Sharing the News
I sat beside my friend Jamie in her martial arts dojo sharing the big news, she held me as we spoke.
“After all of this it will show me how to really help people, I think it will make me a better massage therapist.” In reflection I think I was searching for a way to make sense of what was happening.
I laid my head into her lap, and she placed her hand onto my head, giving me words of affirmation and comfort. A few silent moments passed, and I sat up. People were starting to enter her dojo and I knew she needed to start class. “I think that maybe I should try to get a little more active if I am going to lose a lung. Do you think you would be willing to go on a few walks with me in the mornings?” I inquired.
She smiled. “I think that would be great.”
We stood and hugged. “I will call you and we can set something up.”
“OK.” She smiled.
I stepped away toward the door as her students shuffled in. I went to my car and sat in silence. The crinkle of the leather was a satisfying sound, I gripped the steering wheel and stared. Closing my eyes I took a breath and started the ignition.
I went for several walks with her early in the morning, I don’t think it was to train my lung. In reflection I believe I thought I was going to die on the hospital table, and I wanted to take an opportunity to spend time with someone I loved.
As time drew closer my outlook on life began to change. I lost touch with the common fears I once had. I stopped thinking about the surgery and began living my life. I let go of my inhibitions and restraints. Life felt richer, colors were more vibrant, and my spirit began to glow.
One day while drawing outside of my favorite coffee house Picassos a van pulled beside me, the driver was an attractive lady with brown hair and green eyes, she asked me what I was drawing. I raised a drawing of a tree beneath a rainbow of light created with ink. I could see a smile through the open window. “Would you like to come with me?” She asked.
I thought about it for less than a second and said yes. My decision took me to a place I had never been, even to this day I am unsure where it was. Once we arrived it was dark, and the air was cool. She showed me to the door of a beautiful house and knocked on the door. When it opened we were greeted by smiling faces and welcoming souls. The living room was large and filled with vibrant energy and delightful spirits. It was a magical night, one I don’t often think about, but has a special place in my heart. I think we all need gems that are unpolished and tucked away in a safe place, trinkets to treasure our special moments, and this was one of my special keepsakes.
A week before my surgery I met Casey, she was a magical woman who enchanted me with her sparkling eyes and sweet smile. She was fun and playful, and I was happy to make a new friend. I met her at Picasso’s open Mic Night, we chatted, laughed, and shared time playing cards till the late hour of the night. We exchanged numbers and went on with our lives.
