next week and the issue should be out soon. I'll scan a cover shot for the blog and we'll witness my one shot at being a cover girl. I don't think Vogue will be calling anytime soon. You may recognize the cover girl in your mailbox if you live in North Seattle.
Peace and blessings, hope all is well and you're safe, happy and well-loved,
Michelle ;-P
As if that weren't enough, my sister then invited me to accompany her on a CME trip to Florida in October - and knowing I cannot resist travel without Dan and the boys I said not only yes, but HECK YES! So, we'll be off 10/14 through 10/18 carousing in the greater Tampa area armed with a rental car and GPS, since we can both get lost in the bathtub. But you know what that will mean for the blog - TRAVEL photos! Whoo hoo! I picked up a FL travel guide at the library yesterday and was just bemoaning the fact that I didn't go snorkeling in AUS - guess what?! Another opportunity may present itself in the near future - and I may wimp out again, but it will be an informed wimpout and only called so due to shark sightings. Swimming with dolphins is another attaraction I may have to explore.
School news - Joe is now attending FWPA Federal Way Public Academy and is enthused about school, learning and his classes - reread for emphasis... we haven't seen this since 3rd grade and it's a welcome change. This is the kid that asked me if he could get his GED at 13 last year, because school was just a waste of time. So we are thrilled, he's writing down assignments, doing homework, learning Spanish for the first time and charged up about participating in extra-curricular activities!! He has a group of about 5-8 "homies" pals and seems to be fitting in well. The school has a very diverse cultural base, common for Federal Way, covers Grades 6-10 and after 10 the kids are ready to assimilate into another FW high for Int'l Baccalaureate program or to community colleges for Running Start. A win/win plan either way.
Nick is at the old school Kent Mountain View Academy KMVA and I see a wide chasm already between the two schools in comparison. High parental involvement makes a big difference. We'll transfer Nick over to FWPA (pronounced Fwhoppa, that's what all the kids call it) at 6th grade and he and Joe will again be in the same school for the next 3 years - YEA! But he's comfortable with his old friends and teachers for another year.
We found an existing carpool to join that had space and ride with 5 other kids, two Muslim families and mostly girls so conversation with Joe while girls are in the car is strictly VERBOTEN!! I was informed of such at the end of my inaugural carpool drive - Joe may get some prime walking opportunities very soon. He walks from the last carpool stop when I do not drive which gives him some fresh air and exercise toting his substantial backpack. Good thing Dan invested in an REI product for him.
I reduced my work week to 3 days and spend the other two mornings in the pool committed to an exercise program! It's slow starting and I creep around like I'm an 80 yo woman the next day, but I feel good after doing it and the community pool is a new and well-designed facility with lots of perks like steam/sauna, hot tubs and an exercise floor upstairs with exercise machines. When I get into the schedule I'll arrive at 8:30, dry exercise for 30 mins and then do a 1 hour cardio water class. So I should be in good shape in about 6-7 years.
Had an outing with long-time gal pal Wendy from NC this week and she has self-published a book of poetic art with 2 other poets. With her permission, I'll post one of my faves from her treasures. We had dinner at Green Lake and picked up boxes for my sister, am I a fun date or what?
I nearly forgot the most important development. I had a call from my surgeon a few weeks back asking if Iwould be the NW Hospital cover story for their bimonthly magazine. I thought about it for 10 seconds and said sure. Had a phone interview and photo shoot the next week and the issue should be out soon. I'll scan a cover shot for the blog and we'll witness my one shot at being a cover girl. I don't think Vogue will be calling anytime soon. You may recognize the cover girl in your mailbox if you live in North Seattle.
Peace and blessings, hope all is well and you're safe, happy and well-loved,
Michelle ;-P
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