The Long Weekend

Hey there cyberworld! How's life treating you? I hope you're out there, living and loving life.

This will be my second attempt of the day in trying to write a blog post. My first one was full of confusing tangents and unclear lines of thought - blah! So goodbye (well, 'save') crappy post, hello fresh new post.

Today is a public holiday (Happy Australia Day!) so happily I am sat on the couch with my laptop propped up on (well, where else) my lap. I've just been doing a swag of blog reading and was thus inspired to post one of my own. Look at me being all not totally lax in updating my blog!

I've been thinking about the past few days while considering a topic for my post. I've had a really great four-day weekend which has been totally lovely for the most part, but also given me some moments of genuine sadness. I spent Sunday with my dear friend Nicci, who has leukaemia and has just been diagnosed as having a few weeks left to live. It was wonderful to spend the time with her, and when we got the chance to be alone, we could talk and laugh and share in a way I cherish now and will be very grateful for when she is gone.

Having lost my friend Penny in August last year, it has been a strange experience to be saying goodbye to another dear friend. In some ways, losing Penny has prepared me for saying goodbye to Nicci, but as with both of these women (who never knew each) each relationship I have with them and their illnesses has been completely individual.

Penny never spoke about her diagnosis, and was so ill that it didn't seem certain that she was even aware of what was happening. Instead, we all just spent as much time having fun with Penny as possible in the last couple of weeks and could ultimately draw comfort from sharing those experiences together.

Nicci and I have always had a special ability to get right down to the heart of the matter, and to show each other how special we are to each other. I'm very grateful that our time together on Saturday was no different.

The other days this long weekend have actually been great and I feel like I've made some amazing connections with my loved-est of loved ones. For example, my mum and I have shared some fantastic conversations in which she has allowed me to bounce around ideas about decisions and some huge inroads I've been making in terms of my life. I feel re-energised by these interactions and even in the face of some real sadness, excited about the future. Which is brilliant.

This post has been difficult to write, not so much due to my personal feelings but rather in wondering whether to even write it at all. It is a strange prospect to send these thoughts out into the world. I can be a tad private at times so the prospect of 'hitting' publish is a bit daunting. But I know I will, and I thank anyone who takes the time to read this.

Stay cool.

Cheers
Tracy