September 10th
Updated: Sep 24, 2021
This blog was the work of a few days,
« On this day... 20 years ago 246 people went to sleep in preparation for their morning flights. 2,606 people went to sleep in preparation for work in the morning. 343 firefighters went to sleep in preparation for their morning shift. 60 police officers went to sleep in preparation for morning patrol. 8 paramedics went to sleep in preparation for the morning shift. None of them saw past 10:00am Sept 11, 2001. In one single moment life may never be the same. As you live and enjoy the breaths you take today and tonight before you go to sleep in preparation for your life tomorrow, kiss the ones you love, snuggle a little tighter, and never take one second of your life for granted.
#wewillneverforget Credit: Kelly Lynn
This time 20 years ago I was living with Corina and working at Magna head office, blissfully unaware of the 60’s scoop, and residential schools, I was about to start seeing towers fall on every computer screen as I walked around doing my the morning mail run.
This time 10 years ago I was childless, enjoying life and in the throws of wedding planning. My mom had just beaten an estrogen positive breast cancer, and no one knew PALB2 was one of the “breast cancer genes” My fiancé had just done a tour of St.Anne’s Indian Residential school, and I started to learn what wasn’t taught in my history or geography classes.
Just one year ago my mom didn’t know she had a new estrogen negative breast cancer, let alone that she was terminally ill (she was having visits with us, we were living a privileged life)
As mothers day passed four months ago my mom spent it alone, for the first time since 1981. Almost daily at work someone complains to me about how pathetic our visiting policy is, one hour once a week, and I try not to let the rage boil over. I'm sorry you only get one hour once a week for 9 weeks until YOU GO HOME from your VOLUNTARY program, but my mother got ZERO visits 7 days a week for ZERO minutes and DID NOT GO HOME.
This time 3 months ago my genetic counselor called to tell me I’m positive for the gene mutation.
This time two months ago I became a great aunt! I was already great, but now I'm a great aunt, at 40...
(To baby Maeve the cutest baby ever, seriously someone come put this kid in some advertisements) she and I shared the loss of a parent, within in the span of a month, good news is she doesn't have my genes at least.
Last month my family were on a much needed vacation.… and next month, who knows.
Do it now, don’t put things off. (Except housework)
Last night we went on our first date since pre covid. Went to see a long time friend of my husbands play at his CD release. It was a such a welcome change to get out for an intimate concert and have a few drinks. Go get yourself the “bottles and throttles” album highly recommended. (if you click the link above you can listen and purchase if you enjoy, Cornwall in-laws I've already got yours they will be in the mail later this week)
go out and live,
be comfortable,
spend time in good company,
relax
Slow down
When was the last time you gave yourself permission to do nothing? If you’re like us, it’s been a while. Being in a state of overwhelm feels like the new norm and when we do finally slow down, we’re just way too hard on ourselves.
Society has conditioned us to think that if we’re not being productive, we’re just being lazy. Let’s reframe this belief because 1) it’s nonsense and 2) we literally need breaks. Rest activates our parasympathetic nervous system, reducing stress, boosting creativity, and improving our health.
You’re not what you accomplish, so consider this your permission to relax. (P.S. art therapy. not everything has to be a perfect masterpiece, focus on... focusing)
and on that note. Appointments are finally resuming (or I'm choosing to resume them) Chiro last week, vet for the kitty this week, dentist next week... getting there, one appointment at a time.
-miss you mom. (you know me, already thinking about Thanksgiving and Christmas plans)