These Things I Know...

The title of this post imposes some pretty strict limits, since I don't know as much as I used to think I did.  I do know some things though, and I thought I might share them with you.  Most of them were learned the hard way. That seems to be the way I tend to do things.  It sure will pound the lesson home.

1.  Life is short.  Yep, no matter how long it is, it's short.  Ask the guy who is 99 and 364 days if 100 years is long enough.  Chances are he'd like another few years.  What to do with this knowledge? Here are my suggestions:

• tell people you love them. Tell them every day, and SHOW them - don't just mouth the words.  Mean them and let people see that you do.  
• decide what you want out of life and go get it.  Don't tell yourself you are too old, or that the thing you want will take too long to get.  So what if it takes ten years?  In ten years' time you'll be ten years older and you'll either have the thing you wanted or you won't.  That time will have passed either way.
• Be nice. Compliment people you don't know - they could probably use it.  Smile more. Laugh as much as you can. Talk to strangers. (Not the creepy ones.)  You will learn fascinating things.

2.  You cannot make people change.  You can only change yourself.  I learned this one at Al-Anon.  It seems like such a simple thing - you'd think everyone would know it.  I didn't, and once I heard it and really took it in, it made a profound change in my life.  Are you waiting for someone in your life to change?  Stop.  Stop right now.  If you have told them that their behavior is a problem for you, and they choose to continue that behavior, YOU need to decide what YOU will do.  Your options are: a) live with it, or b) choose NOT to live with it.  I know - not as easy as it sounds.  This might involve a huge life change on YOUR part, and that change could be painful. Weigh the costs and benefits and decide.  By the way - if you choose option a) - please shut up and stop whining about it.  Everyone else is probably tired of hearing you complain when you never do anything to change your situation.

3. Cake is good.  (Yeah, I know more stuff, but I thought I'd end on a light note!)  

Happy Birthday, Bill!

Today is my little brother Bill's birthday.  He knows how old he is, but I can't tell the rest of you because I will be seeing him soon, and I am sure his retaliation would be fearsome.  The best I can hope for when he LIKES me is to get my face licked when I am expecting a brotherly kiss instead.

Who am I kidding?  I am not afraid of you, William Alfred Ineson Jr.!  Ha!  You are 47 years old today!!! So there!  And..... (throwing caution to the wind....)  take THIS:

Bwahahahaha!  (feeling really giddy right now)

Oh, Lord.  What have I done?    

Happy Birthday, Bill!  (I love you!)

Here we go again!

So, a few weeks ago I was seeing my oncologist, Dr. Naidu for a routine visit.  While we were chatting, he asked me if I was still blogging, and I told him "not really".  He asked me why, and I told him that I didn't think people were as interested in my life while cancer was in remission as they were when it was not.  He said "Oh, I don't think that's the case at all." Hmm.

Well, Dr. Naidu is a pretty smart guy, and I have not gone wrong thus far in following his advice, so I guess I'll give "healthy blogging" a shot.  I warn you in advance - I don't think I am all that interesting, but you can read at your own risk.  If nothing else, this blog may help you to wean yourself off of any sleep aids you may be taking.

See my new plate?

Isn't it pretty?  I found it at TJ Maxx yesterday on clearance for $3.00.  This plate and the cherries I got the other day at Target are inspiring a red and white china hutch decor.

Here are the cherries - in a container I also found at TJ Maxx for $3.99.  It has a little chip at the top, so I turned it so that the chip was on the side - you can't even see it!

I commented that this middle section was looking a little empty and my friend Heather suggested I hang a picture there.  I am shopping the house to see what I can find.

Here are some more of my treasures:  an old Better Homes & Gardens Cook Book that fits the color scheme, my vintage typewriter, a pitcher I got years ago on clearance for $4.00 and my pretty mama bird with her baby - a gift from my friend Crickett.

Here's the whole thing... for now.  I don't think I'm done tweaking yet.  On the dining room table, you can also see the pretty Farberware wooden napkin holder I also found at TJ Max for um.. I think it was $3.99. 

Anyhow... that's my project for the day - hope you like it!  (I'll share a picture of my fabulous new "retro" melamine butter dish later!)

Katherine

My daughter Katherine has had the gift of making people laugh since she was a little girl.  Funny just seems to fall out of her mouth.  My friend Michele used to ask me every morning when I went to work "What did Katherine say today?"

Turning 18 and becoming an adult has not made her less funny.  She continues to amuse me on an almost daily basis.

The other day, we visited a local bakery.  Katherine loves their elephant ears and wanted me to get some. The only ones they had were chocolate dipped.  The shopkeeper explained that in order to get plain ones, you needed to order them 24 hours in advance.

Later, at home, Katherine expressed her disappointment as only Katherine can.

"I just don't understand why their default setting is chocolate."

I think she needs to step away from the computer for a bit.  And I need to call Michele.

Harvest Time

I love harvest time... the anticipation of bringing in the homegrown treats you've worked so hard to grow all through the Spring.  Hoping the weather holds while you bring in the fruits of your labor, and dreaming of all of the wonderful things you'll make with your bounty.

Soon, that glorious produce will fill this bowl:

I can hardly wait!  

Hmm.  

The Last Chemo

On Tuesday, I had my last chemo treatment.  Today, I dragged myself out of bed at 10:38 and managed to be showered and dressed by 12:45.  To say that I am having a rough time is putting it mildly.  This last session (pardon my French) has kicked my ass.  My throat burns like someone stuck a lit torch down it.  My stomach has been very unhappy, as has the rest of my digestive system.  Enough said about that.  And I am so tired that the least bit of exertion has me wanting a nap.  Or a good cry.  Sometimes both.  But I am finished.  Thank the Lord.  I couldn't sleep Tuesday night; my stomach was too upset to let me relax until well after 1:00 am.  David talked with me for a long time, although I know he wanted to sleep.  I had lots of thoughts I wanted to share, and I will when I have the energy.  For now, though, some rest and recovery time.