For Christmas I received a family outing to see The Wizard of Oz performance in April. All of the Camp Gramma “campers and counselors” are going! The “givers” know I love The Wizard of Oz. Without intending it to be so (I think), it was also a gift of hope and of a feeling, a statement, that we’re not letting this cancer interfere with our family life.
I love The Wizard of Oz – did you know that? A few weeks ago I saw that the performance was going to be about an hour away in April. I thought about getting tickets and inviting someone to go with me, but… But I didn’t because there were too many “but”s in my way. But it’s late, but it’s expensive, but… Honestly, I let cancer get in my way. But someone will have to drive me. But what if I don’t feel well? It’s too far away (in time, not distance), I can’t spend $ on something 5 or 6 months away. Who knows what life will be like then? But in reality, no one knows, for anyone.
So I’m excited! Excited to see the performance, and with all my campers! There’ll be seven of us. We’ll go together, and maybe we’ll go to dinner first. It’s a school night and I know the campers will be tired, but they’re young! And me? I can rest the next day.
It’s a strange thing, this life with metastatic lung cancer. Since it’s not going away, and some wonderfully talented people have figured out how to contain or control it for now, we are filled with hope and making plans – not just setting goals – making plans for events that are months away.
I remember the first time I saw The Wizard of Oz on a color television at my aunt’s home as a child. Wow! And, I saw Wicked on Broadway when I went with my daughter and her daughter to NYC for my oldest granddaughter’s 16th birthday. That was spectacular, and a special outing for all of us. This time will be special and spectacular before we even see the performance, because we are doing it. Making memories.
Here I am – living life, feeling grateful, trying to express that gratitude, and finding joy in the everyday every day!
polepole ~ breathe 