I have been challenged by the news of my cousin who has been diagnosed with an aggressive cancer. It has devastated us all. He is such a gentle, kind and honourable person that the thought of losing him is too sad. What is even more scary is he was so well before the diagnosis.
A reminder to treat everyday as special and to be grateful for what each day offers.
I caught up with a friend who is moving homes and we walked from her current place to the flat she is selling, then to the new place she has bought and back to where we started. We talked so much I barely registered where we went direction wise. We walked briskly so I had a good workout even with lunch along the way. I felt so good afterwards and we had walked 16.1 kms. When I heard that, I felt virtuous as well! No guilt over the brownie for afternoon tea. My body was loving the mini Camino.
I collected a pile of books on Libraries and the industry to research for the units I am writing for work. I need to get started on that task if it is to be finished by November.
I finally stopped umming and arhhing about mum coming down from Queensland for Ziggy's birthday and my returning to Queensland for a few days with her, and also the trip to HongKong and Cambodia. After my cousin's sudden diagnosis I decided life is too short and it will be a great opportunity to spend time with the extended family.
Friday morning I went to see Boyhood, the movie with a group of girlfriends. Several of us had sons so we related so well to the character and had such stimulating discussion about the movie and its themes that I almost ran out of time to make a salad for dinner with friends that night. My friends who live near and were also going to dinner offered to take me which was so thoughtful. During the evening one took ill and left early so I took a taxi home. Later I discovered she had been so ill they went to the emergency at the hospital and was diagnosed with a lung infection! She was sent home with antibiotics, but what a fright.
I was out again with friends on Saturday night celebrating my return with a fabulous dinner to which
we all contributed two delicious salads and discovered my host likes whisky. He has an interesting collection of single malts and varieties of whisky of which we had tastings. It was so interesting and tasty. I would love to walk the Whisky Trail in Scotland sometime. Needless to say I took the backstreets home just in case I got breathalysed. I felt fine but could have been close to the .05 limit.
Sunday dawned and I whipped. Around with the vacumn and cleared up the spare room for Mum who was arriving at 12:30 pm. After collecting her from the airport, a spot of lunch it was off to the hospital to visit my cousin. Anxious as we all are it was wonderful to see all the family. We spent a couple if hours both in the ICU and in the waiting room catching up then it was off to dinner with my brothers-in-law in Box Hill South at a great little Chinese restaurant. The food was delicious, the hostess was charming and very excited as they were going to China the next day for a holiday and food research tour to bring back new recipes for the restaurant.
Finally home. My ninety year old mother Edna was a bit weary as was I after such a busy week.
There hasn't been much downtime or time for reflection. This pace is too familiar and what I was wanting to avoid when I returned. I am able to pace myself better and 'real Life ' is much more unpredictable and consequently more challenging. These two factors will constantly test my resolve to be calm and peaceful.
