Wednesday, February 20, 2013Tonight's picture was taken in February of 2009. Featured with Mattie in this photo was a vanilla milkshake. Mattie lived off of a few items while battling cancer and those items were: dunkin donuts, vanilla shakes, McDonald's chicken nuggets, cupcakes, Utz potato chips, macaroni and cheese, and pasta. That was IT! When people talk to me about nutritious diets for children who are battling cancer, I listen, but internally I am saying....... you have to be kidding!!!! Mattie's battle was horrific, he hated food, the sight and smell of it, therefore when he seemed to crave something no matter what it was, he got it. Mattie was practically skin and bones at the end, and therefore a balanced diet was not only unlikely to happen but it was a ridiculous notion! Also featured with Mattie in tonight's photo was a volcano kit. Mattie loved volcanoes and he particularly loved to see a volcanic eruption. Which we had that day right in the middle of the playroom. Needless to say several children came over to watch the process.
Quote of the day: Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved. ~ Helen Keller
Yesterday was an absolutely cold, grey, and rainy day in Los Angeles. However, despite the rain, I was outside and planting scrubs and flowers in my parent's backyard. The things I planted back in December are thriving, so I have continued my handiwork on this visit. My parent have a charming and elusive green hummingbird that visits their backyard and I got to see him today and other interesting birds which I do not see living in Washington, DC.
Though the sun was shining today, it was VERY windy. That wiping wind somehow takes it out of you. We walked my parent's neighborhood track this morning, through the wind, and while there we ran into two of her neighbors. One of the neighbors I never met before, but he was walking his rescue dog, and I got to hear about her life and how far she has come. It reminded me of Patches.... also abandoned and in bad shape when we found her. Yet with tender loving care, these animals can be rehabilitated to live long lives.
So the dog began our conversation and literally this fellow and I walked around the track together for about a mile. He is an older adult, and as my friend Karen jokes with me all the time, this age group relates to me! Perhaps, but I grew up in a household in which my maternal grandmother lived with us, so interacting with older adults in a way is second nature to me. Needless to say by the time our walk was over, I learned about his life and his family. In addition, he had the courage to acknowledge Mattie's loss with me and at one point I could see he had to change the subject matter because he was getting choked up about the tragedy of losing a child.
This evening we have been invited out to dinner to celebrate the birthday of one of my mom's friends. So I am signing off for today and leave you to reflect upon Keller's quote that character can't be developed in ease and quiet. There maybe some truth in that, but I have to admit that some "character" is simply hard to live with and accept.
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