Forced Slow Down

There are times when life throw you stuff. Then it often throw more stuff at you. That's how it goes. Life's little challenger course, so to speak.

With the recent death of my father, I've had plenty of time grieving, and yet at the same time I've kept up my normal pace of life. Jumping right back in mid-stream. With two west coast trips in less than a month, much of my down time has oddly been spent on planes across the country. After superwoman like capabilities of dealing with everything that there was to handle in Eugene, both physically and emotionally, I came back to a slight nose dive back into the realities of my life in DC. Then I picked right back up and kept running.

So it turns out that I needed a bit more of a break that that. The Universe is sending its message clearly, slow your jets down, as my mom would say.

I was given a call back about a mole that was removed, ironically on the day I learned of my father's death. It turned out to be as suspicious as we thought, melanoma creeping up in the form of an otherwise cute freckle on my thigh. Had I not been aware of the dangers, with my fair and freckled skin, it could have been drastically worse. I've been consistent with dermatologist check ups, even when I haven't bothered to get a primary doctor in the last ten years. Having recently had my annual skin check, I was lucky that I had to go in for a repeat biopsy on another mole and pointed out this little guy. Had I waited until my next annual appointment, I would have had full blown cancer.

So I feel thankful for being on top of changes in my body, and having noted the tiny, otherwise seemingly friendly mole that had recently appeared.

Even this wasn't really enough to slow me down. At first I thought it was just going to be a quick re-biopsy and a few stitches. I even planned it for just before heading to California for Memorial Day. I figured I could plan on hiking a bit slower this year.

This, of course, turned out to be full on surgery instead. I went and had the operation on Friday, and have been in a bit of a post-surgery fog since then. I'm reminded of the importance of friends, family, and neighbors, and how important it is to cultivate these relationships. They are particularly helpful when you need them, and are noticeably missing when they are needed and aren't nearby.

Tomorrow I head out into the big wide world and will have to remind myself with each step to take it at least at half time walking. My standard pace around the city is ridiculously fast. According to one walking website, my pace far exceeded their "very speedy walker" category.

Today I walked past an older gentleman who was walking about my same, now reduced, pace. I was reminded of how fortunate I am that I'm normally so mobile.

So as I head out into the world, it will be with a renewed appreciation for what I have and for the health that I've fostered. I find it ironic that sometimes the most appreciation comes from the worst of events. I guess it just goes to show what we should be thankful for, even when life throws us stuff.

Miel