Six Months Left

What would you do if you only had six months to live? I've asked my kids this in the past. "We'd travel the world and see all sorts of new things." My daughter I'm sure would have on her list "shop til you drop", and my son would make a pilgrimage to Xbox kingdom to play unlimited video games. They are both teenagers, and their lives seem to point inward. I think I would travel to see all my friends and tell them how much they meant to me.

My friend Connie, just got the terrible news from her doctor. Six months. Cancer. Lung. I cried for a week just thinking about it. I can now talk with her without a kleenex, but the tears are just below the surface. I got on my scooter the other day, and went and visited her and her husband. I got the grand tour of their lovely home, and we stopped by each picture, as I heard the history of how so many people all over the country are related to them. Some by blood, but so many others by friendship.

She told me of all the people that are coming to visit. I'm sure everyone of them will ask her how they can help, and they will leaved bless by her. I think Connie will be the one comforting all of us, as we see her health slip away. She is making sure her husband is well taken care of when she's gone. She's cleaning out closets, and replacing windows and doors. Her home will be just the way she likes it when she leaves.

I keep thinking if I knew the end was so near, if it would be a blessing or a curse. I've know people that have literally dropped dead on the spot. And I've know others that linger on. My dear friend Linda, who battled cancer, knew she only had a short time. She, like Connie, got everything taken care of. And that included her friends. She let us know that she was sad of course, but that heaven was just on the other side. I see Connie doing the same thing. I want so much to do something, and yet, everytime I talk with her, I am the one comforted. Comfort is the blessing part of this. Cancer is the curse.

I met her at the gym. The Early Birds are what we call ourselves. I'm the young one of the bunch. Every morning we exercise, and then meet for breakfast. We are a lively, unique bunch of people. And after Connie got the news from her doctor, there she was, not traveling the world to see exciting places, but with her friends, on the stationery bike, next to her husband Ken.

You are an amazing woman!
I will see you someday on the other side.

NOTE: 2 months later....I had breakfast with Connie this morning. The last time she saw her doctor, he was amazed that she was doing so well. She marched in there, and told him, that she didn't want any more predictions, he could keep that info to himself. She was going to wake up and live each day to the fullest.

ANOTHER NOTE: 6 months later....Connie just got kicked out of hospice! She is a walking miracle and still works out at the gym in the morning.