Riding The Wave – Multiple Myeloma

“Being happy doesn’t mean that everything is perfect. It means that you’ve decided to look beyond the imperfections.” – Unknown

Wow! Once again I am absent from blogging for too long! But… rest assured I have been busy, good busy, with both my life and with things in Myelomaville. So much to catch you up on. Nothing earth shattering, but just good stuff.

I have been working with WegoHealth on a video project with Jack Aiello (and we had hoped David Emerson of PeopleBeatingCancer.org, but due to technical difficulties he wasn’t able to join us). Anyway, I’ll keep you posted on it and when it goes live, but it was a wonderful series of “conversations” between Jack and I on Multiple Myeloma. I have never met Jack, but have resolved after this, to do so. He lives in the Bay Area, so it’s really not a obstacle ridden goal! So for about a month I was up early on Friday mornings all spiffed up to spend an hour or two on this project. I’m hopeful about it’s final presentation. You can “Like” WegoHealth on FB and also join their community.

Our son, Hudson, has gotten himself all hunkered down successfully in the Bay Area with remnants of his “stuff” in our garage. Hopefully he will venture back here someday and gather up the rest. I wonder what is a reasonable time to be a storage unit for your children’s “stuff” (I’m thinking more of his bedroom!)? His new office and boss are fabulous and he is already making good waves here in NorCal as the “new kid”. He has had a couple of potential clients and co-workers ask him how old he is and they seem perplexed that he already has accomplished so much in job experience and credentials. Momma and Papa are surely proud.

I have been reading A LOT! My Kindle, that I finally got at Christmas, and now the hand-me-down iPad have brought me great joy and freedoms to stay connected and read and so on with tremendous ease. Being often scattered and taking on multiple tasks at a time, I have several books I’m mid read, often diverting to a good fiction for respite on the more serious reading. I’m mid read the Dalai Lama’s new book, “Beyond Religion: Ethics for a Whole World”. Since spiritual and religious beliefs seem to go hand in hand when dealing with crisis, and in my own spiritual journey, I’m always fascinated with the topic in ways that are less zealous with one religion or another. I’m more interested in how basic tenets align from one religion or spiritual view, with each other. I have never thought that being devoid of a specific religious practice marred a person’s life and made it insignificant and heathen. But rather being devoid of a sense of self, spiritually speaking, as being one of more concern. When I first heard of this book’s upcoming publication, I was waiting impatiently to see what the esteemed Dalai Lama had to say on the subject. He has not disappointed, thus far. It is a fascinating read, not too mention validating some of my own views, and accepting of historical and current takes on personal religious practices, personal spiritual relationship with oneself and/or divinity, and then whether or not someone without any of this can indeed lead an ethical, committed, moral, productive and happy life.

Another book I’ve been reading off and on is “The Secret of Letting Go” by Guy Finley. I do not know this author but I’m enjoying immensely his musings on this subject. One that we all face in our lives. How to let go of bad experiences, people, relationships, situations, and trust that somehow we will move from the dark to the light, if only we can let go. Today’s take away was his statement: Let me give you one last to truth to take with you on this great life journey called letting go. In my times of need, its light has proven itself a friend more often than can be said. May it do the same for you.

“Our greatest strength isn’t our ability to imagine brighter days ahead, it is that we are empowered – in every present moment – to effortlessly dismiss any dark thought or feeling that, left unattended, diminishes our happiness.” – Guy Finley, The Secret of Letting Go

(And this is at the beginning chapters!)

Naturally I really loved this thought as it ties in with my writings about changing our point of view, staying in the moment and dealing with what is presenting itself. Not worrying about the future or hanging on to the past. Being brave, and changing what we are thinking into a more positive thought process.

Other news is that I am now employed on a very part time basis at my local yarn shoppe that I love so much. It was my refuge after Dave’s treatment. It was the place that I made new friends and launched into my weaving and expanded many artistic endeavors. When I began going there in earnest it came to my attention that the shop was working on a face lift and the customers were all contributing toward that endeavor. While Anna is the owner, the overseer, the spirit of the shop, we often spend hours there. It’s a space we enjoy. We have a living room with couches, chairs, a mock fireplace and tables. A dining room with a very long beautiful table surrounded by windows in the corner of the shop that we sit around and knit, eat, and chat about life. So as regulars, we were all too happy to contribute in some way to make our space more wonderful. I approached Anna that I was a decent house painter and missed doing it. Our new home here was already beautifully painted inside. Incredulous, she took a leap of faith and accepted my offer. In many ways it saved me. I had a reason to get out of bed every morning. Something to do and look forward to. She had someone who was willing to paint the shop without it being closed, wall by wall. While she fretted over the lack of exchange, I assured her, it was such a blessing for me and we got to know each other better. She did exchange with me in small and meaningful ways, and the shop got painted and it looks great.

Funny knitting mugs that was going around on FB (click to go to Etsy)

While I was doing all of that, I thought to myself, I would really love to work here, just a little, I enjoy being here. While I was on my trip back east one of the ladies called and asked if I would consider working there one day a week. I was thrilled. So I’ve been training and learning my way around the shop in a different capacity. It’s been wonderful. One of the unique things about the shop is that there are a lot of cancer patients, caregivers, and survivors. When new people come and join us for on our long knitting evenings when the shop stays open late, they often remark, “this is such a healing place.” It is all that and more. We can talk freely about anything, including cancer. We help each other when someone is sick or hurt. It’s all so casual and yet so supportive. And of course we joke about, what’s said in The Yarn Shoppe stays in The Yarn Shoppe!

Additionally, you may remember, that I met an MM patient here locally who was going for her treatment in the Bay Area. She has three cats and is alone. Her sister came in from far away to help, and she found a home for one of her cats, and I offered to take the other two during her treatment, as she didn’t want them separated. They have acclimated very well and I have thoroughly enjoyed having them. Cole Jackson is the big grey cat. He weighs a lot but is pretty solid! He’s a cuddler. Meelu is the black one. She is more skittish, but has recently not darted away from me, sat in my lap and we have made friends over food. 🙂

And lastly, I have been on Dave to get his physical body back into shape, with little luck. Sadly, I have lost a tremendous amount of fitness over this last decade, caring for my mother and for Dave. My wonderful daughter had a hard hitting, but also gentle, heart to heart with me when I was back east. She expressed her opinion that I needed to “quit waiting for Dad!” and hire a trainer to help me get going. That in that endeavor, perhaps “Dad” will be inspired. Two days after landing back home a trainer fell right into my lap. Not just any trainer either. He is an Olympic trainer with a kinesiology degree and a competitive weight lifter. He left the job of training olympic athletes to follow his bliss and work with average folks who are struggling with all manner of health issues preventing them from getting healthy. Perfect. I have had trainers before, but he is the best one times 10! First day, my back goes out. This happened to me 15 years or so ago, so I knew without a doubt it was unused muscles protesting the audacity of my request for them to do some work! He knew exactly what to do and my faith in his knowledge and my own helped me to not crawl into my shell and hide. Then, within days, the perfect chiropractor fell into my lap as well. She uses newer methods that don’t require I get into contorting positions on a table to be adjusted. I knew I wouldn’t be able to even attempt that at the moment. I explained to her what I was doing and why. That I didn’t want to stop but needed her to be part of the team and keep putting me back together and letting me keep at it. She smiled broadly and said, “I’M IN!” She is amazing. She ultra sounded my lower backside to get the muscles to let go of my hip. She used an “activator” to put my spine back in. Both she and the trainer gave me the same exercises to do to help speed things along and after over a month, I’m stronger, moving better, with momentary squawks from my back and knee, but nothing I can’t overcome. It feels as though I’m finally tackling this last corner of my foundation and it feels tremendous.

So this would explain my extensive reading of late. Spending many days and hours babying my body on the heating pad in between training bouts and chiro visits! I hope you forgive my absence (again!). I hope you are all well.

Many of us learned of Sean Tiernan’s passing this week. A wonderful photographer and artist in the UK. I never met Sean, or even corresponded with him. But I ventured to his blog from time to time and kept up with him. He was a wonderful person. I’m saddened, as many of us are, that we have lost another to Myeloma, especially one who shared his journey without hesitation or reservation and offered solace to many. My heart reaches out to all those whose lives he touched in the hopes that he will come to your mind in happier ways than you are feeling at the moment.

Tags: Cat Sitting, Jack Aiello, MishMash, Sean Tiernan, The Yarn Shoppe Elk Grove CA, Video, WegoHealth