Long Summer

It's been a long summer already at our house. I know I haven't been posting regularly lately; I've been too busy living. But I am taking time now to sit back, ponder, relax, regroup, turn over some new leaves and forge ahead. What on earth am I talking about, you ask?

I live in the country. Not the country like Ree. But the country where you can still call your neighbor and borrow a cup of sugar. The country where you see your neighbor out planting flowers and you go over and help. The country where you see lots of cars parked in the driveway nextdoor and you call to see (a) if there is a party or (b) who died. When we bought our house seven years ago, God told us from the beginning that we were where we were supposed to be. Too many chips had to fall in place for us to be in this particular house. And once I got to know our neighbors, I am so glad we followed His lead.

We don't live in a subdivision; we have a small circle of houses of retired couples living around us so I never have to worry about our house being burglarized (Hear that, Mr. Big Bad Robber - our neighbors are always watching you...). And then H World Adventures lives across the street. I wouldn't take anything for my neighbors.

Our comfy little circle 'o friends was rocked to its core this week. Our dear, sweet Fibo went to her reward with the angels. She was diagnosed back in November with a very rare form of cancer. She had radiation throughout the winter, and was declared cancer free in February. We celebrated with her. Our celebration was short-lived when it returned in March. This time, the doctors decided it would be best to attack it with chemotherapy. We did what we knew to do. We cooked for her, threw her a "hat party" so she would have plenty of hats to wear with her various outfits. We went and sat with her and kept her company. We rallied when we needed to rally.

Being a teacher, I was extremely anxious for summer to get here. Not because I didn't have to go to work, but because I could go over and sit with Fibo. She was going to help me make another quilt because that's who she was...always quilting or painting. Since she was too weak to quilt, she was going to help me. It was going to be green and we already had the pattern picked out. Then when we finished that, we were going to make my Christmas tree skirt I've been going to make for three years. She was going to sit in the bed and tell me what I needed to do. I couldn't wait to get started.

Those plans have been put indefinitely on hold. I was able to spend some quality days with her at the beginning of June, then the girls and I had to go to West Virginia to attend my cousin's funeral. The cousin who was more like a grandmother than a cousin (another post for another day). Then we went on vacation. While we were on vacation, Fibo went into the hospital. She never came home.

Our neighborhood is sad. Our road is sad. I am sad. I know she's in a better place; I know she's not in pain anymore; I know everything happens for a reason. The rational side of me knows all of that. But the human side is broken. The picture is of Fibo and Oldest Child before the prom. This summer I am learning to do for others, to not put off tomorrow what I can do today, to take life by the horns. RIP, Fibo; you will be sorely missed.