When Life Hands You Lemons

I’m sure many of us can attest that we’ve been pelted by lemons at some point in our lives. Thrown the proverbial curveball that changes everything, some people refer to it as life handing you lemons. As you know, the rest of that saying is:

When life hands you lemons, make lemonade.

Unknown

But what does that mean exactly? Make the best of your situation? Drink lemonade? Accept the disappointment, curveball, illness, and do something positive with it? Well, as someone who has made her share of lemonade, I’d like to change it up because I’m not really a fan of lemonade myself. Are you?

But I’m not sure how to do that. So I thought I’d check in with my sweet, longtime blogging friends and ask the question to you. I know many of your stories for having been reading your blogs for many years, I know none of us have escaped the lemons in life which have made us stronger. So how would you change up that quote?

When life hands you lemons…

Feel free to enjoy and share whatever comes to mind…I always enjoy a good laugh by the way!

Shine On!

xo

A Funny Thing Happened In The Grocery Store

Last night, we were gearing up for our third Nor’easter which did evolve into a slushy mixture of snow and rain.  Because it makes for treacherous driving, a lot of people go out the night before to buy milk, bread, eggs –  you know, the essentials.

So when I stopped by the local grocery store last night to get a few provisions, it was really busy in there with many last minute shoppers like myself.  Usually I’m pretty methodical in my shopping.  I go up and down each aisle, but last night, I wanted to get in and get out in record time, but I wasn’t organized, so I was back and forth and all around the store.

At the last minute, I decided to get some chocolate before I left.  I started walking down the aisle and passed a high school girl who had a bemused look on her face.  Her parents were with her and as I passed by them, I smiled and stopped about a foot away to get my dessert for the night.  I could feel them staring at me and I wondered why.  So I turned and pretended to look at something on the other side of the aisle where they are all standing.  Suddenly, the woman reached out to me.

Excuse me, she said.  I have to tell you something.  I inwardly groaned.

Yes?

I have a funny story to tell you.

Ok? I said as I cocked my head to the side wondering what she’s got to tell me.  She begins to giggle and now her daughter is grinning.  Her husband is staring down at his feet looking uncomfortable.

My husband’s been following you all over the store.

Oh really?  Why?  Now I’m wondering how I could have been so clueless that her husband had been following me and why she wants to tell me.

Look at us!  she exclaimed pointing to our respective outfits.  We couldn’t have been more like twins if we had tried!

I looked at her and we are both wearing black pants and light coats.  I begin to laugh because she’s right, but I’m still not getting the connection.

My husband has been following you all over the store, thinking you were me.  And he kept insisting I was zigzagging all over the store.  My daughter and I thought he was crazy!

See!  I told you that there must have been someone else who looked like you! Her husband stated, looking at me.

To me he explained, You’re a really a fast walker and you’re everywhere!  My wife and I separated to get the shopping done faster and when I looked up, I’d see who I thought was her at the other end of the aisle, so I would speed up to catch up with her.  But then when I got to the end of the aisle, she’d be gone and then I’d look around and she was down a different aisle.  But in fact, it was you.  Because you both are dressed alike.  I thought I was losing my mind.  It was like my wife was in two places at once!

Well, we all began to laugh as the husband looked sheepishly when I asked him if he hadn’t noticed that his wife had longer hair than I did?

No.  I just knew what she was wearing!

Well, that brought about a fresh round of belly laughter from us all.

As I said goodbye to them and complimented the wife on her amazing outfit, I couldn’t stop laughing to myself.  It just goes to show you that sometimes we only see what we want to see and the mind can play tricks on us!

Has that ever happened to you?  What a funny coincidence, don’t you think?

Shine On!

xo

I Love Snow!

It’s snowing here and in my excitement, even though I didn’t have to get up early, I was up early.  Silly I know for me to not sleep in, because going out today is not a viable option, but the child-like wonder in watching snow fall has never left me.  So here I sit, coffee in hand and snuggled under a blanket in our warm home, watching the snow fall outside in what is being called a blizzard.  Ah, the benefits of being a Jersey Girl!

Especially when snow is falling at night, I am entranced by the wonder of each individual snowflake being unique, much like human beings.  Collectively they fall from the sky to pile up together, nestled on the ground, and then blown by the winds to be swept up again into drifts.

I love snow like I love people – I love their uniqueness, their quirky ways and their ability to bond together to form a cohesive snowball!  LOL  I know I’m being silly here, but I can’t help it.  I’m giddy today.  I just can’t help myself from smiling.  I don’t even care that it will take me a long time and much effort to clear a path, clean off our cars and get out after the storm has ceased.  But for now, the winds are blowing, the snow is falling and since we have no place to go – so as the song goes – Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!

I am feeling innately sated today and I’m counting my blessings.  We have homemade chicken soup all ready for lunch (and maybe even dinner?) if the mood suits us.  Plenty of snacks and some movies to enjoy watching together.  There’s no school and no work to attend today so we will just enjoy being together, safe and sound, watching the outside world be covered in a mantle of white lace.

Life is good friends.  Shine your heartlights.

Shine On!

xo

 

Jingle All The Way To Giggle Town

Black Friday shopping isn’t my thing, but I’m getting in the mood for Christmas already.  I can’t help myself.  I find that people smile more when the holiday season arrives and people are nicer (for the most part) as I steer clear of the grinches when I can!

If you need a little break from the turkey fog, take a moment to watch the video below.  Animals singing makes me laugh!  The cleverness of the person who put this video together deserves a standing ovation from me because my face hurts from smiling and laughing.

So, here’s your Friday pick me up, sing along with the Animals of YouTube!

Shine On!

xo

 

A Giggle Before Thanksgiving

If you’re anything like me, you’re stressed out now with the start of the holiday season.  Thanksgiving is a tough holiday to prepare for and even though this year, I’m not cooking the bird, I have a few dishes to prepare for the meal at my sister’s house.  It should be fun this year as our Mom is going to be with us too which just makes me smile.  I want to take lots of photos and videos of her with all of us.  As our parents get older, it’s important to do that you know.  Every single moment and memory is precious and sometimes it’s only after, in hindsight, that we regret we didn’t do more.  So, I’m working hard to live with no regrets!

Anyway, I was thinking about decorating for Christmas because I always began after the Thanksgiving dinner was put away.  I started slowly at first, but often, I was well on my way by Sunday.  I can’t help myself!  I LOVE CHRISTMAS!

I came across the clever video below and laughed my way through it.  What a great stress reliever and giggle maker!  If you like animals, please click below and get into the Christmas mood.  You know, it’s almost time to Deck The Halls!

Shine On!

xo

 

I Am In Love With Hope

The above is an excerpt from Mitch Albom’s book, Have A Little Faith which touched my soul and I just felt the need to share it.  So please enjoy and let me know what you think!

I am in love with hope.  That’s the truth.

Shine On!

xo

Simon’s Cat Helps, Does Yours?

Oh goodness gracious, are you a cat owner, or better referred to as owned by a cat?  As I was trying to write this morning, the video below was very similar to my experience.  Tigger, our mischevious almost one year old kitten, decided to help me and we battled like Simon did!  Of course, I giggled more than Simon, especially after seeing that his experience was much like my own.

Cats are funny creatures, but surely mine would say the same about her humans.  I guess this is why Simon’s Cat always gives me a much needed giggle.  So, I thought I’d pass it along to you today!

Take a few moments today to bond with your loved ones, both human and otherwise.  We are all a part of this Universe and family is so important.  Be kinder than necessary.  Be more patient than you normally are.  Be more present than ever.  Now’s the time.  Fill your day, your life with love.

Shine On!

xo

Click here to watch Simon’s Cat in Cat and Mouse!

Remember When?

Recently I attended my high school reunion.  It was so much fun to see so many childhood friends that I haven’t seen in years.  I guess that’s the beauty of a reunion as you get a chance to reconnect with others and you know how much I appreciate connecting with people!

It was interesting as the party went on and we reminisced ~ Remember When? ~ was often the start of a conversation which ended with giggles.  Among the guests were friends whom I’ve known since Kindergarten.  It’s an amazing experience to reminisce with people with whom you have gone to school for 13 years, all the way until high school graduation!  Even though many of us have changed hair color, grown a little bigger and now have children of our own, it was as if by magic, SNAP, we all were back to age 16!  I think that is in the ease of sharing such a group history that we all sparkled for the night!

For there’s something precious about the childhood friendship you make.  There’s nothing like that good feeling of going back ‘home’ for a little while where people know your name, they know who you are, they remember you fondly and you remember them with fondness.  We’ve all mellowed with age and just enjoyed being together.  What a feat ~ what a gift ~ what a blessing.

Greetings with hugs and kisses on the cheek, we bonded again.  Laughter filled the room as we easily joked and teased eachother like family.  We talked about being grownups and parents and how our children did the same things we did.  It’s hard to imagine that we are that old!

What I liked best about the night was that none of us seemed to notice the physical changes.  Instead we concentrated on the friendships that had been established years before and we saw the essence of those kids we knew way back when.  Many of us don’t see eachother more than at reunions, but it’s as if that history makes the immediate grin of connection smoothly jump through years of time in a flash and the comfort level is immediate as is the banter.

Being surrounded by friends who knew my essence, who knew me and accepted me for who I was and who I am is a gift.  No judgment, just friendship.  Growing up, many of us knew eachother’s parents and unfortunately, we have now attended quite a few funerals for them.  One childhood friend in particular unexpectedly showed to my Dad’s funeral 3 years ago and when we hugged at our reunion, tears came to our eyes.  I told her how it meant the world to me that she was there, even though we had lost touch.  Her response that she just had to be there for me warmed my heart to its core.  It was special moments like this which were so precious to me and reminded me again and again how blessed we are in this life.

There’s nothing like friendship and connecting with others, even after so many years.  There are good stored memories within you which ignite and twinkle when we reminisce.  It seems to me that we look for and hold onto the good in our past.  At this age, it’s not so much about competition in that situation, it’s simply about connection, our youth, silly moments and sharing smiles.

Cheers to sparkling memories of Auld Lang Syne…

Shine On!

xo

Remember this song?

Come Join the Celebration!

Congratulations!

February 1st, 2002 was the date that I had my bilateral mastectomy due to my breast cancer diagnosis and the pathology report which read that after my lumpectomy, I still had breast cancer in my body.  It’s also the date that marks the fact that I finally took hold of my own health and my life and decided to prophylactically take the non-cancerous breast as well, much to my surgeon’s chagrin.  I can happily report to you, that I still stand by my decision as it was the right one for me.

There is so much I have learned in the last 11 years since that day that I walked into the OR by myself, sobbing after being taken away from hugging my supportive husband who still stands by my side.  In the wake of having had those breasts reconstructed with silicone implants twice since then and then after having one of those implants rupture last year, beginning multiple surgeries to create what I now have for breasts which is body tissue taken from other parts of my body to make new, real, soft fleshy breasts which are mine and not artificial, hard, painful implants which I had endured because I had no choice, I am celebrating!

Since my breast cancer diagnosis on New Year’s Eve of 2001, my life has changed so dramatically that words fail me in trying to explain how richer my life has become.  I have endured much suffering, but I have also reaped many blessings.  I am grateful for each and every day when I arise from my bed to greet the world.  I am thankful for life’s blessings, the big and small ones and I know firsthand the meaning of the preciousness of time.  I practice being present in my life ~ enjoying The Presents of Presence ~ meaning actually being in the moment and enjoying what that moment offers.  My intent to cast worry from my shoulders is an ongoing trial in my life, but I accept that it is a work in progress.

I know I am blessed with a loving family and much support in my life and I rejoice in the fact that I can continue to send out love on a daily basis through my blog, my FB page The Presents of Presence, my SendOutCards business and my actions.   I have struggled through the grief of losing my breasts, fighting the disease through multiple surgeries (more than 10 and counting), ACT (chemotherapy), radiation, the loss of my ovaries at age 35 (salpingo oophorectomy), multiple needles, shots, medications, tamoxifen, arimidex,  the loss of my hair, my self-esteem, my confidence as a woman, the sad passing of friends from the same disease and the mortal fear of reoccurrence.  This is not a pity party by any means, so please don’t mis-understand me.  It’s actually a celebration of triumph!

My mother-in-law texted me this morning, “Have an especially happy day!” and I knew exactly what she meant for I knew that she remembered ~ and I knew that she would be there with me celebrating this momentous event.  I’m still here!  I have no painful implants anymore!  I have come full circle today ~ from having my God-given breasts, to having them removed due to dis-ease, to having them reconstructed not once, but twice with implants, to having been miraculously restored and reconstructed with breasts again which are of my own flesh and blood.

I am not sure that if you haven’t experienced this phenomenon that you can imagine how incredible it is to be here 11 years later celebrating so many wonderful gifts that my life has brought to me.  It is with heartfelt tears of joy, of gratitude and of above all, love that I write to you today.  However, knowing that we all carry burdens while we endure our journey on this earth, I feel like this is OUR CELEBRATION TODAY!  So please indulge me as I invite you to celebrate love and life on the first of February (don’t forget to say Rabbit Rabbit)  as well as family, friends, miracles, faith, joy, laughter, tears, gratitude, blessings, health, compassion, friendship…I could go on and on!

Celebrate Today my friends…Yesterday is the past, tomorrow is the future…

Today is a gift, that’s why we call it the Present!

May The Presents of Presence

Be with You Every Day!

Shine On!

xo

Blessings in Life After A Death

Blessings!

Happy Day after Thanksgiving to all of you!

Yesterday marked the first big holiday that we celebrated without my Dad.  I am forever grateful to my husband’s family as my parents-in-law whom I dearly love, hosted my Mom, my sister and her family and of course, our family to their home last night.  It was the best way to transition to the beginning of life after Dad’s death.  With 16 people at the table, 7 active children ranging from ages 6 -14 (and only one girl in the group!) and 9 adults, we had a full house!

Ever protective of my Mom who had second thoughts about attending yesterday’s festivities because she didn’t want to be a burden nor did she want to feel like a 3rd wheel, I watched as our families enveloped her in holiday spirit, giving her the opportunity to know how much she is loved and appreciated.  At one point, someone pointed out a cardinal in the yard, bright red against the still green grass.  Many of us clambered to the window to look for its mate as they are always in pairs.  But my sister and I knew where his mate was…she was seated right next to me on the chair, a few tears quietly escaping her while the others looked outside.  My sister has always loved cardinals and my Mom knew the significance of the mate-less cardinal who showed up brightly outside the window of the house yesterday.  Dad was there in spirit.

As the day wore on, I watched as she got involved in the washing of dishes with all of the girls, drying platters and laughing at our antics and off-pitch singing.  I smiled such gratefulness as I saw the door of mourning open for a bit, allowing for the laughter of life in her to emerge.  There were times during the night where Mom got weepy, especially when we said the blessing before the meal and my father-in-law  reverently spoke making sure to say a prayer for my Dad.  But I also saw how protective our family as a whole was of her as each took time to talk with her, reminisce with her and to make her feel at home.

Truthfully I am crying now in gratefulness as I know how blessed I am…I reminded my Mom albeit a bit sternly the day before Thanksgiving when she was wavering on whether to come or stay home alone ~ life is for the living…You are here!  Daddy is not, but if you should decide to stay home alone, you would be robbing our family of your presence as well.  My children and I wouldn’t be able to include you in our Thanksgiving memories.  You would be denying the opportunity to be an amazing role model to the family as you showed strength and love in being present during this holiday of Thanksgiving.  Being a part of the day means that you can honor Dad, but also be humanly strong as you embody the title of my blog ~ The Presents of Presence!

As you already know, she took the (ahem) bait and came!  I knew she would…there’s an inner strength to Mom that shines through, just like the laughter that we heard last night.  I pray her love of life (and us) will continue to help her find her way in this next stage of life.  I know how difficult it can be to mourn a loss in your life.   Although I’m currently mourning the loss of my Dad, I’ve mourned the loss of my health when I got breast cancer 10 years ago and lost my breasts to the disease.  Now I know it’s not the same, but they are losses, permanent changes in your life that you don’t see coming, but they come all the same.  They change you in ways you can’t even begin to fathom and sometimes, speaking for myself,  they change you for the better.

There are Presents to being Present in your life!!

You only have to look to find them…and enjoy them!

The Presents of Presence…xoxo