Bird Flying High

I so enjoyed writing my list of little known facts about me I have decided to continue it.

17. I can ice skate! Really! In the winter my Dad would take us to the public library every Saturday morning and then ice skating at a big pond in Lexington. Never had a lesson but I can twirl with the best of them. Twerk, not so much.

18. Best piece of music ever written you ask? Dave Brubeck “Take Five”. Listen to it–go!

19. Favorite band: Fleetwood Mac, duh.

20. I have cats. Lots of them. I have my two cats, Kelsey’s two cats and two barn cats. When we bought our house 14 years ago it came with a big barn full of feral cats that had colonized in there. At one time we had 14 cats, which was definitely enough, so we rounded them up and had them neutered. Atrophy–now down to 2 barn cats, one of whom is deaf. And we have a visiting cat that comes by to sleep and eat every few weeks named Scout.

 

Okay enough about me. I don’t want to ever throw shade on another person with cancer, it’s hard enough. I do not personally know another living person with MBC–everyone I have known has died already. I know I ranted a bit about Joan Lunden last week. Now, it’s Jackie Collins. I feel terrible for her that she lived in silence and misery with metastatic breast cancer for 6 years and died last week. She was very misguided–felt a lump in her breast for 2 years and did not seek medical help despite her wealth and access. Of course it spread to her bones–too late to do anything about that. But she stated it was a chronic disease, not a terminal one, 5 days before she died of metastatic breast cancer. Hello? I don’t know if being a celebrity keeps your doctors from being truthful with you or it is a special form of denial but she could have used her voice to spread awareness about the only kind of breast cancer that kills.

I am close to reaching a personal goal. Making it to October 1 without wearing actual shoes. What? I have a shortened life expectancy–my goals have to be attainable people.

Speaking of October, I am not really bothered all that much about the pink washing. It is a unifying color if anything. Besides, I work at a high school that has orange and black as its school colors. We are ready for Halloween year round, (go tigers!)

My birthday falls in October. Recently Bridget sheepishly told me that Tim wanted her to tell me something. Okay…..as I buckled my seat belt. The little coconut wanted to have a surprise birthday party for me. When she told Tim he very accurately said to tell me because he didn’t think I would be too keen on that idea. “But Mom, it will be a celebration of life for you!” What the heck????????? I had to gently explain to her that a “celebration of life” was for DEAD people who did not want a funeral. Moving on….

It must be Fall—-Tim emptied out and refilled the hot tub yesterday, hurrah!!!! Even more importantly, tonight is the blood harvest solar eclipse thingy!!!! So excited since I will never see one again!!!! So 9:15PM— hot tub and wine here we come!

I received an invitation to my 40th high school reunion yesterday. Before you ask, no I am not going, I hate those things. But it made me reflect–40 years later and I am still in high school–how did that happen? Peter Pan never grows up.

Speaking of growing up, I really don’t have any future plans to do so. I rely on the people around me to keep me laughing and loving of all things silly.

However, I have realized that I had a really social summer that I tried to continue into the work year. I guess I can’t really work full-time and carouse all weekend and think that will work out. So, I have put myself in the Time Out corner this weekend. I needed to refuel and sleep. Sleep deep, dream big.

Tim Blanket told me last Spring that his happiness quotient went down to 80% after my diagnosis. It is really hard on a life partner. But….we both realized we turned a corner in Belize. We came to awareness that we were still out there in the world doing things we loved, actively. He is feeling better, as am I,  but the coconuts commented that he has been much quieter the last 6 months. Really? How is he supposed to get a word in with 3 mouthy, opinionated women? No chance.

My neighbor just brought over the last of his garden tomatoes, a friend at work made me some home-made peach jam. All good. Tender mercies.

 

 

 

 

 

My song? Michael Buble

“Feeling Good”

Birds flying high
You know how I feel
Sun in the sky
You know how I feel
Breeze driftin’ on by
You know how I feel
It’s a new dawn
It’s a new day
It’s a new life
For me
And I’m feeling good
I’m feeling good

Fish in the sea
You know how I feel
River running free
You know how I feel
Blossom on a tree
You know how I feel
It’s a new dawn
It’s a new day
It’s a new life
For me
And I’m feeling good

Dragonfly out in the sun you know what I mean, don’t you know
Butterflies all havin’ fun you know what I mean
Sleep in peace when day is done
That’s what I mean
And this old world is a new world
And a bold world
For me

For me

Stars when you shine
You know how I feel
Scent of the pine
You know how I feel
Oh freedom is mine
And I know how I feel
It’s a new dawn
It’s a new day
It’s a new life

For me

And I’m feeling good

Love from the circus,

Barb, Tim, Kelsey and Bridget