Happy New Year! In the past i.e. before cancer... I was rather ambivalent regarding the passing of each year. To me it was a time to make resolutions, that were rarely kept 😉...a time to party, or when I was in sales a time to finish out my year end quotas! Oh the stress! Now, I view the passage of each new year very differently and on a number of levels.
On one level, at least, I'm not unhappy to say good-bye to 2014! I lost a large number of friends to MBC and that made it a difficult year. Good bye my angels...Kym, Anita, Susan, Timarie, Franny, Barbara, Vicki and Dorivee . Each of you are deeply missed and made a huge contribution in this world...as well as left a huge mark on my heart! I will always miss you! It was also the year that my Donnie had to endure cancer surgery, something I never wanted him to have to go through! But, there were also some beautiful moments too! Spending time with my SIL Mary Lou who visited from Switzerland. She brings such calm to my heart. I love you Mary Lou!!! Having my beautiful son and his lovely girlfriend here for Thanksgiving and then again to spend Christmas in FL with them was a dream come true. Words cannot describe what they mean to me and what great joy they bring into my life! Seeing them flourish in NYC also brings me such happiness, and I will always equate 2014 with that. I love you both more than you can imagine!!! Don and I saw the grand beauty of The Badlands together, visited Crazy Horse and Mt Rushmore...something I'd dreamt about doing forever. We spent time at the lake creating memories...with and without my mom and dad. We loved making memories with Barb and Tom, and just enjoyed quiet evenings together on the deck of our new home with our Piper!
But...I no longer have a problem saying good-bye to the old year like I did in my younger years. Yes I get twinges of fear...fear of what will happen THIS year. I am all too aware that with my disease things can change at any moment! I've seen it happen all too many times. I've been so fortunate to remain stable on my second AI (anti hormonal drug) for two years next month. That won't go on forever...I know that. Will this be the year that things change, that rapid progressive occurs? I try not to agonize over it believe me, but the thoughts are always there, in the back of my mind. I've gotten quite used to being stable (actually a tad spoiled really) and although I have a number of side effects...if things stayed the way they are I'd be happy. Ahhh, if only we were the ones in charge, right!? But I digress. I do look forward to the new year for a number of reasons...
* Don and I are thrilled to be going to NYC in April to visit Mike & Jenny!
* Summer will once again return to MN and my parents will be here and we can enjoy lake life to its fullest!
* The promise of new adventures and experiences always await at the begging of a new year, and don't we all love a blank slate such as that!
I know that I haven't been writing much as of late. I can only do so when the words seem to flow so I hope you understand. I do want to share that our 2014 Christmas was one of the best we've ever had! My wonderful parents gathered all of us in The Villages, FL to spend the holiday together. Mike, Jenny, Barb, Tom, Aimee, Jack, Kim, Greg, Matt, Megan, Don and me...such laughter, pure joy yes some tears, ( we are Maroney's and rather sappy!) it was a week that I know I will cherish forever! I thank you Mother and Daddy with all my heart. It had been 22 years since my sisters and I had ALL been together for Christmas! It had been 13 years since Barb and I had spent Christmas with my parents...in other words, since Don and I have been married we've never enjoyed Christmas with Mother and Daddy! Talk about special...I'm so grateful!
I'm equally grateful for all of you. I would like to thank my two BILs Bill and Mike...they did so much for us while Don was recuperating after surgery and Bill was a Godsend and housesat and took care of Piper while we were in FL. thank you so very much! No one can make this journey called life alone...NO ONE! Whether you're sick or healthy! Whether you're on the giving or receiving end of things it takes many people...and so as I close this blog, I encourage you to please, please get out and help somebody's journey. You will never know what a difference it will make for both of you.
With love and friendship and a very Happy New Year...
Kathy xoxo 💝
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