Sorry folks, I have been such a slacker! Moving from a glorious summer into fall, seeing friends and family, and of course, the ever-present and blessedly vigilant team of medical helpers- it has been downright hectic!
But underneath the many tender moments, the laughter, the sharing, this disease is finally staking its claim, discouraging symptoms are showing up and piling up. It's time for me to re-direct my energy away from ducking and dodging and into - what? Coping. Holding hands. Helping each other. Saying thank-you. We shall see, I guess.
Everyone continues to be so brave. I am stupendously well cared-for, you know who you are. Without all of the support we have had, I would not have made it this far, I truly believe.
So of course, we are off to sit in the woods (in a yurt!) in Gatineau Park Oct 5-7, then we are checking in with my oncologist, then I have a few more blogs planned, talk soon.
Love, Robin
2 comments:
Dear Heart Robin,
Enjoy the yurt in the Gatineau's. Be sure to take some warm jammies with you. I send LOVE to you, Geoff, Ada and Franck. It is wonderful that the food brigade has sprung into action and keeping you all well fed and nourished. Such a beautiful outpouring of love from your friends. I know how much you enjoy Mary Oliver (do you think it has anything to do with the surname?) Love, Linda
Wild Geese
You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.
from Dream Work by Mary Oliver
published by Atlantic Monthly Press
Hi Robin,
I remember that autumn is one of your favourite seasons for the colours. I hope Gatineau Park turns it up for you all. I'm including a piece written by Carla years ago which was inspired by those memorable occasions when Oliver clans-people gathered to share a meal. Know that you are one of those 'beautiful women' she writes about and is how we think of you. I'm glad you have close to you those you love and who love you....and for those of us who can't physically there, know that our hearts are in our hands stretched out and holding yours. Much love, Juanita x
What Makes a Good Meal
I start to smile. I squirm and shift, like a small child. A relaxed but definite wave of expectancy drifts into the room, talk is made but voices trail off, distracted, waiting. Peering into the kitchen, I see the beautiful women dancing along the floor. The dishes in hand are of all colours; earthy browns and reds, crisp and cut, smooth greens and yellows, shining with perspiration. With alive and glowing smiles they giggle and chatter amongst the smells of dinner. The salty aroma drifts into the warmly lit room.
Beards grin and eyes twinkle, laughter rises and voices clash. Affectionate yells of pleasure greet the dancing beauties, who twirl into the room with shrieks of glee. Plates are placed in order, and eyes watch with extra caution to where the next plate is put. The women chuckle at us, their secrets dash between shining eyes. In front of me hot smells and savoury steam swirl up in a delicious cloud. I press the cold metal of a knife against my cheek and close my eyes to breathe in the clouds of flavour. The cooling moment is interrupted when a large wise hand reaches for mine, I grasp it and with his heart and mine between our hands, we take the hands of others beside us. Soon we have our hearts in everyone’s hands and we let our voices soar. We all release our hands but invisibly we are still joined together, bound with the strongest of all forces, our love.
The steamy flavours are inside me, inside us. There are muffled stories between bites, between hearts. Half-hearted arguments break off amid eager forkfuls, juices running down their grizzly chins. I break all wires and chains to unwind inside myself, to laugh at the stories told many times before. Our bellies are full and content with goodness from the plates, from the souls sitting behind those plates.
A good meal is a meal with good company, for it is who we eat with that makes it a meal to remember forever.
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