I BeLEAF, I BeLEAF!

 A great big unexpected event happened in my life this past year, so why shouldn't it happen for the Leafs too, but a positive event!   Don't get me wrong as I have had some wonderful new events present themselves in having had the unexpected happen and so for the Leafs I wish for a really big positive event long overdue!

I've really been excited about the Leafs being in the playoffs - anything to be excited for the Leafs!
The only difficulty I am finding is that even with a much shorter hockey season and playoff season, it seems almost agonizing every time I think "this is it" and ask, "...so who do they play after this?"...and to this point John has always answered, "Boston".   I usually respond with, "AGAIN!".  I know I know, I'm slowly catching on...the best of 7, The BEST of SEVEN!

Well tonight we dawned our jerseys and I've been reminiscing about one of two games we ever attended a few years ago...who knows maybe the only two we will ever attend at the prices...the tickets were given to us.   Whether you like hockey or not, like many events, seeing it live is a pretty exciting experience in any case!   The game is entertaining but if the action is a little lack luster, there is always the sport of people watching...that never gets dull!!!

Well I'm off to bed with a happy heart knowing the leafs won tonight's game, but full of anxiety as well knowing tomorrow night if they don't win their final game against Boston, oh let's not even go there and ride the blue wave!!!!  I really really would love to see the Stanley Cup held high by the men in blue!  Yip, yip, yippee!
Go Leafs Go!

A Friendly Giant On Any Stage.

Recently I read an article from Eagle.ca with regards to the lovely Bob Homme, a.k.a, the Friendly Giant.
Myself and many from my generation and later my own children, would have felt very much a part of a special group of company entering into the living room at the castle for a morning with Friendly, Jerome Giraffe, and Rusty the Rooster and perhaps a surprise guest each week as well.
Years ago while writing on a fairly regular basis for a local column, I had written a piece about Friendly, having spoken with and invited him to dinner at the child care setting I was working in and then later having the opportunity to meet with and talk with him.

 Imagine ones delight to find that just as he was such a pleasure to listen to on television he was every bit the gentle giant to meet in real life and you felt so much joy in just listening to him.

The Good, the Bad and the Lesson-all in a memory!

Yesterday and today I have noticed a Daddy and his little girl down at the parking lot working together to teach her how to ride a two wheeler.   It's a sweet visual and brings a flood of bittersweet thoughts to me.   I love watching and wonder if they realize what a magic time it really is for both of them and having said that recall my own children learning to ride a bike and on our street and in that very parking lot as well.   Over the years we have seen many a new cyclist meet there successful first ride right there and that goes for new drivers as well practicing parking skills and more.

I am transported back to yesteryear and it's a happy and sad moment realizing so much time has passed as well as so many memorable moments.   Of course with children the opposite happens as well.  You know when you're in a store or somewhere public and you hear a child crying or screaming; out of temper, and you just can't help but think, "Thank God it's not mine!"!   Memorable and long since forgotten.

Back to the lessons in the parking lot, as I look out the window and watch the Dad cautiously step back and the new rider confidently roll forward, I think wow that could easily be Ashley and her Daddy, but remember how she has just had her twentieth birthday!   It goes so quickly.   Next week will be Mother's Day and that in itself holds some special memories from once upon a few years ago so with "the lesson" and also Mother's day fast approaching here is a story from that time and the weather today is just as it was on that day of "The Lesson".   Ah the memories.

 

The Lesson…a memorable Mother’s Day  1999

Just when you feel at wits end with your children and the world feels a wreck, something wonderful happens and a flood of joy restores your weary soul!  This Mother’s joyful restoration came on Mother’s Day!

The past couple of weeks had been plagued with seemingly endless hours of homework, my eldest son (Intrepid) had been assigned or was trying to catch up on.  Dear Ol’ Mom pulled up the coaches seat; or perhaps the coaxer’s seat, to ensure he reached the end before dooms day.  Dooms day of course is the due date.

Our younger son (Kid Brother) bewildered with what to do without Intrepid available was not a happy camper.   His only happiness now would come in spurts of opportunities to poke at the sensitive nerve endings of his little sister(Little Miss).

While I concentrated on keeping Intrepid's attention focused on his school work, Hubby had his hands full trying to keep the peace between Kid Brother and Little Miss.   Not an easy job!!!

These two children are extremely stubborn at times, ‘er what I mean to say is equally strong willed.

Intrepid and I busy at the desk, Little Miss contentedly plays with her Barbies, and Kid Brother meanders through the house proclaiming his great boredom.  Hubby and I attempt to help him out by rhyming off various activities he might consider pursuing.  He takes on a stance of the unmovable and and shaking his head gives a resounding “NO”!   Then, knowing what I’m about to suggest may not be well received I do the unthinkable; it’s a very touchy subject.   We know better than to speak of it, but Hubby and I say in what is sure to be painful unison from Kid Brother’s point of view, “Why don’t you try riding your bike?” !   It’s too late, we can’t retract, but much to our delightful surprise he says,

“O.K.!” !  

Hubby says, “Great!”.  Coach and apprentice then look forward to a little one on one time.  …That’s when Little Miss, the ever present little sister overhears and she too wants to join them.  Following a thankfully brief “kerfuffle” the trio; Hubby, Kid Brother and Little Miss-Tagalong go out into the great outdoors.

Independently standing at driveway’s end where the street is a gentle slope, one foot on the peddle, one foot on the ground, the last moment of doubt melting away, he lifts his foot and he’s off!  Down the hill and still going as he steers round the corner!  The moment is magic having had many attempts prior to this day!

I crank the window full out expand my lungs and shout, “Way to go, you did it.  Yahoo, yes, yahoo!”.   Hubby is looking very pleased for the encouragement worked and for our son’s success.

Moments later Kid Brother bursts through the door sporting a smile almost too large for himself.  We share a victory hug and in a flash he has flown away on his bicycle once again.

Finally having completed his work, Intrepid joins Kid Brother outdoors.  With Kid Brother wrapped in a blanket of confidence they work together as a team; a touching moment, to provide Little Miss with the same!

It seemed in just the blink of an eye, with brotherly words of encouragement and physical support, Little Miss was soon in full flight on wheels.  From the peanut gallery Hubby and I cheer them all on; the newest cyclist and her coaches.

Isn’t it great when they show themselves just how much they really do care for each other.  More of that kind of support for each other and we know we’ll all be just fine.

As a mom, it’s great to know some days are just like that!  : )

Day 444- The "c" word -Ten Months and holding on! : )

The Long...

(Heavy)

                                                         and the short of this experience!  (Wispy light)


 I can't believe next week will bring me to the tenth month of my treatment with Interferon!   It's been such a looooong year and while happy to be alive to count these days, each day I wake with a horrible cloak of dread, negative thoughts, and almost always accompanied by a sense of physical ill and it really is a big job to force myself to crawl away from my bed.
Wednesday was a wonderful day, I felt pretty good, not bad, while Tuesday was a terrible day, I felt very ill and Thursday was awful,  much like Tuesday.  I know I just have to appreciate the good days and make as much of those  when they come along.

Friday I met with a friend who I met early on as we were both sent to our assigned chair in the chemo suite at Lakeridge.   We had begun our treatment plan at the exact time only later becoming a week apart in our Interferon when the oncologist booked her start on the maintenance after he had a week's holidays.   We both agree the extreme and ongoing headaches and severe fatigue are the worst of the side effects.  Tylenol is our new best friend!!  Our hair is similar in how much thinner it is and that we both went shorter, different enough in fact when looking for each other we walked right past each other.   We laughed!   In our defense it's been a couple of months since we've seen each other...like perhaps last fall!!!

It was good to compare what each of us has been feeling and know we could relate as far as side effects, including the emotional roller coaster one feels one is on at times.  We have the same oncologist and and just seem to hit it off with each other and make for good support for each other.  I'm not much of a texter, but that's how we tend to communicate so I'm gaining some new texting skills!  LOL!

I hope we will be able to share a future of NED; no evidence of disease, dodging any further melanoma bullets!   While having been a cancer patient really sucks, it has brought me new acquaintances, some positive new experineces and what I'm sure is a long term friendship and that's a positive!   We've both had a difficult year and for reasons beyond our own health as well, but we're here for each other and both are very lucky to have additional friends keeping us looking ahead and thinking positively!  I thank you all; you know who you are!  : )

I know there are days when I simply don't feel like being around anyone and I'm sure on those days people wouldn't want to be around me either!  

Hannibal and the Waxing!

Three weeks ago I mentioned needing to shave my legs; not that anyone sees them lately as I play somewhat of a hermit.    My daughter seemed almost excited to hear this and piped in that she could wax them.   "Great" I say, and then she adds I will need to continue growing the hair for another two weeks in order that we have a successful waxing!
I look at John and apologize, he laughs, I do as well.   We laugh at that point not knowing the terror that waxing brings to ones body.

I had been looking at John's eyebrows and as our daughter has pointed out on many occasion, yep they are quite unruly even for a man.   She plans to wax her father's brow's as  well.   The night she did my legs and was to do his brows, he went to bed before she arrived home.   Hmmmm...an escape plan?  I think maybe!

The evening of the event would be a second of firsts for me that day as my daughter had also dyed my hair; first professional dye job for me, just as I was deciding maybe I was ready to let the gray reign.  She was my wake up call that morning and in my groggy state I hear her telling me to get out of bed because I need to be at the salon for a noon appointment.   That went well, completely painless and I was rather pleased with the fresh new look she afforded me, including a tiny trim to the bangs and hair at the nape of my neck.

...And so evening falls and it is WAX TIME!   The wax pot is plugged in just shortly before my "waxer" arrives home, tear strips at the ready and spread sticks awaiting their first glide over grizzly grounds.   My leg hair is pretty long!   Earlier in the week I attended Yoga for the first time in several weeks and any time the pose/stretch included the raising of the legs I cringed at the thought of my pant legs racing back down to my thighs exposing my "grizzly" legs, but was very fortunate in that I do believe the grizzly state of my leg hair held my pant legs in their appropriate place!
The first round...Wax spread like butter upon my shins and then the tear strip; aptly named, then applied and smoothed over the wax, and then OMG, HOLY HELL GOODBYE GRIZZLY, that SMARTS!!!
I don't remember how many strips it took to complete the first leg but you can be assured I was already thinking about that second leg and the fact that while being nearly finished the first leg gave me no comfort, knowing there was a whole other leg!!!
I suggested we take a break; I needed to catch my breath.   I'm not sure at this point which I find more frightening, watching the episode of Hannibal playing out before us on the tv screen, or considering the fright of another episode of "Hair on the tear".   I wonder too if while this is also tiring for my daughter, hmmm, does she enjoy the opportunity to induce a little pain in pay back for moments of wronged I may have inflicted upon her?
We soon continue on and while I don't know how long I will possess the teeth clenched, eyes shut and wincing face, well after the painful deed is done, I survived and I thank my daughter!   I thank her?