Dear Reader:

Tuesday I had my regular visit with Dr. Silgals…we are coming up on the ending of the third cycle (3 months) since I started the new medications to try and stop “little c’s” re-appearance and “spread sheet.” I was cautiously optimistic. I didn’t feel ants crawling under my skin, which has happened in the past, when the cancer is active…but I also knew the “afflicted” area still had some lesions present.

The body is so amazing….when one part of it has health issues…sometimes the rest of the body makes up for it by “shaking what your mama gave you.” My blood pressure, sugar levels, cholesterol are the best they have been in years since getting off the last “miracle” drug. Everything is returning to what it was before “little c” entered my life, with all the treatments (radiation, chemo, surgery) that take a toil (over time) on different parts of the body systems.

Even though I am still (somewhat) anemic with a slightly low blood count, Dr. Silgals reassures me that these side-effect factors are still in the do-able perimeters enabling us to “carry on.” In other words, they are medically induced as common side effects of the drugs.

(To counter-act I am beefing up my Juice Plus (thanks Janet) supplements in the vegetable and fruit departments. )

***I was thinking the other day that I am taking more vitamins for my body now but what about my soul. It was then that it hit me, an epiphany…that every time I sit down and start to write a blog…I am feeding my soul…whether with laughter, family, stories, ideas, observations and/or new perceptions. My blog time (each day) is my time to converse with God and let Him in to guide me through thoughts and ideas to share.

…And on the up side…”little c” hasn’t spread since starting the new regime and everything remains stationary…even slightly improving. It is easy to see that this isn’t an instant “cure-all” drug but it is steady. It reminds me of the “Garden Song” that I sing or hum to myself a lot while working in the garden. (“Step by step, row by row; I’m gonna make this garden grow…”) 

Dave Mallet, originally wrote this song, but it was popularly sung by The Muppets, Peter, Paul, and Mary, John Denver, and Pete Seegar (to name a few.) Peter and Paul sang it as an eulogy to Mary following her death. As I listened to the words carefully in the following rendition…I realized for the first time that the song is a wonderful metaphor for life. Listen.

Dave Mallett – Garden Song – YouTube

A garden does teach us “Everything in God’s good time.” I understand, now, that this is true in everything in life…including health and healing.

Here is a copy of the lyrics…read them, ponder them, and tuck them away for a rainy day. (which I hope is today…no pun intended)

Inch by inch, row by row, I’m gonna make this garden grow
All it takes is a rake and a hoe and a piece of fertile ground
Inch by inch, row by row, someone bless these seeds I sow
Someone warm them from below ’til the rain comes tumbling down

Pullin’ weeds and pickin’ stones, we are made of dreams and bones
I feel the need to grow my own ’cause the time is close at hand
Grain for grain, sun and rain, I’ll find my way in nature’s chain
I tune my body and my brain to the music of the land

Inch by inch, row by row, I’m gonna make this garden grow
All it takes is a rake and a hoe and a piece of fertile ground
Inch by inch, row by row, someone bless these seeds I sow
Someone warm them from below ’til the rain comes tumbling down

So plant your rows straight and long, temper them with prayer and song
Mother earth can keep you strong if you give her love and care…

So until tomorrow…Father, remind us to take our doses of soul vitamins to not only supplement, but to spiritually improve our daily lives.

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh

*Look at my first blooming daffodil from the bulbs Anne and I planted in December…we have eight “teams” of five each circling the camellias…I can hardly wait to see them all blooming. Yellow, yellow, everywhere! How can one not smile when surrounded by daffodils?

Libby is one of the most caring people you will ever know…but that poster behind her at the Peace Center should have been a “Most Wanted” Poster.

I mentioned, in an earlier post, that Libby’s pocketbook is so heavy that if she plops it on the passenger side of the car the belt signal light comes on and she has to strap her pocketbook in…before she can drive.

Libby does admit to being a “portable” hoarder…but this “affliction” really came to light during intermission at the musical last Saturday. She got up to tramp over those 50 people sitting on each side of us to get to the aisle…and while trying not to trip or break anyone’s toes (step by step and row by row) she, inadvertently “cold-cocked” this poor man innocently sitting in her row.

Since she was dragging her ‘groaning’ pocketbook two seats behind her she didn’t realize what had happened…until Brooke, following in her wake, yelled out in the theater, “Libby you bashed that poor man right there in the head with that pocket book of yours.”

Libby said she was so horrified (intermingled with mortified) that she just kept right on going…pretending that whoever that “Libby” was ….it wasn’t her.

Yesterday she texted the cartoon “portable hoarder purse” to us and admitted “My name is Libby Clarkson and I am a purse hoarder.” We are proud of you Libby for seeking help. PHPA (Portable Hoarder Purse Anonymous) is lucky to have you. Good luck!