Things

     While having a mammogram yesterday I saw this quote in the bathroom, "The best things in life aren't things." It seems to me that when I most need a little nudge in the right direction towards gratitude, courage or even humility, I get it. Mammograms are stressful for me given my mother's history with breast cancer so the seven little words on the washroom wall were a calming reminder of what really matters in life.
     My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer at almost the same time I learned that I was pregnant with our eldest child. It was at that same time that my father decided that they should downsize and moved them from a half acre property to an ocean view home with a handkerchief-size back yard. At that time my sense was that my dad wanted to simplify their lives as much as possible by removing all the extra maintenance a large yard requires as well as giving my mother a beautiful landscape to enjoy while healing from the trauma of breast cancer surgery and treatment. At that time he definitely knew that "things" were not important.
     Our daughter continues to have seizures. The medications do not seem to be working and so we have been asked to consider other options, surgery being one of them. My anger and  frustration at the unfairness of this life for our daughter continues to play a loop through my head. Our daughter assures me that God has a plan for her. A huge maroon truck with "God is Love" painted in big letters on the cab door is the reminder that I am delivered while at the corner of Highway 15 and life.
     Apparently Art Buchwald, American journalist and humourist is responsible for the gem on the bathroom wall. Never more that right now, I know how right he was in every way. We are one week seizure free. Today is another day.

Hands Up

     We have just been in the arms of our Club Med family. From Nicola, the chief of Club Med Cancun to Gabriela, the woman who kept our rooms spotless, we were treated like honoured friends. We went there to be with actual family and friends; this was a luxurious holiday arranged by a cherished cousin who works for Club Med. As a group of ninety three folks we were everywhere, all over the village---- eating, snorkeling, lounging, swimming, doing trapeze, painting crafts, water-skiing, wind-surfing, scuba diving, tennis lessons---we were there. Everywhere we went, all our needs were satisfied, all our desires granted. The stunning beach, the amazing facilities and the food alone would have kept us coming back but it was the people there that made it such a treat.
     Hamlet waited on us beautifully at the dinner buffet, Jose was attentive at breakfast, Ali kept us fit in the pool, Cedric made us laugh, Erick looked after us at the front desk, Sergio kept us hydrated at poolside (and not just with water)--- it truly was paradise.
     In all our Club Med experiences, we have had the feeling of being treated like treasured guests; these people really know how to make you feel welcome. From the minute we were dropped off at the door, our luggage was secured and we were handed cool towels and cold drinks. We briefly toured the village on the way to our rooms and after that, all we wanted to do was hit the pool.....and so we did. We had a beautiful, relaxing, seamlessly organized and social time; we made some new friends and reconnected with some old ones. It could not have been a more marvelous vacation. The only low note was having to say "au revoir".