A Southern Rehabilitation

Death. It's inevitable for all people. We just don't know the when of it. We think we will live to a ripe old age and tell all the stories to our children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren. We think we have all the time in the world to do the things. That's the hope and expectation. However, some are taken way too soon. I've already had to say "I'll See You Later" to one of my dear sweet friends. She was 50 years old when she entered the gates of heaven. She died from pancreatic cancer. Read about her here...  https://asouthernrehabilitation.blogspot.com/2015/01/this-egyptian-girl.html Now once again, I am having to say good-bye to another dear treasured friend who also happens to be my cousin; we are family. We would be family even if the "bloodline" wasn't there. She is 58 years old. Her name is Amy. Amy has cancer. This horrible disease started as breast cancer about 14 months ago, give or take. As of this writing, the cancer has ...

What a rollercoaster of emotions the last few weeks, days! I had every intention of going to church this morning. I made plans last night and told myself, "Tomorrow is the day. I'm going." I'm not sure what the pull is, but I have felt the need to get back to church recently. I suppose the desert has become too dry to give any more sustenance. I haven't been to church for a normal Sunday service in about 5 years. When J and I started having issues, then separated, then divorce, then the aftermath, I was not about church. I went on a couple of Easter Sundays and each Christmas service, but that's it. This year has brought several major life changes (it's only July) and perhaps because of the enormity of these changes, my heart has been changing as well. I've been feeling an urging, a push if you will, toward the Holy. I've never lost it; I have misplaced it or put it on the back burner perhaps. My heart has hurt this year and I've found myself...

A few weekends ago a bunch of us met in Waxaw, NC, at our friends', RB and BP's house. Both RB and BP are high school friends, both are East coast born and bred, and they just recently moved back "home" from Las Vegas a little over a month ago. THANK HEAVENS! Anyway, it was kind of a little "back together again" weekend and it was a get together for a definite purpose weekend. A couple of months ago, Beth sent us all an invitation to join the Purple Stride 5K in Charlotte, NC, the weekend of Sept. 12. The Purple Stride 5K is a walk or run in support of finding a cure for Pancreatic Cancer, a very very deadly disease. There doesn't seem to be any coming back once diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. It's more than horrible. Here is a link to look up Purple Stride.  We did raise almost $500. I say *we*, but I had nothing to do with it. Two other friends got those donations for the cause. I merely walked. :) You see, we got together and wanted to do...