The best part of waking up (is not Folders in my cup). 3/7/16

The TV jingle has it all wrong. It actually has nothing to do with a cup of grocery store java.

Don’t get me wrong, I love a good cup of coffee, at least I did until the chemotherapy and meds started messing with my taste buds. I had a hearty appreciation for a large cup of French roast coffee, or if in France, a Grand Café Crème enjoyed at an outdoor table of a neighborhood café, overlooking a breathtaking piece of architecture on a bright balmy day….. great,  I mean *really* great but still not the best.

I am happy to report, I have finally been discharged from the hospital.   The lovely staff at RegionsHospital in St. Paul exceeded my expectations. Everyone was so nice, the genuinely kind and proactively thoughtful typeof nice.  I felt surrounded by a healthcare team who had been called to their profession rather than a group of people just making a living.

By cool coincidence, a wonderful person, I know through the dance community is also a nurse on the Oncology unit where I was treated for nearly 2 weeks.   With two new little ones at home we hadn’t seen each other in a while and our paths did not cross until she saw our social media post.  She sent me an email and asked if she could drop by.  Her visits really brightened my day.   It is surprising how easy it is to catch up with someone when you are not trying to talk over a live band or hold a conversation between trips to the dance floor…

On the shifts she worked overnights, she surprised me with humorous notes of encouragement taped to the inside of my room door so I would see them when I was awakened for my morning meds. That small act of kindness sure put a smile on my face, and it got me thinking about what is important.

As I looked around my room I took a survey.  I had a pretty picture of sunshine drawn by my 3-year-old niece and goddaughter, a hand-made card from my 7-year-old niece featuring a picture of us laughing our heads off on the roller coaster at Nickelodeon Universe, get well cards, blessings, prayers, flowers, blooming plants from friends, family and my lovely staff at work. A healthy home-cooked meal in the refrigerator made by a dear friend, achef whose culinary skills are rivaled only by the kindness and generosity ofher heart. On the bedside table I had a phone, with a Facebook page filled with well-wishes and cute cat/fox/puppy/sloth/lemur/baby videos to keep my mood bright, my mind off of the pain, and help keep my fears about my future at bay.  On the couch, my husband who has scarcely left my side since I took ill.

It got me thinking. The best part of waking up isn’t a thing.It is knowing there are people who care about me and are wishing me well. 

This update is dedicated to all of the friends,family, acquaintances, dance students and colleagues who have brought love and joy into my life.  To you, I am eternally grateful.