Saturday, January 29, 2011

1.29.11

AYNSLEY:
First, a correction: The facility where Mom is staying has meals on a 6 week rotation, not a weekly rotation. So far, she's only really had one meal that she wasn't super excited about, so we're hoping that we only have to supplement a little bit with outside foods. Sorry about that!

I almost wrote "today was a good day" but am trying to let the lessons I've learned sink in at least a little bit before I go back to old, familiar bad habits. So: no judgement, just reporting. Gary and I arrived around 11:45am-I had work that I had to do at 9am this morning, so we didn't leave the house until close to 11am. Then we had an essential Starbucks stop for Dad and a bit of traffic, so we arrived right about the time Mom was being served lunch. But the breakfast report was that she ate much more than yesterday-the marijuana may have kicked in. She ate well for lunch, too. The two of us did her occupational therapy upper body exercises. She napped a lot today, had a really strong physical therapy session and seemed more comfortable than yesterday.

We actually had a wonderful time with just family today. Most of our regular visitors are saving their visit for her birthday tomorrow, so we got a lot of quiet time. This is in no way an insult to the fabulous visitors or meant to discourage people from coming. I'm just saying that there was something very nice about having a couple of hours with just Mom, Gary, and me. Gary and I introduced Mom to Michael Buble and I had a little dance party-I know, I know, I'm a total nerd and probably shouldn't admit this, but damn it's fun to dance to him! Later tonight, Ross put on Sam Cooke and all five of us had a singalong/dance party, which was amazing. Watching Mom bop her head along to the music, while Dad and I twisted and Ross and Gary sang along was...well...it made a very happy memory. We laughed a lot today.

I'm not sure how much detail went into describing the bottle garland, but each of the contributors wrote a little saying or quote for Mom. Gary's was "where there's laughter, there's hope." And it's true. If you can find humor in sadness, if you can laugh as often as you cry, if you can not only find, but focus on, the positive side of any situation, that's quality of life. That's really living. We have a lot to hope for. Of course we're all hoping that somehow a medical miracle will occur and Mom will do the impossible and go into remission. Of course we're hoping that her vision will return. We hope that she'll get her strength back and maybe someday be able to participate in some of the things that she loves about life: riding her bike, wind surfing, yoga, dancing, swimming. But even if none of those big wishes are granted, knowing the joy and healing that come from sharing laughter with people you love makes that the best thing to hope for.

16 comments:

  1. Dearest Flynne and Family, you are all so very much in my heart and a part of my daily prayers and thoughts. I hope this very special day is full of laugter and the joy of knowing how much love embraces you. That's what birthdays should be about. May it be so. Love, Dana

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  2. Happy Birthday Flynne,
    I wish for you today all enduring things, family, love, sleep, yummy food, and most importantly, LAUGHTER! Your amazing family and you have taught us to slow down and treasure tender moments. Blessings and love and healing strength, my dear.
    Love, Kimbo xo

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  3. Flynney:

    Happy Birthday Old Woman!!!! I woke up this morning thinking only one thing - it's January 30 - Flynne's Birthday. As Kim said, we wish and hope that you have a wonderful day with your family and friends. I have a vision of all of you singing, dancing and laughing together today.

    I've said it many times before: I always love this day each year because I get to tell you that you're that much older than me again.....

    Please enjoy today with Bob, Aynsley, Ross, Gary - and all of us who are thinking about you and love you.

    Happy Birthday My Friend! Love, Me

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  4. Happy Birthday, Flynne! What a gift you have to be with all of your loved ones, celebrating YOU and your amazing strength and spirit. AND, best of all--- such GREAT news!!!! I wish you all of the love you're feeling today. Dance the happy dance. xoxo,
    Renee

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  5. Happy Birthday Flynne,

    Wish I could have been there for the Sam Cooke singalong/dance along!
    I hope you have a wonderful Birthday celebration and continue to gain strength and healing. SOOO glad meals are not on a weekly rotation,booorinnng!

    Love, Donna

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  6. Flynne,
    wishing you the happiest of birthdays, surrounded by family, friends, song, dance, laughter,love and hope. oops, I almost forgot to mention cake and ice-cream!
    much love,
    Jodi

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  7. Happy Birthday, Flynne!! I hope that today is a wonderful day full of family, friends, and delicious food (like cake:)! I continue to think of you all daily and am sending all my love from up here in BC!!

    Love,

    Alex

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  8. Dearest Flynne,
    Ah....birthdays. A day of renewal and resolve. A day older, but tomorrow we're another day older than today. So for you, we wish many many another day older.
    All our love, and prayers,
    Cherie and Ron

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  9. Flynne!

    HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY Birthday! We were delighted to read about the music and dancing in your honor... Now that dancing must have been something! We send our love to you and your wonderful family. WE ARE CELEBRATING YOU EVERDAY!
    Michael and Sheryl

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  10. PS.... Don't tell Flynne about the typo! EVERYDAY... is not spelled everday.... (sorry!) mlb

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  11. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SWEETHEART!!!!

    GOOD TO HEAR THE POSITIVE HEALTH NEW NEWS THIS WEEK AND THAT YOUR APPETITE IS RETURNING..I'M SURE YOU WILL FIND ROOM FOR CAKE AND ICE CREAM.

    I GETUP
    I WALK
    I FALL
    DOWN,
    MEANWHILE
    I KEEP
    DANCING..

    WAY TO GIRL GIRL !!!
    HOPE YOU ARE HAVING A SPLENDID DAY..
    LAUGH A LOT, LOVE A LOT ENJOY YOUR BEAUTIFUL FAMILY AND LOVING FRIENDS.
    KNOW THAT YOU ARE THOUGHT OF AND SENT LOVING WISHES EVERY DAY.
    AS ALWAYS AND FOREVER,
    JANET

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  12. Dearest Flynne,
    HAPPY BIRTHDAY
    Boy do I wish I could see your rendition of "All the Single Ladies"...bet Beyonce has nothin' on YOU! One thing's for damn sure..she doesn't inspire me like you do. I wish I could sing and dance with you...or for you, on your birthday..and every other day just to CELEBRATE YOU!Know that my heart IS singing with the thought that you're spending your birthday surrounded by so much love...
    My fondest birthday wish for you is that you truly understand that the love and wonderful thoughts that are coming at you from everyone you have touched in life is merely an echo of what YOU have put out into the world.
    You are in my heart and daily prayers.
    May you laugh, sing and enjoy your birthday
    All my love,
    ~Ronni

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  13. Dear Flynne~
    Happy Birthday! Wishing you many, many happy and HEALTHY days to follow with those you love and those who love you~
    Janet R.

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  14. Happy birthday Flynne! May this year be full of healing and joy. Thinking of you always!

    Love, Totally Louise

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  15. Your brother, former Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius, joins me in sending you a huge, loving, and very campy BRA-A-VO...BRA-A-VO...BRAVO-BRAVISI....MO!!! Trust me, you wouldn't want to hear us sing it. Your hometown folk are cheering for you. We celebrate all of you...ever day. I kinda like that Mick.

    Jon.

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  16. Happy Birthday Flynnie...Olivia and I send our love, and we're doin' a dance in our jammies in your honor! You are a woman of amazing strength and spirit, and most definitely the hero of your own story. We celebrate you tonight.
    Love Always, Cindi and Olivia

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