Sunday, April 26, 2015

A Lucky Girl

A lucky girl

It has been a rather turbulent few weeks. You know of Ro’s allergy diagnosis but hand in hand with that, my father went in for a double bypass (open heart surgery) which was totally unexpected and all at the same time! Not to worry, as the surgery went well but rehabilitation takes months and my Mum has been the primary caregiver to Dad post surgery; which is exacting a toll on her. They don’t want us to hire a nurse or caregiver so it’s been my mother who has been doing virtually everything since Dad’s surgery. Enter, Ste. Anne’s Spa.

Mum and I went for a couple of days, which was totally worth it! For her and also for me. I didn’t realize how badly I needed a break until we got to Grafton and I changed into my robe to wait for my massage.  

In all of this, two things I have learned. Well, I learned one new thing and been reminded of another. The reminder being that ‘when it rains it pours’.  When things go nuts, they really go nuts and when you’re on a good roll, it just keeps on going. 

Life experiences tend to trend. When work is stressful, you are sick, or your kids are sick or your parents are sick…or everyone is sick! And then the car breaks down and there is a crazy thunderstorm and your basement gets flooded.  Did I mention you also lost power in the house and everything in your fridge is rotting? Yes, that kind of nuts. It’s happened to us all right?! So the one thing I remind myself of in times like this is a quote I read on the cover of a card (the ones from Indigo/Chapters)…”if you’re going through hell, keep going…” because the flurry of nonsense will pass and hopefully at some point you will be far enough removed from it, to see the beauty in it and how it has changed you for the better.  I’m not there yet but have confidence I will be at some point.

The one thing I learned is that as we go through life, we can’t manage these things ourselves. We need help. My rock in all of this has been Raj. No word of a lie. I’m not one to brag about these things and put people on pedestals but man oh man, has he been an unsung hero in all of this mess. A quiet but firm support nudging me forward, holding me up and sometimes pulling me kicking and screaming. 

There have been others too: good friends, my brothers, my mother... all without whom I'd be utterly useless. But Raj has to deal with me ALL of the time, so he gets an entire paragraph :)


I am a lucky girl.