Vacation Ramblings

Although I named this "Vacation Ramblings" it really has nothing to do with my vacation other than the vacation has given me lots of time for thinking and reminiscing.  The funny thing about reminiscing is that even though my life has been filled with lots and lots of incredibly wonderful times, it's the not so incredible ones that always seem to spring to the forefront of my brain.  I guess some would say that it's just my pessimistic outlook on life.  While that might be true as I don't argue with my somewhat dour perspective, I have had plenty of time as of late to contemplate so many things.

I know some may say it's because of my cancer diagnosis, however that would be incorrect.  While that is in my thought process, it's not the center.  I do think about it, but what I think about more are the other health issues that are going on with me.  The ones that aren't life threatening, but yet, are felt every hour of every day.  Those issues spend more time in my brain than the cancer.  But even more than my health, it's the memories that fill the vast emptiness that is my brain.  I was watching (actually just half listening) to a show on TV over the weekend and although my attention was on the game of Spider Solitaire that I was playing, all of a sudden I heard someone on TV say something to the effect of, "what is the point of life if you don't have something to look forward to?" (I'm paraphrasing).  Even though I wasn't paying attention to the show, it stopped me in my tracks.  The show continued, but I just sat there, thinking.  Now don't go getting alarmed or anything like that.  I'm not suicidal.  It just stuck with me and I started playing over my current life.  What do I have?  I have a job.  Although I like it, it's hardly a "reason to live".  I have a small family.  I love them, but I can't "live for them".  I have friends.  Again, I love them, but I don't see them all that often, so no reason there.  My life consists of sleeping, working and watching TV.  My former life consisted of so much more.  Yes, the center of that was Joe.  But he was a pretty darn good center.  He centered me.  He made me want to get up each day.  He made me happy.  Again, I know, you don't count on someone else for your happiness.  You make your own happiness.  That's what I did.  I made a life with and it was happy one.  That's where my focus needs to be.

So what do I do?  I can't pretend away the physical problems.  I can mask the aches/pains with medication, but then that's all I will do as I can't function very well.  So do I need to just suck it up and work through it?   Do I pretend that I'm fine being alone?  That's more sucking it up.   Or do I change everything?  That means lots of doctors visits.  The cancer?  I either radiate it, slam it with chemicals or cut it out.  At this point, any of the options are ok.  They don't scare me.  They don't worry me (much).  What worries me is all the other crap.  All the other aches, ringing and pains.  No one told me as a kid that just getting older brought all these aches & pains.  Arghhhhhhh

And then there is the real cruz of the matter.  The being alone.  If you hurt and there's someone there to rub your shoulders it helps.  If you're sad and there's someone there to put their arm around you, it helps.  If you're emotional and there is someone there to listen, it's awesome.  I can't "do" anything about the health woes other than make a decision based upon the doctors advice.  What I can "do" is follow my heart when it leads me to someone who is kind, gentle, funny, and loving.  Truly open myself up to the possibility.  I think I might have just done that.