Out of the Mouths of Babes

Today I was sitting on the curb with a 4 year old. She wondered what fun things I might have in my purse. As I showed her how boring my purse has become, I told her I didn't carry too many fun things. She said, "Mommy does." I said, "Yes, I used to carry crayons and books and gum for my little girls too; thats what mommiess do." Very astutely the four year old reminded me that I was a mommy too. Then I explained that my little girls were grown up now and could carry their own purses. In an instant the 4 year old said, "One of your girls is in heaven now--Miss Megan." Then she took my hand and said, "I miss her; I wish she'd come back." To which I could only reply, "Me too baby, me too..."

Not my words, just my feelings

I ran into this poem today and it spoke so deeply to my heart:

Room Full of Memories

I walk into your vacant room.
A slight fragrance of you remains
haunting the air like an icon
on the pages of my memories.
All your personal possessions are gone,
here where I watched you bloom.




Leafing through chapters, my heart sighs.
What good times we shared along with bad.
I see you there, a charming baby,
then as the pages turn quickly
you're a high school beauty having fun.
I can't stop the tears flowing from my eyes.


Joy and pain stored as souvenirs,
guilt and pleasure mixed together.
If I could only change the print
I'd erase our foolish mistakes.
I lay aside the memory book.
Life consists of laughter and tears.



Parenting has come to an end
and how I lament its passing.
I shall miss sitting on your bed
talking with you in the evening,
rubbing your back and stroking your head-
but you are leaving as my friend.



--Judy A. Barnes

And a new adventure begins

Today marks my wonderful husband's first day on his new job. For those who don't know, he'd been woefully unhappy for the last year or two of his old job. Long story, won't get into it. As Megan's condition worsened, his love of his old job lessened. As rival companies heard of his unhappiness, they began swarming like bees to honey. This company essentially told him, "Hey, we know you can't do anything right now. We're not interviewing anyone else for this position. When your situation changes, lets talk and iron out the details." So the details were later ironed and he is now in Houston beginning a new adventure.

So, where does his adventure leave me??? Good question I'd say. Since I'm not terribly fond of southern summertime heat and humidity, we've decided to keep our home in Utah. We'll find something for Houston and I'll commute every few weeks to visit friends and have a semblance of a social life. And I'll spend most of the summers in Utah.

I will rekindle some old friendships from our Houston days. We've already emailed several couple that we knew "back in the day." Actually, those days were 22+ years ago.

But for now, I must concentrate on finding a home in Houston. Houston's a big place--lots and lots of houses. Hopefully, it will be like finding the right guy to marry--you don't have to date every guy (see every house), you just have to date the right one (see the right one.)

A life in storage

I spent 2 hours yesterday starting the process of clearing out Megan's condo. I feel fortunate that we own the condo and I haven't been pressured by an over-anxious landlord to get everything out quickly. The gal who rented the second bedroom has been very wonderful and patient. She will move into Megan's room when its ready and Greg (Megan's old roommate who moved to New Zealand for the summer) will take his old room back.

So the boxes are slowing being packed. I don't really know what you do with a lifetime of memories. Even with a short 26 year life there are so many items. What do I keep? What do I give away to friends? What do I trash? I find myself trying to keep too much. Then I get pragmatic and realize that the red shirt isn't Megan; the red shirt is just a shirt, although it was a shirt that Megan enjoyed.

Boxes of books for the library, bags of clothes for charity, clothes for friends to go through for their teeny tiny daughters, all of these things are being sorted. But what about notes from old boyfriends and old journals from high school? I'm not ready to read it all. I know Megan; she carried alot of anger, especially as a teenager and especially toward me. No need to read that when I know she loved me at the end. But maybe one day? Maybe I should hold onto them for the "one day."

So much of Megan is in that tiny condo. It will be hard to see all of her things boxed up and stored away. It feels like I'm putting her life in storage. A life that deserved to be lived more fully than she got. A life that we all deserved to see fulfilled. I think we all deserved a whole lot more than this.

6 weeks--time isn't healing anything

It is now 6 weeks and 3 days since Megan left us. (I usually say she died, but since today I'm feeling pitiful, I'm going with the full victimization and saying she LEFT us--like she had a choice...)

I thought somehow it would start to be easier by now. It seems to have gotten more difficult.

Perhaps I was too busy with all the details that come with death. Funeral arrangements, family, food for the masses, etc. No time to think.

And then I was too busy when my parents house burned down just a week and a half after the funeral. I scurried to Louisiana to see if I could help. Lots to do when a house burns down. No time to think. Two weeks later I returned home.

And then I had an old high school pal visit for another week. So much to do in that week we had together. No time to think.

So now the grief just crushes me. I'm not a crier. Seriously, I hate to cry. I especially hate to cry in front of people. But I find myself crying at the most unexpected times. And I find this lack of control so utterly "not me." I mean, who cries over a Christmas that has yet to happen or cries at "so you think you can dance" marathons or cries in the middle of a Mexican restaurant when they see a little girl picking her nose?

Yep, I'm a mess. And I see no way to clean up the mess. Not enough time for that either.

Damn World

I don't know why, but Reba's song, "I guess the world didn't stop for my broken heart" just keeps playing in my mind. For some reason the sun keeps coming up, the garbage man makes his weekly rounds, the pets still want to be fed. I guess I should just plan on being part of this world, whether I want to or not.

Megan's Obituary

Megan Leigh Brown February 2,1983-July 25, 2009

Our daughter, sister, granddaughter, niece, and friend passed away after a 4 year battle with ovarian cancer. Megan was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. As a child, she lived in Humble, Texas and Jenks, Oklahoma. She moved to Park City in 1994. She graduated in 2001 from Park City High where she was on the Dance and Academic Decathlon teams. Megan graduated from Mary Washington University in Fredericksburg, Virginia with a degree in English in 2005. While in college, she danced and choreographed for the school’s performing arts group. She returned to Utah following graduation and discovered that Park City was where she wanted to live forever. She was last employed at Park City Mountain Resort. Megan’s great loves were family and friends, great literature, not-so-great trashy romance novels, dance of all types, travel, and the Utah Jazz. Megan leaves behind her parents, Kevin and Marie Brown (Park City), a sister, Sydney Lynne Brown (Baton Rouge, Louisiana), Grandparents, Darrell and Lavonne Brown (Conway, Arkansas) Curney and Shirley Lyons (Gonzales, Louisiana), numerous uncles, aunts, and cousins, and countless friends. Services will be held on Thursday, July 30th at 3:00 PM at the Park City Community Church in Park City. At Megan’s request, friends are invited to wear bright, happy colors so she can see us from above. In lieu of flowers, family has asked the donations be made to The Blanton-Davis Ovarian Cancer Research Program at MD Anderson Cancer Center, PO Box 4486, Houston, TX 77210 or The Huntsman Cancer Foundation, Memorial and Honor Program, 500 Huntsman Way, Salt Lake City, UT 84108. Special thanks to the many health care professionals who assisted Megan and her family in this difficult journey.

Long Days, Longer Nights

It seems the roller coaster ride is nearing its end.

We've had several near misses the last few weeks. Yesterday I called the hospice nurse and told her that something was different. Megan was very uncommunicative, had fallen a couple of times, and was generally weaker than normal. So the nurse came out. Blood pressure was hard to find; she guessed it was 70/60, but it was probably lower than that. Pulse ox seemed fine as did the heart rate. But I followed her out and asked what we should expect in the next few weeks. (I'm the type who just does better if I know whats going on before it actually goes on.) She told me that Megan probably has 1, possibly 2, weeks of coherence. Then we should expect her in a semi-conscious to unconscious state. After that, it can be days, weeks, or longer--it will just depend on how Megan's vital organs have been affected and how strong they are.

Kevin's folks are here now and were planning on going back to Arkansas on in a week; now they're not so sure. Not much use in driving back to AR only to have to come back for a service. My folks are playing it by ear to see what feels right. Everyone is trying to find "bright, happy" clothes because Megan has told me she doesn't want everyone in black and grey at her service. She wants to be able to see us from above.

This is all surreal. Who shops for new clothes for their child's funeral? I have no idea how we'll get through this...

Doctors who go beyond...

Who has ever heard of a doctor, a surgeon no less, making a housecall?

Megan's gynecological oncologist called yesterday and asked if she could come up and visit. She came after a full day of surgery, still in her scrubs. She sat with Megan and then visited with the rest of us. She had a note for Megan which she said she had to write because she wouldn't be able to say the words. It was beautiful--she wrote that she named her clinic the Monarch Women's Cancer Center because she believes that transformations take place with cancer, sometimes through a cure, sometimes not. And she finished the note by saying that she was certain that Megan would be transformed into the strong healthy woman she once was. And that she would miss her.

I've never witnessed such compassionate care in my entire life... We are fortunate to have found such a doctor. I wish no less for everyone with any life-threatening disease.

Hospice Cares

It may not sound like much, but having a little helping hand today has made life, if not easy, at least less manic.

From something as simple as helping me figure out the metric equivalents for IV electrolytes (I never mastered the metric system) to something as grand as having a wheelchair delivered so we can take Megan out for short outings--this is what hospice did today.

And for just being available to listen, thanks.

4 Year "Cancer-versary"

Yesterday was Megan's 4th Cancer-versary. I remember all too well those first few days of her diagnosis. To say it was heartbreaking would be an understatement. Walking through a hallway, realizing that we were on an oncology floor--is that how people figure out they really have cancer? Calling my parents and telling them the prognosis--is anything harder? Listening to a surgeon explain the extent of the surgery and what was ripped out--is that my own heart being ripped out? Hearing the odds of survival--is she going to be the miracle?

But she's made it 4 years. I don't know if she'll make it to 5. She's down to 80 lbs. and is back in the hospital tonight to have an infusion of magnesium and potassium. But she's made it 4 years.

Are we supposed to wish her a happy cancer-versary? I have to say no festivities are planned. Nope, nothing to celebrate, except the fact that she's made it 4 years.

Some of Syd's Scrapbook

 

Holiday Update

A few pics that highlight our Christmas holiday.  
This first one shows Megan and Sydney's joy at getting a new tv. Megan's was here at home; Syd's was waiting for her in BR.
 
Sydney and I had the same great idea for gifts. We gave one another cookbooks by the Barefoot Contessa...
 
And some boys never really grow up. Kevin got his Wii game.
 
This is a needlepoint piece that Megan gave me.

Back Stage Pass

Kevin and I had the opportunity to go back stage at last week's Collin Ray concert. It was a very small venue, probably 200 seats, so it was very intimate and comfortable. The acoustics were fabulous. And to be able to go back and meet the singer...well it was alot more than I expected. He was as down to earth and sweet as we could have hoped.


 

Another afghan finished

 


Our group, the Loosely Knit Group, tries to do an afghan a month. The recipient is decided before we start. Its usually a patient going through chemotherapy. Every person thinks about or prays for the recipient and then they get the blanket knowing that this community has kept them in prayer during their journey. We've also done blankets for families who have lost loved ones. We just want to wrap them in love and good thoughts and the blanket is a physical manifestation of those sentiments.

This is the most recent afghan that we've completed. We got together Monday and put our "squares" together. Someone else will crochet the border. It is going to a local teacher who is battling colon cancer. Most of our kids have experienced her classroom finesse, so this one is sorta personal.

Post Election Ponderings

So, another Presidential election is now one for the history books. And what a history it is!

I have no idea if the American people elected the right leader. I do wonder if the two choices put before us were the absolute best that this country has to offer. I, personally, know men and women who seem better suited to the job. But I know of no one with enough common sense AND humility who would put themselves and their families into the circus we call public service. Anyone with any mistakes or errors of judgement is subjected to such scrutiny that we would all fail the test on some level.

As for the people who have strong beliefs that this was the right OR wrong choice, if we've made the wrong choice, we get another chance to vote in 4 years and rectify our mistakes, if we've made the right choice, we can live in peace (hopefully) and freedom, knowing that our voices were heard. That's the beauty of the American Democratic system.

Time Flies

Where did the weekend go? It sure seemed to fly by...

We didn't have very many trick or treaters this year. We never do, but we seem to get fewer and fewer each year. Our neighbors hosted a party next door; we put out a sign directing the little goblins to the party place. All of us put our candy in a row on a bench and when the few trick or treaters came by they could get a huge ration at one time.

Saturday evening we had another get-together: dinner and dominoes. Had a great time, but it was a long night. Luckily, we had that extra hour with day light savings time ending... Kevin and I came in second place (as a couple) and got a book--something like The 1000 place your must see before you die. I think I'd better get busy. Gonzales, Louisiana wasn't on the list. No accounting for taste.

Yesterday was alot of puttering around the house. We got the cushions off the deck furniture just before it started snowing. Made a big pot of spaghetti sauce, knitted a bit. Essentially, took it easy.


Now the week begins again. Lots to do, not enough time (or energy) to do it all.

Halloween Party

The annual Spice Girls Bunko Halloween party was last night. Oh, what fun. Lots of creative costumes and time spent with some great gals.

Here's me in my prize winning, fat ballerina costume...
 
 
 

Lets see, also in attendance: a whoopie cushion, a fat chef, a very sexy Bo Peep, and my personal favorite, Paradise (a pair of dice, get it?)

Got a JOB!

Yikes...what have I gotten myself into? I just got hired by Deer Valley Resort. I'll be in reservations, booking private and group ski lessons. The commitment is only 3 days a week, and I'm not sure I'm up for it. I know I'll enjoy the interaction with the other employees and the guests from out of town, and I know I really need to be doing something other than obsessing about life. But I'm not sure about getting up early in the mornings. Oh, how I hate to second guess myself... I start training November 19th...

Some things never change

This came by way of an email. Don't know if the source is true, but if it is... wouldn't that be something?
The budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled, public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled, and the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed lest Rome become bankrupt. People must again learn to work, instead of living on public assistance.





-- Cicero , 55 BC