Shifting life’s priorities
The past few weeks have been filled with airline flights, rental cars and people watching as I rearranged my plans for families and dear friends going through difficult times.
Nothing on my plate takes precedence over the heartbreak that is felt by close ones, so my decision to shift my priorities wasn’t a choice of duty. Family always comes first, I’m no different than any of you when it goes to comforting your loved ones.
I was fortunate to grow up close to my cousins as we referred to each other as “the little kids” and “the big kids.”
No amount of miles will ever erase the loving memories of our childhood and we found ourselves recalling, funny (and embarrassing) stories of our days pitching pennies against the wall, running around our grandparents house and rollerskating on their driveways.
Some of us still have faded scares to prove we survived daredevil moves, and all of us are amazed we didn’t kill ourselves jumping from kamikaze stairs. Lots of photo albums showed the progress from mini monsters to family members producing more mini monsters!
This was a bittersweet gathering as we reunited at our oldest cousin’s house while she bravely and gracefully surrendered to the last chapter of her life. Fortunately, the cancer hadn’t taken her sense of humor. She was still strong enough for uncontrollable laughter, and every time we would offer to let her recover from the hysterics and suggest a nap she’d refuse. “This is the best medicine I could ever have,” she’d always reply.
All of us made time to celebrate her while she was still on this side of the grass so, with baskets of bagels and cream cheese and yummies that included mini birthday cakes and sweets – which we hoped might entice her to eat more than she previously had – we shared the day.
Apparently, none of us inherited long arms because we couldn’t seem to take a good group selfie and absolutely none of us inherited any genius DNA to construct a timer that would manage to capture us altogether as we tried and failed to click the camera. Evidently, we’re all failures in that department too. Who knew stupidity was so contagious? Indeed, it was the best medicine for all of us.
I ventured out west this past week to support my dearest friend’s Celebration of Life for her daughter. She’d spent weeks organizing this talented woman’s photographs and curated a spectacular art show throughout her home. It was a privilege that everyone could appreciate the life she lived.
The caterer had his own emergency and cancelled at the last minute and I offered my services of years gone by of catering. It felt good to worry about the details so she could concentrate on everyone attending and enjoy the family and friends.
It was a week I hadn’t anticipated but couldn’t imagine being anywhere else. It felt good to contribute and ease the burden. After all, Isn’t that what life‘s all about?
