Dad said the t word today. "Terminal" cancer. Up until now he's had kind of a "kiss my butt" attitude toward his illness, but the reality, after a year and a half, has finally caught up to him. Not that he is in imminent danger of leaving us. No, that's not it. Is it that he is no longer in denial? Or is it that he is no longer in optimism? Which is worse? He is very weary these days, and his naps are stretching longer and longer.
We are planning a few week end trips in the next month or so. And he wants to go to Yellowstone Park in August. And the cherry trees are looking promising, so we will celebrate harvest in early July, if all goes well. He is still looking forward, still excited about living. Still engaged in the business of being a rancher. He is a man with a plan.
A lady at church said, "I hear your dad is sick. So what's going on with him?" I said, "He's dying." (Aren't we all?) But then I corrected myself, "No wait, he's living." He is making a conscious choice to live, and let the dying part take care of itself.
His example is amazing.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
apple blossom, grandkids, and snow
We had a great week end. Parade, sidewalk art show (I smell like clove soap), a 7 year old birthday party, family out the wazoo, wow it was great. The weather was a bit windy, but really pretty good.
BUT TODAY IT SNOWED. For heaven's sake, it's May. The cherries are in bloom. The bees are buzzing. The wind is blowing 60+ miles an hour. And it snowed at my house.
At home, the folks are holding their own. Work is work, what can I say. I'm sitting here in my empty house which is kind of foreign to me right now since I've been at Dad's for so long. I'll be heading down to my other room at Dad's real soon because I'm freezing my butt off here.
So I will smile when I think about my kids and grandkids and hugging and laughing, and singing, and having really short people help me decorate a birthday cake, (chocolate sheet cake with cherry frosting and sprinkles, and four part "calipitar" cake with green frosting, eyes, and sprinkles -- what it lacked in design, it made up in taste). Two children just ate the frosting off their pieces.
Well, we've put another apple blossom festival to bed for one more year. It's time for me to head home, cuddle in, and warm up. Gotta work tomorrow.
Bless you all.
BUT TODAY IT SNOWED. For heaven's sake, it's May. The cherries are in bloom. The bees are buzzing. The wind is blowing 60+ miles an hour. And it snowed at my house.
At home, the folks are holding their own. Work is work, what can I say. I'm sitting here in my empty house which is kind of foreign to me right now since I've been at Dad's for so long. I'll be heading down to my other room at Dad's real soon because I'm freezing my butt off here.
So I will smile when I think about my kids and grandkids and hugging and laughing, and singing, and having really short people help me decorate a birthday cake, (chocolate sheet cake with cherry frosting and sprinkles, and four part "calipitar" cake with green frosting, eyes, and sprinkles -- what it lacked in design, it made up in taste). Two children just ate the frosting off their pieces.
Well, we've put another apple blossom festival to bed for one more year. It's time for me to head home, cuddle in, and warm up. Gotta work tomorrow.
Bless you all.
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