Running mundane errands this morning

Ok so I woke up today on a Friday morning and realized I had the day off…First win of the day! Then, I realized that I was going to get to go to the fruit and veggie market and the grocery store..by MYSELF…driving my OWN CAR! Whaaaat? You are probably asking yourself….so, what’s the big deal? Well, the big deal is that something like that has not happened in like 8 months. 8 months of hospital prison, chemo, stem cell craziness, sepsis, isolation and just trying to make it out alive! This realization hit me like a kind of freight train out of nowhere, but in a good way. I was overcome with the sense of freedom and joy. I could not wait to carry out my little mundane tasks like a regular mom and wife with no risks or fears.

I practically trotted out to my car and literally patted her like we hadn’t seen each other in a long time. I jumped in and buckled my seat belt and blasted the AC DC and the Led Zeppelin with my McDonalds fountain coke in hand and jammed it out all the way to the fruit and veggie market. I was actually the first in line as the doors open. Of course, I was still careful and had my hand sanitizer in hand and my mask on, but I didn’t care! I was actually out by myself and got there without having to get a ride from someone. The fruit and veggie mart was cold like walking into a refrigerator. Lots of people were complaining. Not me! I can’t remember the last time I was cold and not just overheating. My little bald self was bouncin around that market like I had never been there. I even found myself humming a little tune. I think I amused the check out lady because she commented,” Having a good day are we?” I said ” We certainly are! I haven’t been out by myself in a very long time. I am super grateful.” I think I made her day, especially since everyone around me was complaining about the cold.

On the way home and to my next stop at the grocery store, I actually got misty eyed because I was so happy. I just couldn’t believe my good fortune at being able to do something this basic and simple. It’s amazing how much you forget enjoying the basics when you don’t get to do them for a long time. Well, on that overly happy sappy note, I bid all of you a wonderful day. Keep being grateful for what you have. Realize how good life can be before it slips away from you.

Dr. Katz

“Life is too short, so live your life to the fullest….every second of your life just treasure it..” William Shakespeare

Shakespeare had the right idea a long time ago. I think that we have just forgotten it lately. There have been songs and poems written by many about the utter preciousness of life, and yet we still complain bitterly, we forget to notice what we do have, and we have forgotten how to recognize the good.

This also begs the question: Is it really a matter of life being too short, or is it a matter of wasting the time that we have? Seneca once wrote that “it is not that we have a short time to live, but that we waste a lot of it. Life is long enough and a sufficiently generous amount has been given to us for the highest achievement if it were all well invested.” He also goes on to say that most of us don’t even realize that life is passing us by as we are distracted by greed, poor living, etc and that it is only when death is knocking at our door that we finally “get it,” but then it is too late.

The bottom line is that it is up to us to savor live