A Lady and Her Prince

A year ago today, a dear friend and his wife (well, I say friends but really they are family to us) heard the word no one ever wants to hear.

Cancer.

The prognosis was not good.  Stage Four.
 
I remember exactly where I was when I found out.  I remember where I stood when we talked on the phone the next day.  I remember not wanting to call.  To give them time.  They were so far away.  But I remember just needing to hear their voices.  I remember trying to be strong on the phone but knowing damn well that I was anything but at that moment.  I remember when we told our girls.  Oh, God.  That was one of the worst moments of my life.

[I'm sorry.  Say that again?  This can't be right.  You must be mistaken.  This isn't happening.]

The long and the short of it is that he is, by nothing short of a miracle (if you ask me) cancer free today.  And stronger than you and I will ever be.

[I'm sorry.  Say that again?  This can't be right.  You must be mistaken.  This isn't happening.]

The thing is, there was quite simply no. way. he was going to let cancer win.  And it didn't. 

I don't mean any disrespect to anyone.  (Some that I know and love now as I sit and type are fighting the battle of their lives).

They are just as strong as he.  They pray just as hard as he.  They think positive thoughts just as much as he.  They should win too.

Who can ever even begin to understand why some people suffer and others don't?
Who can ever even begin to understand why horrible things happen to great people?
Who can ever even being to understand why some people "win" and others don't?

We never will understand.

But I do understand this.

If ever in a situation like this, I will never give up.  I will never let the people around me give up.  I've seen things that I never thought possible, become possible.

When my mom was going through her whole ordeal a little over a year ago (remember when she couldn't walk...yah, crazy, huh?) Well, not walking, for her, was simply not. an. option. She never gave up.  If she had given up, it's likely that she wouldn't have allowed herself to be given the amazing gift of walking again. But she didn't.  And she did.  And she is.

And so is he.  He, like her, is proof of what can happen when you don't give up.

It doesn't always happen.  The good guy doesn't always win.  But at least in the end, if you don't give up, you can say that you gave it all you could. 

I love this man with all my heart.  I love his wife to the moon and back.

They are a Lady and her Prince.  And I love them both with every breath I take. 
 

Patty and Nancy

I am the first person (and truly I mean that) to say that our children are very easy children to raise. I have never, not ever for a moment, taken this for granted.  Somehow, the planets aligned (or my mother's prayers were answered) and we've been given an easy parenting road.  I know that we are only twelve years in and things may change in a millisecond but until then, just follow my lead.

They are easy going, flexible, polite, respectful, well-mannered, funny, smart, kind, talented, courteous and down-right nice kids.

However, they are driving me effing crazy.

The thing is, right now, they are each displaying the two things about myself that I dislike the most.  At the same time. 

Sweet Baby Jesus, I can't take it.

If you ask me, I only become Miss Passive Aggressive Patty (aka Hannah) with my poor husband.  He's been dealing with it for decades. I think he's resigned himself to the fact that I will not tell him when something is bothering me. Instead, I will let it stew and soak and will not be happy until I allow every. single. move. he. makes. to bother me and bring it back to whatever is at the core of my issue.  He loves when I do that.  Just ask him. 

And I really don't think that I am Do It My Way or No Way Nancy (aka Maddie) anymore.  I used to be as a kid - just ask Amy about the Snoopy umbrella...I was a disaster.  I realized that I had to stop being the boss of life and that things would be okay if someone else called the shots.  I became so okay with it that I now (unfortunately) don't like to make any decisions about anything and would rather let others do it around me.  At times, this can be equally disastrous (minus the Snoopy umbrella).  It's difficult being me.  ;)

Anyway, the long and the short of it is, if you see me wandering down Main Street, it's because I have very little patience (and by that I mean no patience) when these two gorgy girls of mine don't get along.  It may only last for a moment while other families deal with similar behavior like this for hours on end.  Every day. 

Well, I don't care how much others have to deal with it.  I only care about how much I have to deal with it.  'Cuzitsallaboutme, remember?