Shabbat Shalom

My sister Cindy took off work yesterday to go on a biking weekend trip, so she had a slow morning waiting for her friend to arrive for the trip. We had a long, lazy morning of coffee and conversation, hashing over old times. Very sweet time. I hope she had a great ride yesterday and for the rest of the weekend. Thanks, Cindy. It was good, quality, sister time.

My friend Carol arrived in time to meet Cindy. We shared a cup of tea and swapped breast cancer stories. She took me out to lunch at a local restaurant called Miss Shirley's. Mark and I had been driving by it frequently, so it was finally nice to get there. Carol bought my lunch! That was an unexpected treat. Thanks, Carol. It was a lovely way to spend time with a longtime friend.

Mark came home from Yom Tov services and the gym around 3:30, but I was just about to take a nap. He had a good time at shul and pool, even though I didn't get to participate. I woke up from my nap when Lowell called. I love it when he calls! He wanted to know if he could come over, watch some DVDs together, maybe have dinner. OF COURSE!! I LOVE that we are living only a short 10 or 15 minute drive to his house. He had late-night club plans, but he was offering to spend time with his old mom and dad until then. How glorious! I have to say that watching Mark stand over Lowell at the dinner table to offer him the traditional Friday night blessing from a father to a son brought a little tear to my eye. Hearing him sing the kiddush and the birkhat after meals along with us was just a delight. Sharing laughs over the TV shows we watched as we sat side by side in the living room was a great evening for me. Thanks, Lowell for coming by to spend time with us.

These days of living in my sister's house, seeing my son frequently for dinner and TV, hanging out with friends, these days are priceless. These days remind me what family is all about. So often, family becomes massive, even obligatory, gatherings around major holidays just once or twice a year. Certainly, when I was a younger adult with little kids, that's how it was for me with my father. He lived far away, so we would make a pilgrimage once every summer and then again at Thanksgiving. When Mark's mother lived in NY, we went once a year in the summer to visit. Sometimes we might bring her to our house for a week or two. Eventually she had four years when she lived just a 10 minute drive from our house. Mark took her out shopping twice a week, and we could bring her over to our house for dinner and every holiday very easily. Those were good years.

I know there are lots of you reading this blog who keep your family close. You live in the same town or nearby towns with your entire extended family. You get together for every family birthday and every holiday, religious or national. I admire you and envy you. Mark and I have made the decision to move far away from all of our family, both immediate and extended, and our long-time friends. We had our reasons and for the most part those reasons are very valid. We love the house and our new neighborhood; however, in the very difficult and years-long struggle to make that decision, leaving family and friends was always on the list of reasons NOT to move to Florida. In my ideal world, I would have a fabulous house with Lowell living in the house on the right and Evey in the house on the left! I'm pretty sure that is not a vision in THEIR ideal world, but a mother can dream! That is just a dream, pleasant, but not real.

Still, despite the reasons why I'm living in my sister's house just 10 minutes from Lowell, I must admit there is a certain coziness here. I loved the impromptu get-together last night with Lowell. It won't last, but I'll cherish it dearly while I have it. Love you lots, Lowell!!

There is some more good news this morning. I am UNDER 221 today. Wow! Getting back to eating in-house more often, staying in control, eating high fiber, and drinking plenty of fluids WORKS. I feel like I might finally start losing actual weight again. I'm feeling healthier and stronger, ready to walk more, ready to do the work of losing weight instead of eating out and worrying about cancer all the time. I'm even feeling ready to do IV chemo should the medical oncologist give me that news on Thursday. I'm ready for anything that is necessary to beat the beast.

Today we are leaving soon for the synagogue for Shabbat services. It will be lovely because there's going to be a big kiddush luncheon in the succah, sponsored by the Rabbi and his wife Mona, also good friends of ours. Mark and I will get a chance to eat a meal in a succah and a chance to spend quality time with friends, friends who really are just like family.

This evening we are going to have some more visitors from our circle of friends outside of the synagogue. Shari and her boyfriend Steve are coming to visit. She lives nearby here as well, so it will be an easy drive for her to come visit us. It's delightful to know that she cares enough to want to come over and visit.

At this point, I truly believe that there will be a time when we have made a lot of new friends in Florida, so there will be plenty of evenings when friends come to our house for a meal and conversation. Mark has some family living in Florida, hours away, but still that give us a chance to reconnect with some of them once we are there permanently. There are even many Mishkan Torah friends who have moved to Florida whom we can reconnect with once again. We are hoping that our family and friends from here will be visiting frequently, staying in the "Mickey Guest Room," and going to Disney World with us. We really do want that A LOT!! We have extended that invitation to everyone, and it is a SINCERE invitation. Mark and I have always enjoyed hosting people in our house, even overnight guests. We can't wait to share this new house and new neighborhood with you as well.

Shabbat Shalom to all of our family and friends. I hope you have a warm, cozy day today no matter where you are. Love and peace to everyone.