It’s not everyday or even every person that gets to face their own inner strength so early in life, in such a rare, raw way. The last 2 years have been a blur with intermittent moments of memories… Â most of which are ones that when they resurface like visions in a hangover, I shove them down even deeper, in hopes they will never become actual permanent residents in my imaginarium timeline. Â That is until a week ago, when time that was speeding – I wanted to slow down and the time that was slow – I wanted to hold onto every single second as though it would be the last. Funny how quickly things change.
I know the upcoming year will produce more challenges I never thought I’d have to face, not just for me, but my family as well. But I also know that it will hold many moments I will be completely aware and coherent for. Moments I can close my eyes and flip through like an album. Memories that will now be ones I wouldn’t trade for anything. I feel like every time I come to terms with the latest earthquake that shook my family, and we begin to find fresh, stable dirt…. Here’s comes another one to try to blow us over, drown us, or separate us. This one, like the last one, will make us stronger, I know it already has me. I’m getting the opportunity to recognize my own weakness and strength through the tests of our bonds as a family, as well as begin to recognize depth in qualities I had taken for granted. I’ve also learned that my family doesn’t just mean those I share genetic markers with. My family extends so far beyond that.
Thank you to everyone that was with me while I climbed my mountain in October. Thank you to all of you that were there when I got to the top and celebrated with/for me. And thank you to everyone that has been there for the beginning of this one. It’s a rather large elephant, but he doesn’t taste bad, and I’m hungry. So while we eat him, one bite at a time… A special thanks to all of you that will be there with barf buckets in case we eat too much, anti-acids for when we get to the really tough parts, blankets, pillows, towels and flashlights, so we can keep eating him, even through the nights, and some salt and pepper so when we just can’t stand one more bite… you all have been incredible, through this elephant and the last ones, and over the mountain and future ones. I don’t know how I/we could have made it this far, without each of you. We will eat this elephant, and if I have to do it while climbing a mountain, then so be it.
But watch out, when we get to the other side and the elephant is gone… It’s going to be a party like you’ve never seen.