Shadows of Growth and Miracles: Far Too Long Away...

Shadows of Growth and Miracles: Far Too Long Away...: It has been quite some time since I have had the chance or the inspiration to add to this blog. Life has a way of intruding on those th...

Far Too Long Away...

It has been quite some time since I have had the chance or the inspiration to add to this blog. Life has a way of intruding on those things we enjoy and forcing us to pay attention to the needs of daily life and survival; and given our current political, social, and economic climate, that need has become painfully difficult and increasingly necessary.



I left a full time (low paying positin) with ACS when they transferred their employees back to Apollo Group. My own political and social mores just would not allow me to remain there any longer. I signed on with Aerotek who found me a contract position with Honeywell in Tempe (a company I have been trying to get my foot in the door with for about 10 years). It was a short contract but I can state, emphatically, that I have not been so happy working since I was caught up in the second wave of layoffs at Qwest back in 2006. Although the manager had tried to keep me longer, they could not get any additional funding and so my contract has ended and I am, once again, staring at that grave and fearful spectre known as unemployment. I am scared to death!



The battle with the Thyroid Cancer which began in July of 2011 has been extremely difficult. The breast cancer remains at Stage 3 (thankfully), the skin melanoma comes back to bite me in the ass from time to time, and now they have found a mass on my liver and a large cyst on my right kidney. I am heading in for surgery on the kidney this Friday and later that same day for a pet scan of the liver as they do NOT want to cut into that until we know with more certainty whether or not this will prove to be cancer or not. Should the pet scan indicate cancer, I will not allow any surgery... it would just be too risky.



I am completing the final editing process on my last book in the Shadowplay Series which will be called "Danding With The Spirits of Shadowplay". I am extremely pleased with this book which contains many wonderful new poems and some prosody, as well as poems from the previous two books "Survive The Shadow Stalker" and Shadows of Love. This book will also contain a short story by an up and coming writer/friend of mine; Gary Lemcke AND the lyrics from a song written by singer/songwriter/poet James John Pike III. Some wonderful photography of my beloved desert can also be found. We expect to see the book hit the shelves (virtual shelves) at Amazon, Barnes and Nobles, Books a Million etc... as well as Kindle.



I sent my beloved Merriweather to the Rainbow Bridge on January 27, 2012. This faithful, loving nana dog, who saw me through the loss of my husband, the loss of my home in Chandler, the prolonged battle for custody of my granddaughter who now is safely and permanently in the care of her beloved mother, cancer, surgeries, epilepsy, MS, and family upheaval, ironically developed cancer in a mammary gland. I miss her so...



With the help of my youngest son, I got to spend almost two hours of my birthday with my beloved Jessica. It had been almost two years since I had last seen her, hugged her, or just talked to her. When she walked through my front door, I could not believe how grown up she was (she turned 14 this August) and I could not stop hugging her or crying or telling her how much I missed her. I am not sure if or when I shall see her again, but at least she knows I love her... have never chosen NOT to be with her... and love her always.



I adopted a new dog, Ranger, at 6 weeks of age. He is a full blooded German Shepherd who has become a wonderful companion to me and who actually put a little life in to Angel Heart who mourned her sister greatly. Ranger likes to go hiking with me as well so I no longer have to hike alone any more.

I worked and wandered the Healing Fields in Tempe, AZ on September 11, 2012, this time with Tom at my side. He was so quiet and thoughtful as we wandered through the sea of almost 3,000 flags, one for each life lost during that fateful attack on the World Trade Center 11 years ago. Then I sent him back home to undergo more tests and treatment for his own battle with cancer.



With Ranger at my side, I did the 5K walk for Prostate Cancer at Kiwanis Park in Tempe on Sept 22, 2012. This was my fourth year making the walk. In November, I will make my 7th walk for Stride for the Cure at Tempe Town Lake.



I have been able to spend a little more time with my younger grandchildren, James C, Zavier, and Shy... but health and energy keep me from doing all of the things I would so love to do with them. I did get to see Zavier play his Bass (cello) at school last spring AND he even played slap bass; as I love Jazz so much I thought this was WONDERFUL.



The job hunt is on in earnest and I desperately need to find one quickly; age and time seem to be against me but I remain hopeful. I go for outpatient surgery this Friday. Ranger and I will pick up hiking again once this cyst is off of my kidney. Work on the book is supposed to be completed by end of this month (providing the about the author and the short story contributor gets it all back to me on time), Tom will return (weather and health providing) in late November.



I will be casting my vote in November against the man I have campaigned hard against and have been terrified of since 2007... in the hopes that this great country of ours can be saved from communism before it is really too late for my children and grandchildren. I can only pray.



I will not be baking and cooking anymore for the holidays for several reasons; my health the first, finances second, and the sad family issues that remain ongoing. It just makes me too sad now to try to pretend. I will, however, probably head up north for Thanksgiving... and Christmas, if I am employed and the doctors okay it, may actually find me flying to New York to visit brothers and sisters that were kept from me far too long. That's a little far ahead for me right now.. .more a dream than a plan.



As I have a little more time on my hands, I will return to writing here more frequently again and I have an adult book in mind as well as a children's book in mind.. so I shall let the writing flow.



With that said, dear readers, I think I will climb into my Jeep and head out to a stationary store to buy some fancy pens and writing tablets.



Blessed be. Stay well.