It's a Walk in the Park

There is never a dull weather moment in Texas. Just yesterday I was telling you about the surprise snow flurries we had on Friday and today, it was hard to believe that it was winter!

I arrived at Casa de Longo and transported mom to Medical City to start the last seven radiation treatments – Sha-ZAM!!

We arrived at the radiology department to see a group of new faces. There were a lot of people that were starting their treatment plan today. While mom was receiving her therapy, I had the opportunity to meet a lovely woman that was there to get a routine scan to make sure her cancer was in remission. She had come to her appointment alone and while we were talking, a man snuck up behind her and gave her a big hug and kiss that brought the woman to tears. As she later explained, it was her husband. Unknowing to his wife, he had left work early to be with her and you could tell that one, unsolicited, unselfish act meant the world to her.

As the woman and her husband conversed, I returned to my new hobby. Courtesy of Cancer, I am learning to crochet. I have always wanted to learn, but I rarely had time to just sit and do it. But being in hospital waiting rooms for the past five months, I have more sedentary time on my hands then I know what to with. Now, I have only been crocheting for a week so I have been practicing the basic technique. And while I do not have a colossal blanket or beanie cap to show for it, I must say that I have a pretty good looking worm! And just like I did with my macaroni necklace, circa 1975, I presented my worm for mom’s approval with the same enthusiasm and sense of accomplishment. She wants me crochet her a blanket, but I insisted on starting with something small …how about some hair? ;o)

Mom joined me in the waiting room and decided to sit for a spell. Once she was settled in, the woman I mentioned above asked me if I had made the hat mom was wearing (that snazzy white one that looks like a snow ball.) Mom said no, but she did buy it for me. They continued their conversation and it turned out that the lady had gone through a year’s worth of chemo to treat cervical cancer.

As we left Medical City and headed to the car, I could hear mom utter, “Thank You, Lord” under her breathe. I knew exactly what she meant. While her journey has not been easy, there are others whose journey has been longer and more difficult and we both prayed that the Good Lord continue to bless the woman with remission.

We drove out of the parking lot and the warmth of the sun could be felt through the windows. I asked mom if she needed to go anywhere today and she said that she would like to get a cup of coffee and just sit outside and enjoy the pleasant day. I told her I knew the perfect place.

We made a detour to Starbucks were I got two Frozen Frappacinos and a small piece of coffee cake that we could split. I drove mom to Bishop Park. It’s a lovely area in the midst of an urban town center that has shops, restaurants and a common area with benches by a lake. I found a place to park and we took a small walk to a bench and laid out our little Starbuck’s picnic.

You could hear the chirping of the birds and we enjoyed a simple conversation under a brilliant blue sky without a cloud in sight. We were flanked by a wide assortment of flowers and the rippling water in the lake served as the perfect backdrop. I would catch glimpses of mom from the corner of my eye…sitting their slurping her frappacino, breathing in and out and warming herself in the sun.

We spent at least two hours just sitting there talking about a wide array of topics and as we were getting ready to leave, mom leaned over and said it had been a beautiful day…and indeed it had been.

Once again, Cancer left a blessing at our feet. Sometimes the most memorable things in life do not come with a price tag affixed to them. There are times that we must be reminded to just be in the moment and take pleasure in the every day things we frequently take for granted or that go by unnoticed because we are too busy.

Here’s hoping you have time for a walk in the park today!

Val

(Shhh...no slurping!)

(This Frappacino moment brought to you by Team LoCo.)

(Such a delicate little flower...when she's not smacking you with her cane!)

(Here's my worm making skills put to good use. Is it me, or does mom look like a blonde Princess Leah from Star Wars?)