Secret of Life
I woke with James Taylor’s Secret of Life in my head. It is songs like these and days like the past 24 hours that remind me that life is here to live today. To laugh today. To love today.
Yesterday I celebrated with Tessa as she completed Third Grade and rang in summer. The core primary years are complete.
Last evening I watched Jameson graduate from Middle School. The awkward speed bump of that period is over. 
Late last night I enjoyed conversing with Brandon — not as a youth among adults but as contemporary.
All in all, pretty darned cool.
There actually was a bigger post around this but for whatever reason, I accidentally deleted it while trying to publish. Call it blunder, call it fate. It doesn’t erase the fact that yesterday was a good day. Today and tomorrow may bring tears, anxieties, disappointments and that, too, is to be expected as part of the journey. But then again, those things may not happen. And that’s the secret, right? So, as JT reminds me… I’m going to enjoy the ride.
Secret of Life — James Taylor
The secret of life is enjoying the passage of time
Any fool can do it
There ain’t nothing to it
Nobody knows how we got to
The top of the hill
But since we’re on our way down
We might as well enjoy the ride
The secret of love is in opening up your heart
It’s okay to feel afraid
But don’t let that stand in your way
’cause anyone knows that love is the only road
And since we’re only here for a while
Might as well show some style
Give us a smile
Isn’t it a lovely ride
Sliding down
Gliding down
Try not to try too hard
It’s just a lovely ride
Now the thing about time is that time
Isn’t really real
It’s just your point of view
How does it feel for you
Einstein said he could never understand it all
Planets spinning through space
The smile upon your face
Welcome to the human race
Some kind of lovely ride
I’ll be sliding down
I’ll be gliding down
Try not to try too hard
It’s just a lovely ride
Isn’t it a lovely ride
Sliding down
Gliding down
Try not to try too hard
It’s just a lovely ride
Giving Cancer the Boot
I haven’t written anything public in awhile. I’ve been keeping things more inside of late. In the time since the last scans (holidays) and now I’ve been trying to figure out the rhythm of Dave’s remission so far. Let’s just say it is not as I thought it would be. Heck, none of this is how anyone thinks it would be. And perhaps it is the not knowing that helps you get through life’s changes. Think about it, if you knew, really knew, what was around the bend would you ever approach the bend? Heady stuff for pre-dawn I know.
The good news is that Dave continues to be in remission. There still is pain and I guess we won’t know for awhile if this is permanent damage from tumor aggrevation, radiation or a combo thereof. He’s made some conscious decisions to explore different methods of dealing with the cruddy leftovers that cancer leaves behind. Some days are good… some days are slow. But they are days and I am grateful to have them.
And if you know Dave, well, he doesn’t stop. He gives it his all. And this Friday will be no exception.
Once again, our incredible group of family and friends have rallied to relay with us in the 12-hour Relay for Life in Campbell County. This is one of many American Cancer Relays which take place all over the U.S. and around the world to raise both awareness and funds for cancer research, treatment and screenings. Relay started in 1985 and is a pretty incredible experience. If you have a second, read it’s quick history here. Once again proof of what one person can do with an idea.
If you will be in the Newport, Kentucky area this Friday night, swing by the track and say hello. The Nashville or Bust team will be decked out in its new finery (thanks, Jason for the design and Jameson for the screen printing awesomeness!) and doing its best to give cancer the boot. We’ll also be making pancakes from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. as our on-track fundraiser. I can guarantee that these beat your momma’s pancakes hands down. I mean, pancakes always taste better at night in the fresh open air, right?
To read more about our team, here’s a link to its official page. Dave and I each have our pages in there, too. We’ll be livecasting the evening via FB and Twitter (my @redshoegirl account) so you can walk along with us wherever you are.
Never doubt for a minute that we wouldn’t be here had it not been for your continued expressions of love and support. Trust me, it is something I’ll be thinking about a lot as I lap the track and flip the stacks. Peace. ~ Jacqui
Nashville or Bust 