The Sign . . .

Late last night, I heard that familiar “CHIRP” on my phone. Even though I was already in bed, I had to get up to see who the text was from. . . I know it’s an addiction...

What I saw was a picture, a picture that to all of you would mean nothing, but for me it gave me chills of pride and joy!

The picture was a sign on a door, not just any sign, it was a sign with my nephew’s name on it. You see, he just started his career as an attorney.

Seeing that sign brought back so many memories of all his “firsts” . . . his first word, first step, first hit in T-Ball, first A on his report card and oh . . . how the list goes on and on. . .

and I was there . . . there for all the “firsts”, not just as a gloating Aunti, but as his “second” mom . . . as my sister has always says . . a role I cherish so, so deeply for both he and his sister.

I remember . . . how as a very young boy, when people would ask, “what do you want to be when you grow up?” He would always say with such conviction, “I’m going to be a lawyer!” And people would smile and think how cute . . . but you see . . . he was serious, he really did want to be an attorney.

I remember . . . looking for colleges with him, colleges that would help him reach his goals . . . because yes, he still wanted to be an attorney.

Then it was law schools, which would be the best fit? Which would be the one to help land him a job?. . .

I remember . . . law school graduation, so proud, so, so proud . . . but on that day it was very anticlimactic for him. . . because next he would have to pass the bar . . . the test that determines if you will practice law.

I remember . . . last summer when he was studying for the California Bar . . . his fears . . . how overwhelmed he was whenever I talked to him . . and it was hard, hard to talk to him because there was nothing to say but give words of encouragement. . . because you see this was the test that would determine it all . . determine if he would finally begin his dream.

I remember . . . the night . . . 4 months after taking the bar . . . waiting to hear if he passed . . . sitting waiting for him to call . . . oh how I remember . . . how that night dragged on until . . the phone rang and we heard those words . . “I passed.”

I remember . . . my sister and I bursting into tears. . . tears of joy and pride because he did it! His dream would finally become a reality . . . even though in the back of our minds we had the same fears as he and so many young people today have. . . a dreadful job market. But again, I had words of encouragement, stay positive . . . it will all work out.

So you see, it was not just any sign for me . . . it was seeing someone I love, come full circle and reach a long time goal! Congratulations Honey!!!!

A Zumba Convert

I walked into the room where they held the classes

Saw people of all shapes and sizes ready to work off their !/??/!

The music was blasting . . . the fans were ah blowing

I could see the instructor was ready to get this class going!

The warm-up went smooth and it was getting quite clear

This class would be awesome and I had nothing to fear

The songs for the dance steps were familiar and entertaining

But let there be no mistake . . . it was a great workout training!

Fifty five minutes later . . WOW! it can’t really be done?!?

But clearly, I can’t remember a workout ever being so fun!

A Zumba convert, yes I think I can say

I’ll be the first one in class waiting . . . next Sunday!

Thanks!

Thanks!

Wow! What an experience this has been and it’s only day 6! It’s amazing . . . I can see how this community of writers becomes a family of writers. It’s so exciting to log on each morning and read a “slice” of different people’s lives and how often I can relate. . . I only wish everyday was a weekend when there’s so much more time! And thank you . . thank you for all the thoughtful comments . . . I really appreciate them. So I guess my slice today is to just say to say thanks!

Words I Have to Say . . .

Before I took the SOL challenge my writings were for a very few . . . the very close people in my life, the people, I felt really comfortable reading what I had to say. And even then, I often did not write about things that were sad or showed the raw side of me. After all, I wanted my blog to be upbeat and inspirational.

But today, I have to write about 2 people, one little boy who was only 22 months old and a woman who was only 52 years old. Sadly, both of these people lost their fight with cancer.

I didn’t know either of these people personally, but I had a connection to them . . . not through my friends who are related to them, but because I am a cancer survivor . . . so I have a connection to them.

As a cancer survivor, each time I hear that someone loses the battle . . . the battle I am so, so fortunate to have won, a part of me relives, relives what they have gone through and it saddens me to know they were not as lucky as me.

As a cancer survivor, the “it” never goes away, never gets buried as deep as you would like because when you hear someone loses the battle the “it” comes rearing its ugly head and you remember, remember the fears, the questions, the unknowns . . . and you remember these same fears, questions and unknowns in the eyes of the people you love and who love you, and there’s a little bit of guilt knowing that others weren’t as lucky as yourself.

But then I tell myself maybe . . . it’s good, good to be reminded so that we never, ever forget to be thankful for what we have . . . and to remember to stop and smell the flowers, even when we think there’s no flowers to smell, and most important to surround ourselves with the people we love because that’s what matters most.

Exercise War

It’s Sunday and the “exercise war” begins in my head

It’s not like I want to stay cozy and warm in my bed

I think of the chores, such as laundry and more

All the things keeping me from walking out the door

I know it does good physically and mentally too

It’s not that I’m lazy. . . please don’t misconstrue

I bring out the schedule, maybe there’s a class I can take

I see at 9:30 there’s a class I can make

Zumba is the name, it’s about movement and dance

Heck, I say to myself . . . why not take a chance

I text my good friend to see if she’s in

Asking if she’s up for taking a spin

And maybe tomorrow as I ponder my SOL

I’ll share and reflect on how it all went so well!