Bon Voyage!

We were hoping Mom would have time to blog before we left for our trip, but life has brought a series of very busy days since our return from Atlanta. As Nicole mentioned, Mom, Dad, Danielle, Pete and I are taking an 8 day, 188 mile, motor rafting trip down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon.

This trip is very symbolic and meaningful to me. Last August, I had the opportunity to take this same trip with my Mom. It was the most incredible week! She and I spent nothing but quality time together while getting to know a group of 22 wonderful strangers. We talked constantly about how we needed to come back the next summer and share the experience with our friends and family. To put it lightly, Mom and I fell in love with the Canyon and we both cried on the last day of the trip because we did not want to leave.

Only days following our return Mom mentioned that she had been feeling bloated and made some doctors appointments which she said were her over-due, turning-50, check-ups. It was nearly 5 weeks later when the shoe dropped and our lives were flipped up-side-down.

Our trip down the Canyon last year was our real last opportunity to bask in ignorance bliss. Mom was of course sick then and had been for some time. I just thank God that we had that experience without a care in the world. I thought my biggest problem I would face coming off the river was paying for the parking pass at ASU!

Well, here we are, a 10 months later taking our trip down the river with some of our loved ones (we regret having to go without Nicole, Billie and Billy) and some great friends of our parents. We’ll also miss some others that were planning to go but for one reason or another not able to come.

We booked this trip only three weeks before the diagnosis and were immediately concerned that we would never be able to take it. Mom has been to hell and back since last summer and is taking this trip despite her continuing treatment. Experiences born from ovarian cancer, IP chemo, extensive surgery, hair loss, and facing the prospect of her own mortality, have certainly given Mom a new appreciation of life. I have no doubt she will see the canyon walls a bit differntly.

This year’s trip brings new symbolism for me as well. We are hardly the same people we were last summer. No longer are we ignorant or invincible and life has certainly changed. However, I believe we as a family are stronger and have evolved. Our eyes are open and we recognize that life can be cruel at times but it’s better to be here and live it. It’s so important to enjoy each moment possible and fill our lives with as much love and adventure as we can find – and it’s worth searching for.

Have a wonderful week. We’ll post all the fun pictures when we’re back next weekend.

Love,

Michelle