Filling in the Gaps (The year without journals)

From December 23 2006 until August 5 2008, I let my journaling slide to a halt. Other things seemed to take precedence. My involvement with my job teaching learning disabled students, looking after Marilyn at home, and playing on weekends in one of our church worship bands seemed to take up so much time I simply let the journaling process die.

Now that I look back on this I realize that journaling is often a way to relieve the stress of the moment as I reflect on past events and look forward to the future. Let me in a few paragraphs fill in a few of the blank spots and perhaps bring some continuity and cohesiveness to this ongoing saga we now refer to as my personal blog. Interestingly enough, as a computer savvy and very technically minded individual, you would think that I would be one of the first to jump at the latest internet buzz - start up blogging and splash my mug on a facebook profile for the world to see. Not so! Marilyn on the other hand has been chatting, texting, and facebooking since time began. For her, it all began when well over 10 years ago I discovered IRC chat rooms during our weekly boring staff meetings. I would sit behind a computer in our school library and try to look interested in the goings on of our school life while all the while texting Marilyn who was sitting behind her computer in our basement office. As I couldn’t keep up this crazy charade indefinitely, and because my multitasking abilities are at best rated in the poor or below average level, this phase of my life soon faded. On the other hand Marilyn could carry on up to 5 different conversations with people in 5 different countries, talk on the phone, clean the house and prepare dinner without missing a beat. On one occasion I watched in awe as Marilyn kept a kids summer camp office under control while 2 mischievous young counselors tried in vain to distract her. Unknown to them before they left to continue their bothersome behavior at someone else’s expense, Marilyn had decorated their backs with notes and colored their hair with bright neon colored highlights. Over the years Marilyn’s love for people and expertise in the computer Internet world has gained her many lasting friendships with many all over the globe. Our travels in recent years have brought us face to face with many of these cyber friends. Friends who have stayed close by our side, as we have traveled through these very dark days.

During the spring of 2006 the prayers of Marilyn’s internet friends and the prayers offered by family and friends here in Calgary mingled before God. What was once a death sentence turned into a period of healing and remission and ever so slowly strength began to return to Marilyn. A renewed sense of joy enveloped our home, as Marilyn was once again able to visit with friends and share her love over the Internet channels. She even found the strength to help with caring for the house and yard. I was ecstatic to think of having her back again. Travel was once again on the agenda and we were able to visit my sister in NY during the summer as well as accompany our children back to some our favorite vacation haunts in Southern California. While on this last trip to Palm Springs this Christmas 2007, Marilyn began to once again feel the sharp pangs of pain in her back and hip. Our oncologist and family doctor concurred that the tumor from which all of Marilyn’s problems stemmed was shifting around pressing on her nerves differently than before. A scan in Early May of this year seemed to agree with this theory. Because Marilyn’s cancer looked stable we took the doctors recommendation to plan a return visit during August of this year so we began to excitedly plan for a week of R&R on the beach.

Unfortunately, just days before the Plane was to whisk us away to sunny California Marilyn’s pain began to spiral out of control. Marilyn was certain that this would soon pass and we would be able to enjoy our vacation. Just to make sure we had a private consultation with God, asking for a definite sign as to whether or not we should continue on with our plans. Two days before takeoff we received our answer – in the form of uncontrollable pain. A frantic call to the doctor confirmed our decision and once again Marilyn was off to the emergency room. This time however, in the back of our van instead of heavily drugged and in an ambulance.. The rest of the story can be found in the blog entries here on this website.