While I have considered many topics for this week’s blog post, I have had difficulty getting words onto a document of any kind. The truth is that “life” is happening all around me this week. Some of life has been a bit scary and other parts have been fantastic but all of it has left me feeling emotional and sometimes tapping into all that is more than I can handle.

Great things this week include successful fundraising for my upcoming Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer 3-Day walk next month. Happy Happy Joy Joy! Another part of my delight is the celebration of my 10th anniversary with the Hub, Mr. T.  We’ve shared joys and sorrows, mayhem and order, love and pain, tears and laughter and we’re still standing like two solid rocks firmly planted amidst the various currents of the ocean. I feel confident that our friendship, love, and commitment will see us through many more milestone years.

The scary part of my week, has been that my (step) dad has been in the hospital since Sunday because of heart trouble. His pulse was lingering in the 30′s until they made the decision to put in a pacemaker early this morning. He came through reasonably well but he is still in a lot of pain and there are many unanswered questions. For now we believe him to be out of immediate danger but I cannot deny that this has taken its toll on me emotionally.  It used to be that people his age were “old” and now I look at him and all of my loved ones around his age as spry young ducklings. It toys with my version of mortality. Even tonight, Squidget was talking about when Mr. T and I have our 50th wedding anniversary…all I could think is that my kids will be in their 40′s (ahem) while I am nestled somewhere in my 80′s and it made nervous. Happy but nervous. Happy that with any luck I will be able to enjoy my kids alongside my grand kids with Mr. T on my arm. Nervous that any number of things could change that dynamic and the reality that our parents may not be there with us,  because I really really really want them to be.

Taunting me further is that life is hanging in the balance for so many people in my circle of friends and family. They have shown so much courage, honor, humanity, and love that all I can do is be humbled and motivated, encouraging and vivacious. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you, and hopefully my actions will have more meaning.

Love hard. Live strong. Dance a lot. Sing loudly. Mind your manners. Be a good friend. Let people know that you love them. Be kind. Give Hugs. And don’t forget to Smile.