Tag: family

Unfocused anger

The other day I had an angry visitor to my site who took offense to my post Go sell your Drama somewhere else. This person felt I was being mean and “attacking someone on a blog that was supposed to be about breast cancer”.  What is interesting about that is the post in question is written about me and how I have changed how I respond to negative influences on my life.  Second, at no time have I stated that this is about “breast cancer.” My header gives a brief description,

 “What would you do if presented with a 50-50 chance of developing breast cancer? That is exactly what happened to me. This is my journey to peace of mind.”

 “About this page”  goes more in-depth about the beginnings of this blog.  Over time I discussed my preparation for a bilateral prophylactic mastectomy, the surgery itself, the impact it had on my family and myself and the decisions I have made and the effect those decisions had on my family and myself.  As I began to get back to normal after my surgery, I discussed how the experience changed me and my intention to continue the blog and focus on my family.

Over time I received the support of many tremendous people, many of those women who either were strong survivors of cancer or like me able to make preemptive decisions to prevent cancer.

This blog has been a sounding board, a type of therapy to clear my head.  A place to meet others and share ideas.  If that offends someone well, for lack of a better thought, tough!  In this great land of the free,you have the right not to read my scribblings.

To that visitor, I hope you find some peace from what ever it is that angers you so that you feel you must lash out at things that you do not seem to understand and that honestly are unimportant in the greater scope of what seems to weigh on you to cause such anger.

Thank you to my friends, family and those who have offered support along the way!

Baby it’s cold outside

It did not take long upon arriving home to realize, it is cold! I have always said that I like where I live because I enjoy the change of seasons. For the most part that is a true statement still. I like a nice snowfall, once a year. I like to watch the leaves turn in autumn and fall from the trees. I love early spring and the buds that appear on the trees and bloom over the weeks. What I am coming to realize in my older age is that I do not love everything in between. I can definitely live without 25 degree weather and wind the takes your breath away. Grey skies that linger for days even weeks. It all gets a little depressing.

The day we arrived in Orlando it went to 88 degrees. Even when rain crept in it was warm. This morning at the bus stop layered up the wind still ripped through me like a knife. A storm is rolling across the country expected to bring snow midweek.

“The grass is always greener on the other side”. I guess I will have to keep this in mind as I long for end of winter. I dread sitting outside at soccer practice Thursday night with Megan, hopefully it will snow and cancel!

 

A visit with Merida (from Brave)

IMG_3930So as we sat in the hotel one night we had turned the television on but had never changed the channel.  After a few minutes we realized we were watching the “things to do at Disney” channel.  That is when we saw it, one of the newest character visits at the park was Merida from Brave.  She has become important to my family.  When I was in the hospital, Frank and the girls went to the movies and saw it together.   It was one of the first nights while I was still in the ICU after the prophylactic mastectomy.  The girls got a bit emotional as they drew connections between struggles with Merida’s mother and their own.

According to the television, Merida was in Epcot.  We had already been to Epcot and did not see her.  We tried to look it up on the internet but found a wide array of stories.  Seems she is so new that as they tested the character and first put her out with crowds she moved around a bit.  We were able to find some cast members who told us exactly where to find her, in Magic Kingdom.

Thursday morning we had plans for breakfast at Cinderella’s castle.  Merida was right down the path from there so right from breakfast we went. It was 25 minutes before she was even due to start her day the line was forming.  We took our place and patiently waited.  AT 9:15 the door opened and in the line moved.  They have set her up in an area that was being used for Rapunzel the last time we were at the park.  From what we are told during the initial roll out kids were allowed to shoot an arrow with her but it seems that has stopped.  I can only assume that it took too long. For those wondering what happened to Rapunzel, it seems that she will join the new Princess Fairytale Hall currently under construction.IMG_3925

The visit was excellent! She chats with the kids and is very playful.  She stole the hat of one of the cast members at one point hiding it behind her back.  They all play along looking around for it as she places it on a father in line.  She then is the one to “find it” announcing that “he took it!”.  With others she takes children and hides with them or tells silly stories.  It makes for a much longer line, but a much more fun and interactive visit.IMG_3927

When it was time for Meg and Madi to visit, Merida came over to the line to meet them.  She immediately took their books and signed talking the entire time.  The girls walked with her over to the picture spot.  They posed and then both gave her a hug.  Frank and I were starting to move along when we noticed Merida and Madi sneaking off to the side of the stage.  They hide and snuck around for a few seconds until “found” by other cast members.  She then gave Madison a hug and we were on our way.IMG_3931

I know this sounds ridiculous but it brought a small tear to my eye.  It made Madison’s day! Well worth the wait!