2009 in Review

I can't believe it's already 2010.
What happened to 2009?

This stuff:
rang in the new year
met 2 Canadian mounties while on vacation in Mazatlan
got sucked into Facebook
started knitting again; got sucked into Ravelry
reconnected with someone I hadn't seen since 1990
my maternal grandmother died; she was well over 100 years old
moved to NYC
went to Atlantic City for the first time
went on my second cruise
got sea sick for the second time
25th high school reunion
got a great deal on a KitchenAid mixer
enjoyed a quiet Christmas
prepared to ring in the new year

Fond and Happy Memories

My friend Mary passed away this morning.

Sometimes when we are generous in small, barely detectable ways it can change someone else's life forever. -Margaret Cho

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And just for the record, my nose bled last night too.

Scary

A good friend of mine is very, very ill. Less than a year ago she was diagnosed with Mantle Cell Lymphoma. In December she had a bone marrow transplant. Apparently, the cancer is "back." Less than a week ago, she was told that she has "weeks" to live.

Here's what is scary.
On Saturday we visited for a long time. She was lucid and responsive and we talked at length.
On Sunday she was clearly less responsive but certainly lucid and aware of her surroundings.
On Monday she was none of those things. At all. None.
Yesterday she was sleeping when I saw her.
Today she was more responsive, but I honestly fear that days like Saturday are gone.

I'm heartbroken. For her. For her family. For those of us who are her friends.

In Memoriam

It's been a year.

Dorothy Macklin Morgan

June 27, 1941 - June 20, 2006

Open wounds stop bleeding but they are often sore for a very long time.

Why Blog (a Public Thank You)

The simple answer:
'cuz I wanna.

The real answer:
Because my mom died. Suddenly and unexpectedly. And my heart is completely and utterly broken.
(read: It's an outlet- paper journaling has been big in my life, but it's not working right now. So maybe this will.)

Because I know that I am loved and well cared for. By amazing people- lots of 'em. And I need to remind myself of that.

Because those folks need to know that even in the midst of my (on-going) grief, I recognize and am grateful, even when I don't say so.

Because 6 weeks after traveling to help me celebrate turning 40, my friends traveled to help me bury my mom. Hundreds of miles. For one: thousands of miles the first time, then sent her mom since she couldn't travel all the way across the country again so soon.

Now that's love.

And this is what love looks like: