Freda Mooncotch member for 1 year 50 weeks Send a message

It is only Wednesday and already I feel like the week has completely gotten away from me. Last night we were summoned by Mom for an emergency and necessary run to the hospital to see Gram. Apparently, Gram went into the doctor to treat her pneumonia and ended up being admitted for emergency surgery due to a tumor on her lung. The tumor was cancer and the doctors weren't sure if Gram would survive the surgery because of her age. Gram is going to be 87 on December 6th.

So we all gathered at Mom and Dad's place and headed over to the hospital. Well, we found Gram in good spirits. She was craking jokes, laughing, reminiscing over old stories, and she looked fantastic. Gram is one of the original Alpha Women. She worked her entire life and only retired because Marshall Field's made her when they turned over to Macy's. She worked almost full-time up 'til she was 84! Gram has always been an incredibly independent, strong-willed, strong-minded woman and has left her mark on all of us girls, too.

She wasn't the typical grandma who grew old on the porch in a rocking chair. She was out there living life. Gram is a feisty gal and even at 87 still doesn't tolerate much of anything from anyone. She is sharp as a tack and clear as summer day. Did I mention her name is Freda too? I was named after both of my grandmas: Freda and Mary.

Last night on my long drive home this song came on by David Gray, "Please Forgive Me." It occurred to me that in my pursuit to succeed and need to be successful, my life is passing me by at warp speed and it is in moments such as these when you step back and realize all the times you say, "I will get to it tomorrow." Tomorrow does come, but many times it comes at a price...like a call that we might be saying our last goodbye to someone we love. Last night I wished I had spent more time with my grandma. Then I thought about my dad. My dad is 84. You just don't ever want to think that your parents will die someday. Granted, all my relatives have lived into their hundreds: healthy, independent and vibrant, you just don't know when the good Lord will call them home.

I think the older or more mature I become the more I realize that the clock seems to be ticking a lot faster and I have to force myself to take the time to nurture those relationships that are so important. To slow down and look around. I can't remember the last time I really enjoyed a beautiful day. I did today. I took my time today. It was gorgeous out. I drove around and just relished the moment of today. I thought about all the things I am grateful for, both big and small. All the people who have touched my life. All the people who make my life so much better because they are in it.

Since I have been removing all the "unnecessary extras" in my life, I am a lot less stressed. As a result, I am more tuned into the people around me, instead of being wrapped up in my problems. Today I had a talk with a friend and told her to stop beating herself up. I don't even think she realized it until I pointed out to her the way she constantly puts herself down. Her expectations of herself are outrageous. She is fabulous. Absolutely fabulous. I had to remind her several times today how absolutely fabulous I thought she was!

Do you tell people how you feel about them or do you withhold your feelings? Are your expectations so high that you forget to tell people what really matters? Do you punish people by holding back good things and only focusing on the bad? Oh, it's easy to do.

I think it is sad that we don't spend more time building people up...especially the people we love. In the era of reality TV, where anything goes and being brutal is not only tolerated but expected, we have failed to realize that we destroy people in a moment; we have accepted this as normal.

Gram and Mom haven't talked in a while because gram is, well, stubborn and often very controlling, which has made people keep their distance. All I can say is that last night Gram was thrilled that we put our differences aside to brave a cold winter's night to come out and support her before she went into surgery.

This got me to thinking...when we are in our most fragile moments, on a hospital bed...who will come out to see you? Who will sit by your side and hold your hand? Lately this has been on my mind..What is important in life? What truly matters? I am discovering those answers and have to run because I am going to hang out with my mom and pop and Zach, my son. We have been planning on getting my dad's life on video for sometime now and keep putting it off. I want the world to meet my folks. Especially my 84 year old dad. The man is full of so much wisdom, so much charisma, and compassion.

When Gram gets better, I am putting her on camera, too! Now what are you doing?