Bittersweet & Blessings....

Today we return to the routine. The oldest is ensconced in his apartment an hour and a half from here, dropped off on Saturday, ready to return to classes on the 14th. Youngest is off to school until 12:45, greeting old teachers, meeting a new one. He's mingling with friends he hasn't seen all summer and looking down on all those grade 9 "babies". I've seen some of them..they are mighty tiny, especially compared to the 6'3" of my grade 12 son. And me? I woke early, prepared myself for the day, dropping youngest at school before heading to the library. Stopped at Starbucks and because I am giving up sugar, opted for my usual decaf Americano when my heart was begging me for a pumpkin spice latte.

It's a dull day, overcast and cloudy. Possibly some rain in the offing. It seems a fitting type of day where change is in the air. The feelings are bittersweet.

Feeling a little "blah" and a trifle down, I pulled into my driveway and saw a white envelope poking out from the mailbox. This is what greeted me when I opened the envelope...


This beautiful butterfly necklace is from my dear friend and breast soul sister Sara, who lives in Wales.

It seems that breast cancer has a passport which it uses as it pleases. It never has to stop at customs, it never goes through the metal detector and it breezes into any country whenever it feels like it. This is one terrorist that never, ever, is stopped at the border and sent back to whence it originated.

This is how I met Sara. From her blog aptly titled, "Cancer Ain't Gonna Beat Me". We've talked and shared our concerns and experiences. Having walked this road ahead of Sara, I have the flashlight that I shine behind me so she can see the steps and I'm here if she needs a hand to get over a bump. It has been one of the joys of breast cancer -- that I can offer my experience to those who sadly have had to follow me on this trail.

Sara knows the importance of butterflies in my life. She saw this necklace, thought of me and sent it winging it's way from Wales to Canada, as a thank you for all the support and friendship I have shown her. I can't even begin to tell you how much this means to me ... but I'll do this. I'll share a photograph of myself, wearing the necklace. Taken this morning with no one home to hold the camera...I did this myself...me, without make up. This is the 'real' me, sharing my joy at receiving such a gift.

Thank ♥ you Sara...you warmed my heart!