Everyday Battles

Last night I watched Farrah's Story on NBC and went to bed very melancholy. It really opened my eyes to how much I take my health for granted. And the health of my family as well.

Cancer is so evil, so sly, so potent.

I was humbled by how well Farrah is dealing with all of this, while witnessing the downward spiral of her son, Redmond, whom she adores. Her spirit is strong despite her weakening body. She remains positive & optimistic, hopeful that her tenacity will outlast her cancer.

I was also struck by how much medication Farrah has to take to fight this vicious disease. The fact that she has travelled to Germany several times for highly specialized treatment not performed in the US was also very enlightening.

There are days that I walk through my life in a haze, commiserating about the small stuff that worries me. Now, after watching Farrah's battle with Cancer, I have a new found respect for the life God has given me.

Still proudly wearing the Black & Gold

Last night was a real bummer. I was so hoping that the Boston Bruins would pull off a win, after being down in the series 3-1 versus the Carolina Hurricanes. But with 1:14 left in overtime, the Hurricanes' resident goon scored a tip-in goal for the victory. Uuuuuuuugh!

I had a hard time falling asleep, partly because I was disappointed, partly because I knew the boys would be bummed when they watched the highlights on NESN, and partly because my asinine BIL had to call (at 11:25pm) to rub my face in it. (I had the last laugh though, since the Bruins played 7 more games and finished with a respectable record compared to his beloved Canadiens. Haaa!)

Although I've never played competitive sports, I've become very passionate when routing for my teams, especially when the boys are part of them. Yet ever since I met several of the Bruins' players at training camp, I have fallen in love with hockey. I still cannot always follow the puck as it whizzes across the ice, but I can sense when something is abreast or afoul. And last night I knew that puck was going in.

Alas, in all sports, there is always one winner & one loser. Life hasn't been irevocably changed. I have learned that it's not worth losing sleep over... It's just a game!

The greatest accomplishment is not in never falling,

but in rising again after you fall.

~~Vince Lombardi

Beautiful blond with a heart of gold

I know what you're thinking... I'm on on the wrong website. I clicked into Match.com accidentally and am trying to place an ad for my dream guy. Uh, nope... I'm married to a dream guy so no need for matchmakers.

This would, however, be a great header or a good opening line for an ad for my youngest son. He was blessed with a head of sunny blond hair and has an enormous heart of gold, which grows bigger & bigger everyday.

This child is my cuddlebug and because we have somewhat opposite temperaments, we mesh very well. I enjoy every minute we spend together and he always manages to tickle my funny bone. Even if the words alone are not comical, the way he delivers the words often is. Typically "out of the mouth of babes" kind of things. This is why I call this blond blue-eyed angel "my crazy Nut".

He is as sweet as honey and incredibly kindhearted. I will not bore you with the countless deeds he's done to prove this but I do want to share a couple of things....

The other day as I was opening the fridge, I looked up to see the star Nut had made in last year in first grade. The teacher asked all of the children to write down one thing they wished for on a star. This is what Nut wrote on his star: "I will help people in trouble."

My heart fluttered the first time I read it and every time since. And the truth is I have no doubt that Nut will someday be someone's hero.

He will be a knight in shining armor. He will slay all Boogie Men. He will, as the dictionary describes, be a person noted for feats of courage or nobility of purpose, especially one who has risked or sacrificed his life for others.

Then the other day, as we were going to the doctor's office, we saw an old man shoveling the newly fallen snow. There wasn't much and it was fairly light, but the snowplow had pushed a menacing pile at the end of his driveway.

When I noticed the man, I had thought to myself "Gee, if I didn't have to be somewhere in 5 minutes, I'd stop to help him." Just as I finished that thought, Nut had spotted the man and said sadly "Oooooh, I wish we could stop and help that man!"

So you see, he really does have a heart of gold. And he genuinely wants to help people in trouble!