A Handful of Friends

I had brunch with a friend of mine today. She said that she can count on one hand the number of friends she can really rely on in times of need. I am one of those friends, which make me feel proud of my ability to be a good friend.

When I thought about this in terms of myself: How many people can I really count on and who are they, I thought again: it doesn't really matter to me. I know that if I was in need, I have friends who would be there for me.

I remember when my father died, I was amazed, touched, and honored by the presence of people at his wake and funeral. People I had worked with only a few years and old friends I hadn't spoken to in years came to show their support for me. Even an old boyfriend came; he always really liked my dad.

Is a life measured by the number of friends someone has or by the quality of those friendships? Or is a life measured by being a good friend who is there when someone needs to talk (or not talk), cry (or laugh), or be rescued (or to rescue you)?

Life's Short

Just heard from a friend that he and his live-in girlfriend were married last Saturday. After my intial shock I offered my congratulations. Then I started to feel a bit put out that he had waited a week to share this news. As a woman, I wanted details: What was the rush? What did she wear? Who was there? Where was it held?

Before I could ask even 1 of my questions, he told me he had rectal cancer. Suddenly the wedding details didn't matter. He had found out on Friday afternoon and asked his girlfriend to marry him that night. I guess he didn't see any reason to wait; anymore.

Cancer is a horrendous ordeal for anyone. But this friend was diagnosed with a brain tumor the size of a plum about 5 years ago. Surgery went well and he fully recovered from the brain tumor. As part of a routine follow-up from the brain tumor, he had a colonoscopy and that's how the rectal cancer was detected. A similar situation discovered his brain tumor years before.

If there is such a thing as "good cancer", I guess he has it. Doctors predict a full recovery after a round of chemo and radiation.

I feel so helpless. This is definitely one of those life-changing experiences where you count your blessings and you remember to be thankful for your health -- twice! This is particularly meaningful for him and our friends as we lost a friend to cancer last December. She fought as hard and as bravely as she could, but the cancer won. She left behind a wonderful husband, a 3 year old daughter, and a 7 month old son.

Live now, you never know what tomorrow will bring. Show your love today; don't wait. To all cancer patients and their loved ones -- LiveStrong!

A Dog's Life

As I sit here covered in dog hair, I am thinking back to this morning. I was awakened by my 7 month old malamute, Maysie at about 6:15 am. Much too early for a Saturday. I begrudgingly stumbled out of bed and took her for a walk.

How is it that dogs find such joy in a walk around the same block everyday? I guess there is some metaphor to be learned like: "Stop and smell the roses" or "Find pleasure in the small things". It is amazing that the same tree can hold such fascination day after day. Clearly there are some doggie things I can't begin to understand, not the least of which is the appreciation of another dog's urine smell.

After our walk we headed north about 45 minutes for our doggie day care interview. Why drive so far for this? The answer is simple, it's near work. I made sure to bring the 9 pages of forms I had painstakingly filled out. I wasn't sure how to feel about having to fill out 9 pages of information on my pup. I understand the vaccination record from the vet, but I didn't know whether to feel pleased that someone wanted to know such intimate detail about my dog or insulted that I was being accused of bringing some wild beast to ravage their peaceful coexistence.

At first thought you may think that this dog-care facility just wants to learn as much as they can about my dog so they can give her the best day care experience. That was MY first thought. But I had visited another doggie day care a week ago and they immediately jumped right in, accepted my dog and couldn't have been nicer or more accommodating. All they asked for was her shot record from the vet. My dog spent 2 days, 6 hours at a time, at the second facility and had the time of her life. It was clean, staffed with highly professional and experienced dog-care practitioners, and they presented me with a "report card" at the end of each day.

Why bother going through with the interview today? The philosophy of the thorough interview center better matches what I believe is best for my dog -- play, rest, play, nap, play, rest. The first facility lets the dogs play all the time with no scheduled or required down time. They figure dogs will rest when they're tired. I guess it is the public school (highly scheduled) philosophy vs the Montessori Method (choice/interest-based). Both places are way into my dog and dogs in general.

The 1.5 hour interview went well; my dog is in. But scheduling is a bit more of an effort with this place. We're trying it out this week. I'll guess we'll see how things work out.

First Time -Reluctantly

After doing some investigating, and desiring to use blogs with elementary students, I figured I would try blogging for myself. I am not one of those people who enjoy journaling and writing my innermost thoughts. Writing is NOT cathartic for me. It does NOT make me feel better or help me to work out problems. Writing is something I do for work, for graduate school; because I have to.

The exception is email. Now that is something I can get lost in for hours. Whether it is email for work or personal. I will ruminate over the correct word choice and proper spelling and grammar -- even in a 2 sentence email. Because of this, I am thinking that blogging will get me to write, where a paper and pencil will not.

I am not quite sure of my purpose for writing this blog, other than to experience what my students and teachers may experience when becoming first time bloggers.

Further, I am unsure why I would want or need to read another person's blog. Similarly, why would someone want to read my blog? I can see this as a great tool to communicate with parents, or with a professor/teacher. But are strangers really that interested in the lives of others? In their private, mundane ramblings? I am told millions find reading the blogs of others fascinating.

I think the online format will encourage some reluctant writers to express themselves. Surprisingly, words and thoughts have come easily to me this first time. I was not born into the digital generation. I came to the "tech party" after college. I have been hooked ever since; and we're talking over 20 years. Even as a late bloomer with computers, I have found technology an irresistable and essential part of everyday life. I find anything related to technology to be a motivation. I can't learn enough about new gadgets, software, etc. Doing something online is far more preferable than doing it another way; writing, banking, shopping, playing games.

It is amazing how small our world has become with modern technology. To see images of far away places, to be able to converse and with someone from a country that doesn't even speak my language is quite extraordinary.

The everyday utility and the wonder of computers and technology; that is what I hope to communicate to my students.