A woman is like a teabag. It’s only when she’s in hot water that you realize how strong she is.
Nancy Reagan, former First-Lady of the United States of America
When I took off for my run this evening I sought my usual answers. Every night that I run I come home to the real answers to my questions. My legs felt fresh and I couldn’t have started my three day weekend on a stronger note (Martin Luther King Day). I ran further, faster and felt better than any time in the last 18 months. I was inspired by wife, my life, my children and my gratefulness for a second chance to cherish what I have in life.
This weekend is going to be great. Our first real chance to be a family again with my wife able to join us out and about. Also I won’t be traveling and the weather is going to be beautiful. Both of our children have basketball games and I get to sit there in the stands with my wife and smile holding hands as we watch our children have fun. Isn’t that what we all dream of? No matter the economic recession we are in, the historic times of our government change, and the sickness our family has endured, it’s just a simple weekend where we can all be home to support each other and care for each other that makes it all feel better.
After my first business trip of the year and most extended business trip since my wife was diagnosed, I’ve felt a calm and patience that I haven’t felt in a long time or ever. I used to think that I was the one who could stop and smell the roses, but these days I am learning not to stop for just two seconds but maybe for an hour and not just smell the roses, but close my eyes and hear the sounds of children laughing and birds chirping. I know it sounds silly, but you must forgive me. I don’t think I’ve ever taken my family for granted, but I just can’t help but want the most for them. Isn’t that what all dads and husbands want for their families? I know it is what we want from the start, but sometimes we forget when the world starts to surround us and life has that way of throwing surprises which consume us.
My wife has started back on her exercise track. I think the other women around us of have inspired her by saying how she has inspired them. My wife doesn’t feel like an inspiration though. We have become aware of some other mothers around us who are suffering with breast cancer in silence. We worry about them and feel so lucky that we have found our path. Looking back our path was simple compared to many other women who have been stricken with this disease.
Maybe it was appropriate tonight I caught one of our guilty pleasure movies on tv, Music and Lyrics. ’80s pop music kind of defined the relationship roots that we have. This movie was a cute little love story we caught one night and just couldn’t get the simplistic tunes out of our heads for weeks. For some reason, the main song had a nother meaing to me tonight when I heard it again. I think we’re definitely finding our way back.
I also want to remind you all that on Monday, Martin Luther King Day, I will be hosting a Q&A with Chad Moutray, author of My Life with Laura – A Love Story. Chads and his wife lost her battle with breast cancer in 2007 and he wrote a book about his experiences. I do hope that you will all make sure to come back and read the interview I had with him.