Two Days

"Who knows? Perhaps the same bird echoed through both of us yesterday, separate, in the evening." 

-Rainer Maria Rilke

Home

They run for the water, tossing sun hats for goggles.  I stop them and they give me ho hums as I make them put on their PFD's, for the sign reads Strong Current and those words make me feel achy deep down in my bones.  And then they are off again, bright fish in water as clear and green as glass.

Sully comes running out of the gentle waves with long strands of green and brown seagrasses stuck to his legs, waving a piece of treasured shell at me.  He crawls up into my lap with saltwater dripping from his eyelashes.  "Can I have this shell, Mama?"  Yes, I say.  "You mean I can bring this shell home with me, Mama?  I can keep it?"  Of course, I say. 

The day is spent under lazy, swaying palms.  Pelicans and gulls fly overhead and just under fish scale clouds.  Theo lives in the water where his tippy toes touch and waits for the wake of passing boats to push him to shore.  Sully comes to sit next to me once Theo has gone out too far and fills a cheap plastic bucket shaped like a sandcastle full of water, sand, sea grass, one tiny silver fish and one black crab no bigger than the tip of my thumb with orange-ish legs and two beady eyes.  The school of exploration I dream about them attending.

Where the water laps up and then spills back over and rolls out is where I plant myself in the ocean.  I sit here and watch my family and wait for the familiar to take over, and it does.  Always does.

Sharing Hope: For Heather, Cameron, and Lily

I want to share something with you today.

I received an e-mail from a beautiful woman and mama.  Her name is Heather.  She reached out with the hope that I would be willing to share this short video about her journey and in honor of National Cancer Survivors Day (6/2).

Her words: When Lily was just 3 1/2 months old, I was diagnosed with mesothelioma; a type of cancer that kills most people within 2 years. As I’m sure you can imagine, the first thing that came to mind when I was diagnosed was my baby girl and how I wasn’t going to be able to watch her grow up. After intense treatment and recovery, I’m still here 7 years later and cancer free! My journey with cancer was a terrifying one and I'd like to turn my pain into purpose and become someone that other people can look to for guidance, inspiration, and hope in situations like my own.

Watching her video with Sully by my side tugged on my heartstrings.  I cannot imagine.  But I can imagine healing, courage, and hope, so this is why I am sharing Heather's story here.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO

 Thank you for sharing your story with us, Heather.  Love and Light.