So much emotion

Up and done

Worried and resigned 

Impatient and tired 

So much waiting 

For the doctors

For the ultrasound 

Over an hour for the ultrasound 

Waiting is the hardest thing for me

Especially when I don’t know how long

Especially when I am tired and anxious

Especially when the results can have such a big impact

But all is well that ends well

The ultrasound was clear

The blood test results were good 

And for now, there is no sign of cancer 

And it will most likely remain the same 

Because of the medication I’m taking 

All in all good news

A sense of relief

But the fatigue stays 

Until I have a good night’s sleep 

June 18, 2024

As I sit down with my coffee

I review the items on my to do list in my head

To see what I have done and what’s left

-organize basement (a multi-day activity)

-water flowers

-go to the pharmacy

-buy batteries for the bathroom scale

-Make an agenda for an upcoming meeting

-grocery shopping

-preparing dinner

…..

But sometimes the to do list 

Needs to be modified 

And ‘me time’ added to the top

Time do do what makes me happy 

Time to replenish my energy

Time to be creative 

And I chose to do that right now

There are many things I must do 

Some urgent, some less so

But now I chose to take care of myself

So I will be refreshed 

And able to do what must be done

August 14, 2024

I’m good at doing things that don’t make money

Volunteering is my thing

In the kids’ schools when they were little 

In Holland the year after we got married

The Baha’i community got most of my attention

From organizing children’s classes

To being the editor of the Montreal newsletter

To organizing an English corner for new Chinese immigrants

To coordinating the volunteers for the Shrine in Montreal 

My books are something else I do out of love 

It’s certainly not to make money 

But when my writing touches someone’s soul

It’s better than all the money in the world 

Raising my kids was unpaid labour too 

One I am very happy to have devoted my time to

Perhaps what is important is the result of our labours 

And how they help others 

Rather than what we earn 

Volunteering is its own reward 

August 28, 2024