A Stiff Upper Lip

 I have no idea what the origin of that phrase is: "Keep a stiff upper lip." I know what it means to do it, though. Anymore, it seems we need a red cross hanging on the front door to our house. Baba and Clanpaw are both fighting their cancers admirably. Mimi is undergoing infusion therapy for Lupus. Buddy is soon to have a major hernia surgery. Squib is being put through the mill by the genetics department of Texas Children's Hospital. Beanstalk is maintaining the status quo, but that includes PT, OT, Speech, and auditory impairment therapy.

That leaves me.

I seem to be OK regardless of my Crohn's diagnosis. And I thank God for that!!!

I do wonder, sometimes, about what the heck is going on with the rest of the family. I also have some very frank conversations with the man upstairs about how much is too much for one family to handle.

But we keep on going.

And when it comes right down to it, it's that stiff upper lip. The resolve and determination that you never knew you had until you just HAD to have it.

And I always try to give myself something to look forward to, like...

...Christmas

...the plans and preparations I'm making for our garden this year

...the classes I'm taking in the spring

...the time I spend with Squib and Beanstalk

...my 20th High School reunion in June (hard to believe)!!

...the hiking trips Dad and La Fae and I are going to take after he's recovered from surgery.

...music

...dancing

...teaching Squib about the Moon (his latest fascination)

...working with Buddy and Clanpaw

...doing a little moonlighting with Attrition

Always, it seems like there are hurdles, but they are merely to be jumped over and then you just keep running the race you were meant to run. Strange and bizarre things do happen, but they no longer have the element of surprise...I merely push on and do what comes next.

I never tire of reading, catching up with people, writing, or listening to new things and am always adding to my libraries of books, movies, music, and written works. I don't think this will ever stop. Every so often I have to purge my shelves and send things to storage to make room for the new, so I dream of one day owning a library area in my home where I can keep all my saved tomes at the ready--especially if I wish to walk down memory lane. I like to see where I've been and where the journey is taking me.

I am always glad that the journey involves learning, meeting new people, and going to new places. I am not the sort of person that can stay in a single rut with the same folks, nothing new, and nothing learned. If I had my way, I'd always be in school. But, in the end, someone has to make money around here eventually. And this year, that someone is me...like it or not...

So I shall, come hell or high water. I'll keep my stiff upper lip and keep running.

On a Melancholy Wednesday,

Scat