Uncharacteristically Serious, But Always Heartfelt...

My last day of giving in my first cycle was two days ago, but yesterday, when I was going to write about it, I got some possibly distressing medical news. I haven't been able to think about much else since, and thanks to the joys of Google, I've been finding information which has alternately reassured and disturbed me, depending on what I look up next. TMI can be a blessing and a curse. I won't get the results from the biopsy (see, there's a word you just don't want to hear) for 10 days to two weeks. Are you kidding me?? Sigh. So the best way I can think of to get through that time is to stay very, very busy. I decided to do another cycle of 29 Gifts as part of my distraction therapy.

My "big finish" to my first cycle was to contact an old friend who I have been in and out of touch with over the past few years, after meeting on a student trip to Europe in (gulp) 1979. She's a truly amazing woman who has had several serious health challenges herself over the years and has always risen above it all and made a wonderful life for herself. I'm not sure how we lost touch but we ran into each other in a city where neither of us live (!) about a year ago, talked and hugged and swore to get back in touch, and I dropped the ball. Twice. So I wanted to start out the New Year by getting back in touch and apologizing for being a crummy friend. She graciously accepted my overture of renewed friendship and hopefully we'll see each other within the next month or two. I remembered that we needed to give something that wasn't easy to give, so this seemed like something that would be a little tough for me to do. My gift back was her warm response.

Yesterday after coming home from the doc, I gave myself the gift of two cups of hot chocolate and a junky movie on pay-per-view. I also reached out to my sister who has had a weird malady or two over the years that I helped support her through (we always vow not to tell our mom until we're out of the woods) . My sister was wonderful and provided a sturdy shoulder, as did my husband.

Today, not officially a Giving Day (I'm starting again tomorrow - easier for me to remember), I tackled The Room That Should be on Hoarders or At Least Clean House, and spent about an hour throwing stuff away and putting together another package of scrapbook stuff to give away on Freecycle. I made dinner, and bought a cake and presents for my brother-in-law whose birthday was yesterday. And at the supermarket at 4PM on New Year's Eve while around me tempers were flaring, the parking lot was jammed and people were stressed, I took the opportunity to let the young woman behind me go ahead of me in line. She was buying a beautiful bouquet of flowers and a potted plant - clearly going somewhere special tonight. When I waved her ahead of me she just beamed "are you sure? really?" I got the feeling maybe she was already late so maybe I had given her a bigger gift than I thought..she thanked me profusely as she left and I exchanged warm holiday greetings with my favorite checkout clerk.

I hope wherever you are in the world - and for many of you, it's already New Year's Day as I write this - that 2010 is full of blessings for you all. Finding this book and this community has been a joy for me and I look forward to continuing the Challenge in the New Year.

Hugs,
Alexa

PS) If you're a praying/vibing/well-wishing kind of person, could you put in a good word for me, health-wise? I'd be grateful.