Stopping and smelling the lilacs ... and RIP, CW ...

Good evening on this rainy, thunderstormy night. It's one of those evenings when it makes me sad to think that there are people who don't have shelter and when I am very, very thankful for a roof over my head. Counting my blessings indeed. I love the majesty and magnificence of a thunderstorm and find them at once intoxicating and soothing. Seems counterintuitive, I suppose; I find the booming of the thunder - the celestial shouting - juxtaposed with the peaceful, tranquil sounds of steady rain to be like an ethereal symphony, and a divine reminder of my little place on this big earth. Perspective indeed. I can also hear the choirs of frogs chanting their evening hymns ... it's quite magical actually. Earlier this evening, there was a pair of cardinals feeding in our backyard, and I am sure it's the same pair of cardinals who has been living in the massive spruce tree in the corner of our yard since we moved here six and a half years ago. Did you know that cardinals have an average life span of almost 16 years? How extraordinary ... magical indeed .....



On a somewhat more somber note, a young man passed away this evening. This young man - CW - fought valiantly and courageously and with grace - and sadly, lost his year-long battle to the blasted, f'ing Big C. I unfortunately did not know this extraordinary young man; he was the son of a friend of a dear friend, and so, there are people suffering and in mourning tonight, and that is always heartbreaking to me - to know that people are suffering, and especially a mother who has just lost her son. Yet, despite the fact that this brave, beautiful young man left this world at a tender 28 years, he endured this last year with supreme dignity, with humour, with grace and I find his courage to be profoundly humbling and inspiring. I work with several folks in their 20's and I don't say this to be judgmental, or to sound like a finger-waving, cranky old broad - quite the contrary in fact. It's remarkable to me to watch people at that stage in their life, embarking on their lives - it's so exciting and brings back so many memories - the world is truly one's oyster, with seemingly endless possibilities laying ahead - so amazing! There is also a feeling of invincibility and of always looking to the future, and so, all I will say - for any 20-something's that may be reading this - I hope that you will balance the looking-to-the-future with living-in-the-present and recognizing the many wonderful little things for which to be thankful ...

Mark Twain said it best, I think ... "The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time." May the Good Lord above bless CW and may he rest in peace.

For me - and likely because of This-Thing-In-My-Head - the moral of the story keeps coming back to simply living each day fully, to stopping and smelling the proverbial lilacs, to loving fully, to enjoying the majesty of a thunderstorm, the sight of two cardinals feeding, the hug of a dear sweet husband, a chat with a dear friend, a visit with beloved family and friends ..... not much else to say this evening ...hope you enjoy another shot of our lilac bush (it's almost in full bloom) and in the distance you can see the tree where our cardinals live....

Thanks for listening ... and sending hugs and love your way. And to CW's mom ...and her friend (my dear friend) - many prayers and much love.

Wishing you all a great evening.

Stay classy, Vancouver.

Cancerella and Budiolo
xoxoxo