Tonight's picture was taken on August 8 of 2009. By this point we knew that Mattie's condition was terminal. Because Mattie's cancer treatment was so intense and he never got to a point where his condition put him in a more stable physical place, he never had an opportunity to
"make a wish" through the Make a Wish Foundation. This is a Foundation that grants special events, opportunities, and trips to children with a life threatening medical condition. So instead, my parents helped him with a wish in his limited condition. Mattie wanted a ride on car. Peter and I went out that day and bought the car, dragged it home, and I snapped this photo as Peter was unveiling it to Mattie! Mattie was thoroughly in love with "Speedy Red," the name Mattie gave his car. Mattie took to driving like a duck took to water. He just had a natural understanding for the mechanics of driving despite being so frail, with pain pumps and oxygen connected to him at all times. There was no keeping a good driver down!
Quote of the day: When you have really exhausted an experience you always reverence and love it. ~ Albert Camus
As I read Camus' quote tonight, I have to wonder. I know plenty of experiences that have exhausted me this summer, and I am NOT sure I love any of them! In fact, I spent seven hours at a licensure board meeting today and as I write this, I can attest to being wiped out. I came into the meeting already mentally frayed and exhausted from a summer of intense work. That is after a full year of intense Mattie Miracle work! My licensure board members today were concerned about my mental health, and if they are saying something to me, that makes me take note. Since they have never said anything to me before. But I am aware of the fact that writing book chapters is very challenging work on top of what I already balance for the Foundation. With that said, I am not writing much tonight on the blog, since I have already had quite a full day of reading, writing, and absorbing!
No comments:
Post a Comment