Summer fun has set in and we've been gone a lot. The good news is we found a summer house/dog sitter who is wonderful and available, which means we can go places on the weekends without having to drag the dogs to the kennel. They hate it there and it makes us feel bad to take them. Win/Win for us and our new sitter. She is a teen who loves to watch Netflix and eat frozen burritos. I can do that.
Not everything is wonderful right now and I've been kind of numb lately. Too many friends and family members are going through tough times and they are on my mind constantly. Serious stuff. Chronic illness, family issues, financial strife.
This week my beautiful, smart, funny daughter-in-law was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. I'm okay talking about it here. That cat is out of the bag now and I'm glad it is not a secret. Since I'm the queen of denial, I have refused to think about it very much but it creeps in and then it's all I can think about. Fortunately, she assured me that if one has to have cancer, this is the kind to have. I think she said that to me ... or ... did my denial just make that up? At any rate, we are all glad she finally has some answers to many questions she has had the last year. She says it is curable. I'm running with that.
As to my other friends who are struggling, I feel so powerless. But I'm not. The one thing I can do is be available. It's about the only thing but that's worth something. When I worked at hospice, I learned from the grief counselor that sometimes all we can do is provide a warm silence. Be there. Words are not always necessary. Just be there.
I can do that. I love you.
love, susan
I cry what more can I say. My feelings run deep for her and Justin.
ReplyDeleteYes, being there in warm silence is a perfect gift to give. Best wishes to you, Susan.
ReplyDeleteSu-sieee! Mac
Run with "it's curable" since it is true in most cases. Yes, there are people who say it's the cancer to have if you have to have cancer. No one wants to have cancer. I'm a survivor. I feel better. I need reminders to keep my regular lab appointments to stay on top of my thyroid replacement requirements, and yes, knowing what's wrong and having it fixed is a wonderful thing.
ReplyDelete