It doesn’t seem like such a huge step. Twenty is just one digit more than 19. When it has to do with the new year it takes on more importance. For some the importance is in the party that sees in the new year. For others the opportunity to reflect back on the old year and make some changes in their lives for the new year is of importance.
In the days of my youth, such as ten years ago, I thought it necessary to thoroughly celebrate every holiday. I had the vision in my mind of Christmases and New Years long past and what great times they were. It is very true that some of them were great celebrations. Reflecting back I think the great celebrations took so much planning and preparation that I was very happy when it was all over.
One of my “plans,” and I use the term loosely, was to have a festive Christmas Eve celebration. That is when my family gathered together to share the feast and the presents and finally to head off to church. I would seek out those in my parish family who had no other plans or places to go and invite them for dinner. I seemed to have forgotten each year (until I became more wise) that I had a 5:00 Mass and another at 11:00 PM. The festive dinner had to be held in between those time slots. It also meant that while I should have been at home preparing this feast I was busy at Church! It became a challenge to figure out something festive for dinner that would cook itself while I was at the altar. All the while the festive meal was being enjoyed I was the one occupied by thoughts of the next service. I did enjoy the company but I question whether I really enjoyed the meal or was fully present at the altar at the next service. When I retired (and I use the term loosely) I ceased the entertainment aspect and was able to concentrate on the real celebration of Christmas. I have to admit I enjoy Christmas more in quiet reflection.
Sunday last brought quite a bit of snow. Not as much as the weather prognosticators predicted here, but enough to be messy. It was heavy snow, full of water and slushy. The temperature was such that the water in the snow kept freezing. Trying to clear the sidewalk was not easy as the ice kept forming where one shoveled. Good and kind friends picked me up for church so I wouldn’t have to drive in the mess. Transportation was also provided to our Benedictine Chapter meeting following the services and then home where I remained until Tuesday. The snow people arrived Monday afternoon. The city plows arrived Monday evening. All was well and the world was still rotating!
Following our Benedictine gathering Tuesday evening I went home and stayed until going to the gym for some exercise. So I spent part of New Year’s Day walking the track at the gym. There were a surprising number of people there. I appears that January through March are heavy usage times and then the resolutions people made seem to fade away as so many things do. Beginnings seem to be fairly easy but follow-through not so much. I’ve been to the gym every day this year! The exercise does feel good and it’s really too dangerous to walk outside, not because of the cold but because people do not clear their walks as they are supposed to do. It was a quiet and pleasant entrance into the new year as far as I am concerned.
Several people have asked me what infusion I’m receiving now as immunotherapy. It is called Tecentriq and is a fairly new drug (I’m assuming this because their website thanks the people who participated in the trials) and is specifically for adults with small cell lung cancer. I have another infusion this coming Tuesday so we will find out if it is still doing its job when I have my blood work. I trust it is.
So many people commented on their Christmas cards that I am in their prayers. I just received one yesterday which included a message from a lovely woman, friend, and former parishioner that she had made a personal pilgrimage to Lourdes and prayed for me there. I am so grateful for all the love and support. As I’ve commented before it is what keeps me and others who are desperately ill lifted up and hopeful.
I never thought I’d be in the midst of cancer treatment when the calendar changed from 19 to 20. I’m grateful that I’m here to continue to enjoy life and all the challenges it brings.
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