Each Day, You Keep Going

After a 17 day stay here in Louisiana, Granny headed home to Oregon on Friday evening. She's got weeks of home health rehab ahead of her, but her determination is strong and she is motivated to be walking again. Her progress during her stay in rehab down here was amazing and each day she gets a little bit stronger.

As truly exhausted as I was working full time and making evening trips to the rehab facility and as happy as I was to have my aunt and Granny be cleared to return to their comfortable surroundings, it also was incredibly difficult to see them go. As independent as I am and as happy as I am with my own little family of my husband, myself, and our zoo, a huge chunk of my heart and soul will always be most settled when I am able to easily access the presence of my family. I am the most comfortable in my own skin when I am near all of them. Never did I think that my roots would be so strong, but they are and for that I also feel incredibly fortunate. Having Granny here reminded me of all the numerous ways she has influenced who I have become and having so many females here from my family made my husband realize, for better or for worse, where I get many of my habits and traits. :)

I come from a tribe of women. Strong, independent, and secure. Where one falters, another steps in beside her and steadies. We care however we can but we try not to bruise egos and toes. We laugh, we cry, we heal, we enjoy. At the center of that tribe is Granny. A friend of mine asked me to talk to Granny while she was down here about what Granny believed to be her secret to longevity. While I can sit here and tell you about how she's eaten balanced meals and exercised almost every day of her life, how she starts each day with a slow breakfast with a cup of coffee reading the news, how she enjoys a good glass of wine or beer, how she's passionate about sports, how she gives willingly to those less fortunate than herself, how she's active in her faith and steadfastly participates in church and Bible groups, how she has a larger social circle and calendar than most I know, how she's steered away from excessive behaviors of any sort, how she's got a mind toward optimism, and everything else that the research will tell you promotes longevity, her answer was simply this: EACH DAY, YOU KEEP GOING and you enjoy whatever you can.

And so that is how we progress, each day, with one foot in front of the other, enjoying the pieces that we can. Accomplishing the tasks that move us on to the next, embracing the moments of life as we perceive them, and relishing the laughter and joy that is evident each and every day if only we take the time to notice and actively participate. I've spent the rest of this weekend focusing on taking care of the tasks that have been put on the back burner, feeling good about recreating balance in our house and in our lives. While my heart may so strongly be back in Oregon right now, I keep putting one foot in front of the other, enjoying the beauty of my life now, but knowing that each day and each step takes me one closer to rejoining those I dearly love back north. Much to do, much to love, and much to look forward to....