Itty Bitty Scavenger Hunt

Our first foray this summer is not really a "first"-- for us.  Is is our second year to participate in an activity created  specifically to draw people to the historic district of downtown Fredericksburg, VA and is called the Itty Bitty City.  Pictures of objects are taken within a specified grid of the downtown area and posted in the paper.  The general public head to the streets from May to July in search of these familiar and slightly hidden items.

The city only yields these sought after treasures to the keen eyes of the diligent.  But, lest you think this is a drudgery, let me tell you that every person we met on this quest had a child-like nature that carried them along.  You could spot them easily by the crumpled and well worn newspaper clutched in their hands and a look of expectation on their faces.

My husband and I decided to include some of the oldest grandchildren in our city's game of hide and seek.  Their shorter legs helped us keep the journey to a slower pace and their delight in spying and finding what we were looking for was motivating.  I do have a confession though....the shorter legs on a large grid did lead to some frustration and  no amount of ice cream could bolster their initial eagerness.  So, my husband and I would go out a day or two before and find the sought after treasures and then gently.....and indiscreetly.... direct our young helpers in the right direction.

Each time we ventured out to the city, we found something besides the items we were looking for.  Down a side street I found a brick building that bore the inscription of our local hospital.  Compared to the existing facility, that is sprawled over several acres of land, this scaled down version was reflective of a time when our area was much smaller in population and size.  I wonder if the tenants in this former hospital, now converted into apartments, knows that their dwelling is a part of local history?

Our tribe of seekers took three consecutive Monday evenings to find all 20 of the objects and when the last one was discovered....we celebrated as if we had won a Superbowl.    The creator of this city's hide and seek did a great job this year!  She kept us hunting and learning.  But we enjoyed the journey as much as the discovery.  We met new people who left their air-conditioned home and their every day routine and became a part of an  adventure.  We came together as a family unity and worked together as a team.

And our reward was just what we had hoped for....we got to know our city a little bit more as tourists and not just as residents..........and we held the hands of our grandchildren....our legacy...a little longer.

http://fredericksburg.com/News/ittybittycity/IttyBittyHEADER_690x150.jpg

Summertime

A place of refuge

I am always so excited when summer makes its way back around.  It's the school girl rush of feelings that hark back to the days when summer meant a release from the drudgery of forced early morning rising and the repetition of multiplication problems.
It must be muscle memory that causes me to drag out my stored bike and polish it up, oil the moving parts and ready the basket for treasures to be found.
I yearn to be outside on sunny days.  Lounging by a pool or, better yet, sitting at the beach watching the sun light up the water with diamonds and the sounds of children's laughter as the musical score.
But I am long past my childhood summers and the days that knit the seasons together do not look much different from each other.  Usually our summers hold the promise of a week long respite from our daily life.  The King and I (not to be confused with the movie) are not ones for doing the usual, so we have decided to become tourists of our own land.  To trounce around our own city and state and become better acquainted with the unique features that have been waiting for us since our arrival here 27 years ago.  Weekend vacations that help us carve out the time to just us and open our eyes to the state made for Lovers.

The Pink Party

A friend is the one who comes in when the whole world has gone out.  Grace Pulpit

I have a sweet friend who gave me a book, a couple of years ago, that has propelled me to write whenever I can.  It inspires and encourages me....much like the giver of said book.  From the pages of like is a verb by Patti Digh, a chapter called "Choose your seatmates wisely" reminded me to look around and be thankful that I have chosen well.

By profession I am a hair stylist.  But one of my favorite places to be is behind a camera ~ looking through a tiny viewfinder. 

A friend recently asked me to consider coming to a Pink Party and taking pictures. She explained that this party was for her friend who had melanoma that had returned in another area of the body and that radiation and chemotherapy would begin soon.  Girlfriends decided to surprise her with a Pink Party and the gifts would be ones of comfort and help during her time in treatment.

I was honored to be asked and I could hardly say no! 

These women that our guest has developed friendships with over the years brought delicious food, awesome adult beverages and an abundance of hugs.  The guest of honor came with her 11 year old daughter, who understands that her mother has cancer, but not the severity of it.  She is the echo of her mothers looks.  As she stood in the midst of these women, she was surrounded by love. The friends wanted to blanket this young and innocent child with the same kind of comfort they were extending to her mom.  She received a huge basket of goodies that brought a giggle and a smile to her sweet face.

The courageous woman was seated within the bubble of genuine love her friends created.  Her own mother was there, near her daughter and a presence of the most unconditional love in the room.  Our battle friend opened gift after gift.  Pink nail polish, pink pajamas, soft luxourious pink towels to rise off with and a scrumptious pink blanket that looked like a cloud and smelled like heaven.  There were slippers and scarves, puzzle books and a Nook for more books.  Redeemable coupons that had meals and massages, funny quotes to make you smile, and the promise of a pajama party.

But in the end, the Pink Party of friends bearing gifts of comfort was not about the party at all. 

Or the gifts.

Or the food.

It was about the fact that our brave fighter has spent years choosing her seat mates wisely.  These were women who showed up for the beginning of the battle.  Who voluntarily linked their arms with hers to show her she is not alone ~

Not now.

Not at 3 am when the drugs running through her body wake her with nightmares or sweating. 

These seatmates are here for the duration.

I finished taking pictures that day.

With my last look through the viewfinder I

captured a hugging, crying knot of women.

Surrounding one woman.

Their focus on her.

If love and friends can change something,

then this woman is being transformed.

Winter

Twenty seven years ago I moved to Virginia with my husband and 3.5 children.  One would be born soon after our arrival...she traveled in comfort on our trip.  We had an opportunity to leave Mobile, Alabama to make a better life for ourselves.  At the time it meant more money.....an opportunity to be closer to my family (although it meant leaving my husband's family)....but it also meant moving to a climate with more than two seasons.  The summers in Mobile could be unbearable.  The winters were mild, but calling the season winter was a challenge. 

This winter, here in Virginia, feels the same.  I haven't had to put any short sleeve shirts away.  In fact, I just pulled a pair of capri's out of the dryer that I wore this past weekend.  Yes, it's been that warm.  I'm not saying I want so much snow I can't get out of my house, but I am missing the bite of winter.  The frost around the edges of things and the knowledge that alot of mosquito eggs have died a cold death.

I don't know how much I believe about global warming, but I know that our Virginia warm up is a bit of a let down this year.  Anyone know who I might talk to about a snowy landscape showing up before March?

I'M BACK!!

It has been 42 days since my last post. 
That's a long time.
It has felt like a long time.
The two weeks after the last post I couldn't gather enough coherent words together to make a post.  I couldn't even speak an entire stream of words without losing my breath.
Then I had the procedure.
That was difficult enough.  Apparently I didn't hear all the fine details that encompassed the ablation.  Nor did I get the full picture of what life was going to be like afterward.  I
That really does make a difference.
The first few days after coming home from the hospital, I took it easy.  It was Christmas and I was surrounded by family who encouraged naps....who cooked food....who loved me through touch.  I had friends and clients who dropped by with unsolicited food.....delicious soups, breads, and treats. 
I was loved.
But all the high expectations I was led to believe would happen, did not.
In fact, I was unprepared for a racing heart rate of 175 when I took the sheets off the bed.
I was not prepared to expect the inability to participate in the mundane activities of life with a side order of falling to the floor unexpectedly....so dizzy I couldn't make heads or tails of which way was up.
Stairs became my enemy and the biggest challenge of my days.  Before I went to work in the morning I made sure I had everything I needed from the top floor before I went downstairs.
I had really given up hope of returning to any type of exercise. 
Normally, I wouldn't be that upset.
Except that my body told my no.
And I don't like being told no.
By anyone.
Even myself.
So I have struggled.  I have cried.  I have talked to my heart and encouraged it to be strong.  To respond to the changes that they made during the procedure.  To build scar tissue along the lines where they cauterized.
And today....I felt it.
The difference.
The green light.
Strength.
I had noticed a few instances this week where I did something physical without thinking and didn't pay a heart thumping price for it.
The stairs had gradually not become the dreaded challenge they have been.
So today, I donned my tennis shoes.  Threw on my sweats.  Leashed the dog.  And took off down the street.
And I walked it....and the two cul de sacs....twice. 
At a clip.
Sweating.
Out of breath.
And when I took my heart rate at the top of the hill the second time....
It.
Was.
Perfect!
Inspired I came back and did dips on the front stairs.  Modified push ups on the front stairs.
Then I ran up the inside stairs and made breakfast.
I wasn't dizzy.
I wasn't out breath.
I WAS BACK!

When two hearts shall beat as one.

It has been such a long since I posted anything here. My last words were about the way my body was handling the drugs I had been placed on and I am now at the end of taking them. All in preparation for the cardiac ablation I will have next Wednesday.  The alarm that has been set at 12 hour intervals will be turned off and I no longer have to be reminded that I need meds to keep me going.  

My life has looked a little different on the outside since August 17th and my mental view of things changed quite a bit.  I have had to relinquish control that I really never had....over big and minor things.  I have thought twice about doing some of the simplest physical tasks and have had to learn new ways of getting things done. 

My work as a hairstylist has continued and I think it has been a good constant for me.  A focus during each day.  People needed their hair done.....I love my work.....I love that it helps pay the bills and I love people and the life they bring to me.  So I continued my schedule...sometimes to my detriment.  As I finish off my last week behind the chair with 10 hour days and no days off, I look forward to the procedure.  If nothing else, I get some uninterrupted time with my sweet man and some rest.  I have been told that I can go back to work the following week.....with less hours.....but back to work nonetheless.  What a miracle.  In my heart, literally, one week.  And back to work the next.

During this time, family and friends have shown so much love through written notes and prayers.  Through small gifts and lots of hugs.  One friend brought me an angel by Kelly Rae Roberts.  It says be brave.  It hangs right where I can see it.  And when the heart stuff breaks through the meds and my chest feels tight and uncomfortable or I get dizzy....I check out my angel and wait for the peace that comes.

Another dear friend stopped by one day to drop off an encouraging note...complete with Cd's.  One part of her note moved me to to tears and I have read it several times.  Because this condition that I have seems to be handed down from generation to generation, one particular part of her "vision" about a "root from an old distant tree" has changed the way I have prayed for me and for my children and my children's children.

She writes -  "Debbie ~ As I was praying for you, and listening to Jonathan David Helser, God unfolded the following vision and word.  I pray you "see" it too!

I heard the music stirring my heart, and saw a little girl giggling with golden curls,

swirling and dancing in an open field.  The music lifted her feet and joy enveloped her being.

She was totally lost in the moment, unaware that someone was watching over her.

Suddenly she was tripped by a root from an old distant tree.

Tears streamed, and she instinctively looked up and raised her arms for help.

I saw the Lord reach down, lovingly, like any good daddy, and as He did,

she sunk into His arms.

Next, I saw the Lord reach into her heart, and He just  held it.

It was beating wildly, and as soon as His fingers brushed by it -

it burst into a vibrant Horn of Plenty.  Fresh, delicious colorful fruit poured out! 

Oh! It could not be contained.  He began singing "It is good!" 

As the words fell from His lips -

it was as if liquid love, like honey, ran down the golden curls to her bare feet.

As it covered her feet, she began dancing and singing

"it is good, it is good".

Non-stop.  Just can't stop.

He is your Abba, daddy, and He's holding your heart.

And it is good, dear Debbie!

So I walk into a weekend with no medications to still my wildly beating heart and trust that the very One who made it holds every beat in His hands.



It's not just a song.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oU_rqm7WPPI

I am now 5 weeks out of the hospital and 5 weeks on meds for this crazy heart arrhythmia.
I am grateful.
I am alive.
I am dizzy.
Everyday starts off fine.  Like a normal day used to start. 
Eyes open.
Covers back.
Feet hit the floor.
Punch the coffee button (now for 1/2 caff.....fully leaded sends me over the edge)
Then breakfast....which has to be eaten so I can take my meds. 
Then within the hour....I am dizzy.
Lightheaded.
High.....but not the kind I remember from my teenage years.
And if being dizzy and lightheaded weren't enough, add exhaustion.  The kind that isn't normal.
The kind that doesn't come from a hard days work.
Or from exercising.
This exhaustion is draining.
It's also ridiculous.
I mean....I used to have to get into "princess mode" to take a nap.
I had to be on my left side, with the covers up to my chin...just right.
The fan on.
The room darkened.
Now, I'm lucky if I make it off my face so as not to smother myself. 
Then I wake up.  Drool covered and my face marked with indentations from whatever I fell asleep on.

Exercise is out of the question. 
It brings on skipped beats and more light headedness.

Yes, I am grateful they caught this thing and that it can be treated.
I am looking forward to the day the atrial ablation can be done and I can move forward in life to no meds and no skipped beats.
I am also believing that the only dizziness I will experience in the future is from spinning on a dance floor.
And the only skipped beats come when I see my husband walk into the room.