Keep Me In Your Heart

“Keep me in your heart for a while. Hold me in your thoughts, 

take me to your dreams”. -- Warren Zevon

I was looking for probiotics in Whole Foods today (because you need things like that when you're 66...) and I came across a bottle of Swiss Kriss tablets.  I was immediately struck with memories of Kathryn, my first Mother-in-Law.  That may not sound so good, a “natural laxative” reminds me of my former MIL?  No, not bad at all she was a very progressive woman, ahead of her times. She was using natural supplements and following good nutrition guidelines before it was the “thing to do”.  She would have fit right in at Whole Foods today among the yoga socks and oat milk. I had popped in to get "some" fruit, fresh flowers and the aforementioned probiotic. Over one hundred dollars later, I left with 2 small bags -- she would not have liked that part.  

It's true that those who pass away live on in our memories.  The Swiss Kriss memory led me to another about the beach she lived near many years ago in Ft. Lauderdale. Do you think those who are gone know we think of them?   I remembered my nephew, a small boy, Kathryn’s grandson, or as he called her “Granny”. I was so fond of him. He is a grown man now and I am ashamed to say that he and his wife moved quite near me some months ago.  Did he get a job with the State Department? All this happened while I was going through a tough knee replacement recovery and a bout with cancer. I just couldn’t muster the energy to connect with him at that time.  I should do so soon. He would love that I still think about "Granny"...  

All this caused me to email, my ex-husband, to tell him the story and the news that none of his old friends have recently died. We get along quite well and it has nothing to do with us being 1,200 miles apart. Our parting was amicable and we enjoy catching up from time to time. 

I have this need lately to reach out to people I care about, to stay in touch.  I was staffing a table at a "Book Fest" this past weekend (for a group I belong to) and I remembered my old boss lived nearby. I sent him an email invite and was so touched when he showed up. We talked about the old days and how we shared the same sense of humor.  I said, “You changed my life.”  We marveled at the fact that April marked my 19^th year of retirement. It was a good conversation and we hugged.

Perhaps my keen awareness of mortality this past year has caused me to tell people the important things I want them to know.  My former boss really did change my life. I will always be grateful to him for taking a chance on me and giving me a job I really wanted (in spite of my lack of a "J"* school degree).  I think he was pleased to hear it, maybe I’d never told him and even if I had I think he was glad to hear it again.

I’m just saying

*Journalism

Get Your Kicks On Route 66

I don’t think I’ve ever been on Route 66, but I’m about to start my 66^th year and I hope there are still some “kicks” left in store for me.

Because my birthday falls on January 9^th, I often count it as the beginning of my new year.  One thing you get used to with an early birthday is people NOT being in a party mood.  After all, you’re asking people to celebrate on the heels of one of the biggest party seasons of the year.  Most people are ready to take a break; many are on diets or in the throes of giving up one bad habit or another, while others don’t have the energy to brave the cold for a night on the town.

In spite of that, I’ve had some pretty spectacular birthday celebrations. (My 50^th comes to mind…) This year, in addition to feeling old, I’m coming off a yearlong struggle to recover from knee replacement surgery. Just as I was about to turn the corner, I suddenly had to deal with another issue -- a diagnosis of Stage One Endometrial Cancer. Fortunately, after surgery, I am now FREE of all signs of cancer.  I am extremely lucky to be able to forgo radiation or chemo. Early detection was key. I take credit for not ignoring signs and following up, but most of the credit goes to my Doctor of nearly 40 years. His call for surgery ultimately saved my life.

This is a short and sweet blog post, some seven years after starting this in my 59^th year. I often wish I could be more disciplined and productive, writing more than Facebook (FB) posts. Sadly, I find “shiny objects” very easily distract me, as well as invites to Starbucks, and my long-running Scrabble games.

That brings me to my use of FB. I am thankful for what it provides-- the means to stay in touch with friends from childhood, college, work/VA, the old neighborhood and the many people I’ve met through my post-retirement volunteer work. I see it as “my village square”.

And today my village was out in force, thank you, friends and family, for your support this year and for the birthday wishes on my 66th.  I know there has been an abundance of ill will in the world, yet I am routinely touched by the kindness of friends...and strangers.

I’m just saying.