Every once in a while, life hands over a slap upside the head. This weekend was one of those moments when life said, “Hey, slow it down, girl.”
I left for Michigan with the boys in tow. Lauren was down in Texas with Sarah and Joe was still working. The boys let me enjoy my mellow music on the way up while they buried their heads in the laptop. There wasn’t much talking on the way up, we were decompressing from a busy week. Heck, make that a busy summer. The kids were off in three directions most of the time with Mom on a plane the other half of the time. I vaguely remembered a husband somewhere in all this.
On the way up, I thought about my Dad and the ups and downs since his diagnosis of esophageal cancer last summer. Last November, we celebrated with good news: Dad had kicked the cancer on its rear end.
A few weeks ago, he found a new lump. At first, the doctor wasn’t too concerned, he figured it was benign. Dad went for a PET scan and he was waiting for the results the morning we arrived.
Dad was sitting in his chair when we arrived and after a hug, we cut to the chase. “Well, the results aren’t good,” Dad said. “The tests show that the cancer is back and one tumor is heading toward the lungs. But the good news is, it’s still small.”
So another round of chemo is coming up and Dad is determined to extend another kick into cancer’s rear end. I’m buoyed by his optimism and his outlook and I know he has the strength to withstand anything. The other tough blow over the weekend was the news that both of my brother’s have Barrett’s, which means they’re at an increased risk, but with diet, exercise and monitoring, they can kick this too.
All of this which had me thinking about how life goes by crazy fast– and I thought back to a friend’s recent remark about how I seemed to have it all together and have achieved a balanced life. “You need to teach me how you are able to travel, write a book, go barefooting with the world’s champions, and advocate for causes to change the world for the better,” she wrote.
After laughing hysterically, I informed her that my life was actually an unbalanced washing machine on a lopsided spin cycle.
So every now and then, when life slaps us upside the head, that’s when we slow down and pay attention to the stuff that matters: the relationships we have with those around us and the stuff that brings us joy instead of sorrow. One friend reminded me to celebrate the fact that we were given a gift of time since Dad’s diagnosis last year. So I’m thankful that I get to wrap my arms around my parents each time I visit them.
So, over the weekend, I slowed it down. I bonded with the boys as we floated in the lake after tubing. I went shopping with my Mom, sis and a neighbor and we gathered some healthy food for the weekend. I watched Two and Half Men with Dad and told him about my barefooting and wakeboarding adventures of the day.
Don’t wait for life to slap you upside the head.
Comments
14 responses to “Hey, Slow It Down, Girl”
Karen,
A touching piece, as always. Thanks for sharing this important reminder.
~ LaRonda
Love to hear that you were able to slow down and enjoy the moment with gram and gramps… I can’t wait to do the same in a few weeks. We are so blessed to have them and I cherish every day that we all spend together as a family. Can’t wait to come home.
Hugs to you and your family.
Your folks look about my age, 68. I know from experience what you are going through. I also know how much it meant for you to come visit.
I’m sure your dad will make it with all of your love and support! Thanks for the timely reminder~
Take care. Savor the time with your parents. I lost my dad to esophageal cancer; I hope your father has better luck. He sounds like a survivor personality; that’s already a good sign!
Good story to take time out and read. I have wished a million times i had spent more time with my grandparents before they past away. My great aunt just loved me to come by and visit but I always had an excuse to be somewhere else. Now that I look back on it, i wished i had took more time.
I’ve been helping (well my wife has mostly) the family of a friend who just lost a 3 year fight against brain cancer this week. It’s so beautful to see the pictures of this 33 year old with a scar on his shaved scalp, hold and kissing his daughter, his wife. His situation made me think often of my own son (he leaves four children 7 and under), and made it hard for me ever to refuse to drop what I’m doing or want to do, to play catch with him.
When you look around, it’s your investment in people that matters, not your work, success, houses, fame. It’s what impact you made on your family, and the people you connect with that matters most.
(Jason’s story, from last year) http://www.mlive.com/living/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2009/11/ymca_trainer_father_of_four_ke.html
LaRonda, thank you!
Jen, it was great spending time with you this summer!
Miss Daze– would you believe that my Dad is 85 and my mom is 82? 🙂
Frieda, thank you!
Daisy, I’m so sorry for the loss of your dad. Hugs!
Bill, I’m so sorry for the loss of your friend, Jason. His story made me cry. My heart does out to his family.
You said it best:
When you look around, it’s your investment in people that matters, not your work, success, houses, fame. It’s what impact you made on your family, and the people you connect with that matters most.
Hugs, Bill. I’m thankful to know you and hope someday we will meet. Thanks for all that you do.
Thanks for sharing Karen. Your love of family and friends is what makes you so special.