Wednesday, May 14, 2025

Wednesday, May 14, 2025

Tonight's picture was taken in May of 2009. This was at the Mattie March, the event Mattie's support community held in his honor on the School's track and field. This March was served as the roadmap for the Mattie Miracle Cancer Foundation's annual awareness walk. We took the model our community designed and we built upon it. In this photo, you see that Mattie was sitting in a wheelchair. Next to him (seated on Mattie's right) was his buddy Brandon (who was diagnosed with cancer around the same time as Mattie). The other adult was Robbie, a child life volunteer, and the child in front of Mattie was Zachary. Mattie and Zachary were best buddies from preschool. They were focused on a cup Mattie was holding that wasn't filled with water, but tent moth caterpillars. A spring tradition for Mattie, he loved to collect caterpillars, bring them home, feed them and then watch them convert into moths. Seated behind Mattie were his doctors and practically all his nurses from the inpatient unit! The medical brain power and compassion that was all around us that day was awe inspiring. A day I will never forget.  

Quote of the day: There are dark shadows on the earth, but its lights are stronger in the contrast. ~ Charles Dickens

As strange as this sounds, every morning while making breakfast, I look outside my kitchen window at this bubbling fountain. I look to see that the timer has turned on the water and that it is working properly. Whether it is working or not, is my first indication for how the day will go! I know, ridiculous! How could a fountain possibly determine how my day will go? As I always say, feelings do not need to be rational! This morning, I freaked out! The fountain wasn't on and I couldn't seem to turn it on either. I checked my circuit breakers, I checked the GFIs outside, and even checked the fountain timer. Everything seemed to be fine, except it wasn't working. This fountain is the one major feature of our backyard that I love. There are so many things around the house that I have NO IDEA how they work. These were things my husband managed and it never dawned on me that one day, he wouldn't be around to help me.  

I think because my life is in shambles, I take it personally when some things are not thriving. For example this weekend, I took my hibiscus plants, which I wintered inside, into the backyard. When I tell you that these beauties are struggling I am not kidding. These plants are my tribute to Sunny (which I purchased last spring), because when they bloom, they have a glorious yellow sunshiny flower. Any case, I am trying to nurture these plants back to health. But it is touch a go. Hibiscus plants can be very temperamental. So between the hibiscus plants, a failing hydrangea that I transplanted outside and now the fountain, I viewed all of this as a failure on my part. Of course this is not logical, but that was how I was feeling. 

Steve, the fellow that helps me with all my outside projects, came over today. I had a scheduled appointment with him because several landscape lights weren't working. When Steve rang my doorbell, I opened the door, and he could tell I wasn't happy. He immediately asked me what was wrong. Keep in mind that Steve is well versed in many of the issues I am facing, as he is facing his own personal struggles. Any case, I told Steve about the fountain. Now mind you he wasn't visiting for the fountain, but guess what..... he said, THEN IT WILL BE THE FOUNTAIN that we will address first! When I tell you that this man is a God sent, I am not kidding. 

Steve diagnosed the issue. It was the pump which died. He put in a temporary one, but will order a bigger pump and install it on Friday. Mainly because I do not like the fountain as just a bubbler (which is how it is intended to be). I prefer it as an actual fountain, where you can hear the water splashing and making noise. 

Before Steve left today, he thanked me for listening to him chat about his life, his ups and downs, and then said to me..... I can't imagine anyone leaving you, you are just such a thoughtful and compassionate person. All I can say is Steve's comments have remained with me all day.