What silly ideas and dreams I had growing up until reality set in!

I was going to be a writer, I became a nurse.

I was going to travel, I moved and lived in three states in my lifetime.

I wanted to make a difference, I became the difference.

What fun and what craziness! Bless my family for putting up with all my endeavors.

I am sure I gave my mother her gray hair and, to be honest, Dad was bald before I was born but I did get the twinkle in my eyes from him.

My sister is wonderful and a model that rivals Martha Stewart, Mother Theresa and maybe a little of Erma Bombeck.

My brother is my port in a storm and co-conspirator when getting into mischief, even now.

My husband is a saint and smiles and always tells me, “ no problem” and “whatever you want.”

He has supported every bucket list I have ever made from a trip in a hot air balloon, to swimming with dolphins, to driving a hummer on a hummer course, to getting in a cage with a baby giraffe, to buying a place on the river, and revising and revamping and adding to my list so that there is always something ahead of me.

I love nursing and always have. I have had opportunities to travel with my husband and have visited many places including visiting my children in foreign places.

I have had many wonderful opportunities and I thrive on being with people and sharing.

Cancer put many things on hold and brought many questions to mind: Could I do this in the future, would there be a future, would I still have the fortitude to pursue even the frivolous things, if they were important enough to me?

Would we still have family whipped cream battles in the yard?

Would we still make s’mears outside at the campfire (they’re s’mores with crunchy peanut butter)?

Would we still go to the Big Woods in the fall to look at the leaves and see our old family camp?

The ole gal is still under there. I may have gotten lost for a short period of time and the hardest thing was finding the patience to find my way back.

It was hard on my family but I am probably the hardest on myself.

Patience was difficult when everyone else, including doctors and treatment and such were pulling all the strings.

I am told I am a control person but I have decided that is a good thing. Taking control and being in charge of me is what has brought me back.

Oh yes, I have changed, but my dreams continue and the twinkle remains.

My kids lament that they will get me raised someday, but I am just not sure that will ever happen.

Bring your can of Redi Whip and meet me in the front yard and we will work out all our negative feelings and end up rolling in laughter and if not us, I guarantee the neighbors will enjoy the show.