forever and a day

WOW! It has been forever and a day since I blogged. I haven't been out of town for any significant length of time, nor have I been infirm. I have just been incredibly busy. INCREDIBLY BUSY. Working lots. Socializing lots. Cleaning. Organizing. Laughing, crying, praying, worshipping. You know, the stuff that makes up normal days. The stuff of lovely, lovely days.

I've seen the movie UP twice in the last month. The first time was with my parents. We saw it in 3D. When I called my mother to ask if she wanted to see it in 2D or 3D this is how she responded. Pregnant pause, then, "Well Laura, why would you see a movie in 2D if it's offered in 3D?" How silly of me. The second time I saw it was with the kids at daycamp. I cried both times because it pulled at the heart strings of things that my heart longs for. My favorite line in the whole thing is when Russell is talking about how his dad and him used to sit eating ice cream and counting the blue cars and the red cars. He says, "I know it sounds boring but it's the boring stuff I remember the most."

Over the last month I've also been around a lot of death. I've had a lot of conversations about death and I'm overwhelmed by how different it is each time. (If you're reading this and don't know me, I'm an ICU nurse.) One of the deaths was my patient alone. His family couldn't handle what was happening and I couldn't let him die alone. So I sat at his bedside and held his hand until he took his last breath. The next one was an older Sikh gentleman with a gigantic family. More than 30 people filled the room and I had to navigate my way through all these people to give this man morphine as he needed it. Another death was doing CPR on a young man to keep him 'alive' until his family had a chance to say goodbye. Honestly I could go on and on because it has been a very tragic month.

Then last week my friend Rachel died. (See the previous post). She died at home with her family. I went to the Celebration of her life today and it was amazing. The church was full. Her family was strong. God was glorified and will continue to be. I watched as her husband and children walked out of the church and thought this family has done death exceedingly well. The situation sucks. These kids are young. Her husband didn't know that when he uttered,"'til death do us part'" that it would mean only 10 years in. But they have walked the road and will continue to do so.

I bet Rachel's husband and kids will one day say that it's the boring stuff they remember. The everyday dinner around the table. Stories before bed. The normal stuff. And I think they did the boring stuff so well that eventually they will all be okay. Totally different than planned but absolutely okay.

And if you're reading this and don't get it, please go to www.deathisnotdying.com

death is not dying

A woman I know is dying. She is my age. She is beautiful. She is kind and generous and, from what I know of her, amazing. She is not really my friend but I know her and she knows me. In early March she shared her story in front of hundreds of women and I had the privilege of leading worship that night. The event took place at the River Rock Casino. I led worship at a casino theatre. Rachel talked about Jesus. Those things don't often go together but it happened and it was amazing. The event was called Death is not Dying. Since that night the video of Rachel's talk has circulated the globe and many people have found themselves touched by her story. Since then a website has been launched containing the video and some letters Rachel wrote during her first bout of cancer and a few from her current battle. Go there. Read and listen and allow God to transform you. Death is not Dying.

the power of a friend

On Saturday afternoon I went to see The Soloist. It's a movie about a newspaper reporter, Steve Lopez, and a homeless man, Nathaniel A Ayres. Steve is looking for a story and stumbles upon Nathaniel playing a 2 stringed violin beneath a statue of Ludwig Van Bethoven in LA. As Steve researches Nathaniel's life a much deeper story unravels. A lot happens to both of them over the course of many months. At one point Steve thinks he can't handle his relationship with Nathaniel anymore and a bold person points out, "You CANNOT underestimate the power of being a friend."

I have thought about this quote a lot since Saturday. I have friends in so many stages of life. In so many stages of emotional stability. In many stages of spiritual maturity. But I am BLESSED with many, many friends. It breaks my heart to know there are so many people who walk around day after day without ever having a positive interaction with another human being. What must that be like? How does someone without anybody else get up day after day? They are made of greater stuff than I because I don't think I could do it.

So, if you are my friend, thank you. I love you deeply.

If you are randomly reading this blog and you don't have that deep interaction with another person and you are without any friends, please know that as I have written this, I have prayed for you. I have prayed that God will bless you with friends.

You have been my friend. That in itself is a tremendous thing. I wove my webs for you because I liked you. After all, what’s a life, anyway? We’re born, we live a little while, we die. A spider’s life can’t help being something of a mess, with all this trapping and eating flies. By helping you, perhaps I was trying to lift up my life a trifle. Heaven knows anyone’s life can stand a little of that.

Charlotte, in “Charlotte’s Web”

My father always used to say that when you die, if you've got five real friends, then you've had a great life.

Lee Iacoca

me and my keys

I think I may have to get one of those nerdy hip clips for my keys. ( see previous post titled Elevator April 4). Yesterday evening I went to the big bin outside my apartment building to throw away my old bike tires. I unlock the garbage bin and throw in the tires. I also throw in my keys. Either the dye that keeps my hair so lovely and blonde is beginning to seep into my brain or my keys are hankering for some adventure. I look at my keys in the bottom of the bin and think "well, I guess I could climb in there and get them" but I don't really want to do that. I could ask my friend who is putting the new tires on my bike, who is over 6 feet tall, to come outside and reach into the bin for my keys but he is being very helpful and I don't want to disturb. Then I look up. There at the bin next door is a guy. Dishevelled, a little dirty. Wearing a nice red hoodie. He's picking through the recycling bins and opening whatever lid doesn't have a lock.

"Hey buddy! do you think you could give me a hand?"

"What do you need?"

"Well, I accidentally dropped my keys into this bin."

"Be right there."

He secures his stuff and comes over. I point to my keys. He reaches in, grabs them and hands them to me.

"Thank you so much." I smile.

"You're welcome." He smiles.

It was a lovely interaction. I hope I see him again.

so exciting! and quite funny.

We swept them clean! Not a dust bunny in sight and the Blues are getting ready to golf tomorrow. YES!! Sadly, I was not able to watch the goal that happened in the last 19 seconds of the first OT period 'cause I was in rehearsal for the worship team. It's still exciting to see it, even if it's just highlights!

On a funny note. This is a recent post on Postcards from Yo Momma and it made me laugh out loud:

I had a CT done today of my stomach. I’m sure it was fine but the patient before me was a possum from the zoo. I have to be the only person in the world that had to wait for a possum to go first for a medical test.

I can totally see this happening to my mom.

smooth barista

On my way to work yesterday evening, I stopped at JJ Bean to get an americano. A guy I've met a couple of times was working so I greeted him with his name. He looked at me a little confused so I contextualized how we knew one another and a look of recognition swept over his face. We stood and chatted for a while and he asked where I was going.

"I'm on my way to work actually."

"what do you do?"

"I'm an ICU nurse."

"wow, that's cool. How long have you been a nurse?"

"More years than I care to tell you."

"It can't have been that long."

"Almost 15 actually."

"What? Did you start nursing when you were 14 or something?"

I think I'm in love.

so far so good

My Canuckleheads came through! YES! First period was great, the rest a little boring but they won and that's all that matters. To quote my friends Facebook status, 1 win down, 15 to go.

I keep stumbling upon articles that say the Canucks have a good chance of winning the cup. Let's hope these experts know what they're talking about. Let's hope Luongo can stay healthy and focused. Let's hope that Burrows hasn't exhausted his goal scoring streak in the regular season.

I can't believe I have to work during the next game. So distracting!