Monday, August 2, 2010

Work In Progress


I got my hands on that boy today. I ran out to the car and grabbed him up and hugged him close and said, "Oh, there's my boy."
It was a fine reunion.
We went almost immediately to feed the chickens some apples I cut up. As soon as he gets here, he points that little finger towards the chicken house and makes his Elvis noise. Elvis comes running up and they communicate, boy-to-rooster. My neighbor, Ms. Liola, whom I talk to when I walk sometimes says that Elvis is trying to protect Owen. That he thinks of him as one of his flock.
This may be true and is a very interesting idea to me.

I am looking forward to fall and cooler weather so that Owen and I can spend more time outside. He is walking so well and I can't wait to see him walk about the yard. Or run. He can literally run in circles now, that little ten-month old man. He walked about the house today and went into rooms that we usually just walk through with him on my hip and he was delighted to be able to study things at his own pace. Everything is new with Owen and his new-eyes make everything new for me, too.
I can say to him now, "Do you want to play pat-a-cake?" and he grabs my hands and starts to clap them together. I can say, "Do you want a bottle?" and he laughs out loud. "Yes!" he is saying. "I DO want a bottle, and how did you know?"
He's such a delight. Such a delight.
We went into the library and he started pulling books out. He found one that he fancied and brought it to me to show it to him. Ten months old!
I gave him a bath (he needs one after traveling the floors and porches of this house) and he was tired and when I took him out and wrapped him in his towel, he laid himself upon me and didn't move. I thought I would die with the pleasure of that baby hug. He is kissing spontaneously now. He'll dart in and lay a big one right on my mouth and then run away.
He hides behind his Pop-Pop's big chair and peek-a-boo's from one side and then the other, chuckling like a little old man when I say, "There he is! There's Owen!"
My god, my god! I love that boy.
He's so strong. He's so sturdy. Look at the thighs on him.


And so it goes. This boy is growing up so fast that I can't catch my breath between one stage and the next. He has such a happy disposition and why shouldn't he? His parents adore him and are the very best parents a baby could have. When Jason was leaving today I said, "Thank-you so much for bringing him here and thank-you so much for being such a wonderful daddy."
And I meant it with all of my heart.
It's so amazing to watch your own baby become such a fine and attentive and gentle and loving and intuitive and nurturing mother. I can't begin to tell you the joy of that.

I got to meet Kathleen's nephew Christopher this afternoon and he is a fine young man too. So polite. He hugged me when he met me which tells me that he's had good raisin', as we say down here. I offered him graham crackers and juice and apologized because I didn't have cookies and fruit punch and he assured me that what I had was fine. He kept saying, "Yes, ma'am," to me and I finally said, "You're very polite, aren't you?"
And he said, "Yes, ma'am."
He stole my heart and I am so glad he's staying with his Aunt Kathleen. He told me that they're having a wonderful time together.
"I'll bet she's really fun, isn't she?"
"Yes, ma'am," he said. And he was being truthful. How special to have a grown-up love you the way Kathleen loves him and his brother. There is no law which says you have to love your nieces and nephews you know, so it's just a pure blessing to have an aunt who adores you and wants to have fun with you. Christopher is ten and so he already has a good sense of humor in place and that's such a great age. I didn't ask him what I like to ask kids his age when I meet them which is usually something along the lines of "So, are you married?" or "Do you have a job?"
It cracks the goods one up. Maybe I'll ask him those questions next time I see him. He'll probably look at me as if I'm crazy and then he'll realize that yes, I am a friend of his Aunt Kathleen's so of course I am. And then he'll most likely smile.
I hope so.
He and Kathleen left with muffins I made last night (for Kathleen) and some Pop Tarts that Hank left here (for Christopher) to go home to eat tacos (it's international night at Kathleen's place) and they were cheerful and happy.

And tomorrow Kathleen and Sweetie Judy and I are going to go see her oncologist for an appointment where we'll get the details of her chemo regime and that will be something. This whole cancer journey and its treatment is such a process. We learn new things every day, we will continue to learn new things. Because Judy has been through the process herself, she is such a great person to have on the team. She's been there, she's done that, she is strong and healthy and fights wildfires and now is the warrior for Kathleen. I think I will be the one who says, "Can I turn your pillow, darling?" and "Would you like a martini?"
No. I will not say that. Not until she's well. And then I'll say it every chance I get.
I am looking forward to the day when the treatment for cancer somehow focuses on the healthy cells being made so robust that they do not allow the rogue cancer cells to grow, instead of the way we do it now. I honestly think that this is the way we shall "cure" cancer eventually. Not with warfare, but with a reinforcement of health. But we aren't there yet and we must accept and follow what the doctor prescribes. It's going to be a hard time for Kathleen and I know that but I know also that she is up for the challenge. Judy and Denise and all of us who love her will do what we can but the bottom line is that the cancer is in her body and the drugs used to fight it will be administered to her. I just keep thinking about the way plants, when cut or frozen back, respond with added and more vigorous growth. I hold that image in my heart and it reassures me.

Ah lah. Life is something, isn't it?
There is so little we can do but take it as it comes, the glorious and the profane, the joyful and the painful. And it helps to share it all. And having these babies, these kids, to love on and hold tightly and kiss and feed tacos to, to laugh with and take care of- well, that makes it all so much better.

I'm going to go water my porch plants and then cook the tiny piece of wild salmon I bought for myself today at the store. I shall cook it with peppers and onions and mushrooms and spinach and edamame beans because that is the way I like it and Mr. Moon is out of town.
It's been a good day, this first day home. I've had some anxiety and I've dealt with it by accepting it as it has come and trying to accept it for what it is and not fight it.
That's all I can do. It's like the heat. It is what it is. And of course it has helped tremendously to have my grandson's arms around me, to catch his kisses as he ran by me, and to meet Christopher, a very polite young man.

Wash the dishes, do the laundry, kiss the babies, meet the young men, hug the friends and family, kiss them all, wish them safe travels and at the end of the day, go to bed with a good book.

Get up. Do it all again.

And so it goes, as Mr. Vonnegut would say, and he was a very wise man.

23 comments:

  1. And so it goes. I've been catching up on your posts since I was busy and I love them all, but I truly love this one. Owen is so handsome and strong and sweet. You are a lucky grandma, the best kind of grandmomma and a great friend. Kathleen is lucky to have you on her team. I'd be the pillow fluffing, soup making variety too. I am no longer a warrior, or a fierce force, but I can still nurture those I love.
    I'm so glad I found you and your blog. Welcome home, happy birthday belated, and hope the anxiety stays in its place.

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  2. This is for the post several posts ago: There's something WRONG about microwavable bacon!!! I refuse to eat it. Please tell me you don't make it at home!

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  3. I have loved reading about your travels and now I am so glad you're back home. I missed Owen. (Walking at 10 months! Baby-genius-super=model!)

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  4. Nice to see a shout-out to having a nephew....I have a brand-new, one day old one :) My third. Each steal my heart.

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  5. You need to bring little man by here so he can play with Harley! Harley will be so thrilled to see him running, and you know we have toys galore.

    Glad your first day was a good one. Good luck to Kathleen and her team tomorrow! Go team K!!
    xo

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  6. I think I've said it before, but GOD, that Owen is cute!

    And I'm wishing for a good and informative meeting with the oncologist for Kathleen, and that you are able to help her in your inimitable way.

    I loved this post -- it just pulled me along. I wish I could bring my fine young men over to your house and have them hug you. I know they would.

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  7. He is, without doubt, something of a miracle child!

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  8. Mel- You are such a sweet blog friend. Thank you for your always-lovely comments.
    They are treasures in my heart.

    Lucy- Mr. Moon and I were wonder-struck at pre-cooked bacon. No. We don't eat it at home and actually, did not eat it there either. We had bagels. They were yummy.

    Steph- I know!

    Lisa- He RUNS through the house on his fat little legs and my heart just melts.

    SJ- I think that aunts and uncles can be truly some of the most important people in a child's life. Congratulations on your new nephew. He is smart to have been born in your family.

    Ms. Fleur- We'll get those boys together. Owen loves Harley.

    Elizabeth- Oh! What I wouldn't give for THOSE hugs. And then some from their mama.

    Jo- Well. To me he is.

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  9. On Sunday he kept handing Lily a book and "talking" in this very deliberate way. I think he was imitating her reading to him. It sounded just like that, except (of course) that it made no actual sense. Still, hilarious. And awesome.

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  10. I love you whole post, particularly the last line. Mr. Vonnegut WAS wise and so are you. I think he would have enjoyed sitting on the porch with you.

    Love you so,

    SB

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  11. DTG- He is reminding me an awful lot of another little boy I knew.
    Which makes me so happy.

    Ms. Bastard-Beloved- I sure would have enjoyed sitting on the porch with HIM. But I think I'll enjoy sitting on the porch even more with you.

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  12. DTG- I should say so. That little finger? That pointing? That book-love? Yeah.

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  13. DTG- Exactly. Only I think in Owen's case, it's more of a "Give me DAT!"

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  14. Vonnegut is one of Denny's favorite authors. Because he understood the raw irony and coincidence of life. We were lucky to attend a reading of his last book in Miami. He was a shadow of the man he was in middle age, but feisty still.

    And you're so right about cancer & treatment. I hated the slash, burn and poison regimen. The secret of coming out with a whole spirit is two things: 1)Rejoice in the life of this moment--the light in the sky, voice of a loved one, sound of a song. And 2)One day at a time. We can gather strength enough for today when it is all we have to do. Tomorrow will take care of itself.

    Thanks for your comment about Harry at Hill Country Mysteries. It helped.

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  15. Kathleen Scott- I saw Mr. Vonnegut years ago in a thing he did with Joseph Heller and someone else whom I can't remember now. He was so DRY! I loved him. Long hands. I remember that.
    Thank-you for your good advice about cancer treatment. You know what you're talking about.
    And I am so sorry about Harry.

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  16. Happy first day back home. I am sure that it feels every bit as good as you write here. I say that, "And so it goes" when I am hit with a curve ball. C'est la guerre!

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  17. Yes, that O-boy is a star child. Can't wait for one of those kissing bandit kisses from my own Grand Boy, who is only just putting open mouth to face with some intention from time to time.

    Your "make the healthy cells healthier" is a very wise prescription for curing cancer, illness and our health system in general by focusing on a wellness system.

    Glad you had a good trip and glad to have you back at home. x0 N2

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  18. love love this,
    brilliant and lyrical and familiar.
    in that yes life goes on way.

    sigh.

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  19. Syd- And there must be a shrug of the shoulders to go with.

    N2- You just WAIT!

    deb- Indeed it does. Within us and without us, as George Harrison said.

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  20. Oh, yes... This post... Oh, I love it! I am glad you are cooking your salmon the way you like it. It sounds delicious!

    That Owen is getting so BIG!

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