We returned late Tuesday afternoon from a delightful visit with our daughter and family in North Carolina. Yes, those are the "grandlings" in the photo! Zoe is pretending to stand on top of Noah's shoulders. Zoe is now 7 and Noah is 4 years old and are really a lot of fun to be with. There is always laughter and silliness and that is exactly what I needed. Grandchildren are good medicine and will cure a multitude of ills including worry, grouchiness, taking oneself too seriously and the feeling of being exceptionally ancient.The day we arrived it was near 80 degrees and two days later there were snow flakes on a stiff wind coming from the north. The trees and shrubs are about a week ahead of ours here in Virginia. Dogwood was in full bloom and you could almost see the greening of tree leaves slowly creep up the mountainsides. It's a truly magical time of year to be in western North Carolina.
I'm now trying desperately to pull my life back together. Before we left we had a week long visit from my brother who is suffering from esophageal cancer. He had just finished up his chemo and radiation and was trying to get back on his feet. The treatments left him exhausted and it was and still is painful for him to eat solid foods. The good news is that the cancer has not spread and did not grow larger while he was in treatment. So he has four to six weeks to start gaining some weight and strength to undergo some difficult surgery to remove the mass. While he was here it was difficult for me to think of much else but his misfortune.
The anniversary of my mother's death last year from lung cancer is coming up. Though I am very healthy and grateful for that, I'm feeling alot of sadness and helpless in that I cannot make this horrible illness stop attacking my brother. All I can do is sit, watch and pray that all of the news will be good in the coming days.
6 comments:
Lovely grandlings! I think i may adopt that word!
So sorry about the difficult times, sending courage and hope your way.
Such lovely grandlings...I can see why they would bring a much needed smile to your face.
I'm so sorry you're going through such a difficult time, and not all that long after your mother's death. Sending you thoughts of care and hope...
Love that word - grandlings - it's perfect and very sweet.
I'm glad to hear your brother has finished his treatment. It's such a difficult thing to go through. I'll be holding him in my thoughts.
And you too. Anniversaries are hard. Even without new worries.
i guess we all appreciate the new word "grandlings"! thanks - they are so sweet - i can just imagine how cute the play was - and yes, their laughter is so soothing - my thoughts and prayers are with you and your brother - it is so difficult, but i think you are very brave just to blog your feelings with us, and with this feedback, you know we are here for you, checking on you on a daily basis, and able to join you in your struggle - blogs are good!
Thank you to you all for your kind words and prayers. It really does help to know there are others out there pulling for you. And yes, blogs are great as are all of you special friends!
Lovely little grandlings, they do look fun!
Funny, it seems not so long from this end since you first said about your brother's illness and treatment, but it looks such a long haul when one is facing it I'm sure. A good friend of ours starts chemo this week, she's been saying ' this is probably the last time I'll be able to have a meal with you... the last drink etc'.
But thank goodness the prospects look good at the moment for your brother, and the chemo is finished. As the others say, love and courage to you and yours.
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