Hi Chuck Billy! Today marks 11 months since you crossed Rainbow Bridge. Over that time, I’ve learned a lot of important life lessons. You always were a good mentor. Wish I paid closer attention to that stuff about meal times and how to be more assertive when I need to go out. More importantly, you were so much better than me at reading the room, and knowing when to refocus Mom and Dad on what’s really important. As we close in on one year, I have to say the biggest lesson I’ve learned from you is don’t postpone joy.
As you recall, Great Nana started a family tradition of decorating for Christmas on Veterans Day. She was inspired while babysitting Mom and our Uncle, when she looked out and saw the neighbors across the street were decorating their Christmas tree. At first she laughed at their early holiday cheer. But upon further consideration, she thought, “why wait? Let’s enjoy it sooner!” And the rest is history!
Last year though, we didn’t decorate on Veterans Day. Mom and Dad were caught up in unnecessary drama beyond their control. You knew it was pointless. But yet even you couldn’t get them back on track. On top of that, I was awaiting surgery to remove that abscess that wouldn’t heal. So we used the excuses of the timing wasn’t right. We can do it tomorrow. The tree will be in the way of the cone of shame. We’ll wait until we’re all feeling better and things settle down. Thus we delayed our joy. Not knowing you had so little time left to enjoy the magic of the Holidays, and our special time together.
Once again this year I find myself awaiting surgery. On November 19th I need to have a second round of treatment for the nasal fungal infection. The specialist had cautioned us that the success rate is only 80-87%. I was hoping I evicted it the first time! But the fungi was not ready to move out. The internal medicine specialist assures us though that although it will be quite messy again with the draining, the surgery itself won’t be as bad as the first time. I already have the hole in my skull to access the nasal cavity from the last surgery, and I definitely won’t need the carotid artery ligation again. Who knew having a hole in my head would be a good thing? I’m sure you have quite a few wry comments about that! Well anyways, as you probably can see all the way from Rainbow Bridge, Mom and Dad are worried. It’s yet another surgery for me, in what has already been a difficult year. But I know I’m in good hands with my doctor and her team, and I have you watching over me!
Therefore, despite it being a messy recovery, and the nose cannon will be firing again, I still wanted to get a few Christmas decorations up to continue Great Nana’s Veterans Day tradition! Because as you so painfully taught us, we don’t know what the next day will bring, so we must not postpone joy!
