Once Upon a Time . . .

yes even I have a "once upon a time" ...not what you think but still...

I had a friend that when I decided to move out of Minnesota to Red Lodge, Montana, she told me I should not go I would regret it.  I still made the move.  Why wouldn't I?  How could I stay there in Minnesota?  My children were grown.  I was well over 50 and had always loved to travel and live in other places.  I moved to Minnesota in the 70s.  Had already lived in Wisconsin.  I so have the heart, the soul and the spirit of a gypsy.  Adventure is good for the soul.  Expands our boundaries and gives us courage to encounter the unknown.

I never regretted moving to Montana.  The altitude was too high for me.  That friend...well she never wrote to me during the 18 months I lived there.  I stayed back in Minnesota for a few months and then decided I wanted to live somewhere else.  Hmmm the east coast seemed to whisper to me...

My choice was North Carolina!  Funny how things work out.  I was in the right place at the right time it would seem.  I had written that friend as I knew her brother had lived in North Carolina.  And found out he had a rare form of cancer and died here.  I was about to leave Hendersonville when I had a swollen right side of my neck.  Thinking it was tonsils I went to the doctor.  Nope it was lymphoma!  Another year before I could leave.  I shared my news with that same friend.  Assured her that we caught it early early and I was NOT going to die.  Again she withdrew from me.  BUT I was in the right place at the right time for this to happen.  I found an amazing oncologist who took me thru that journey to a positive result.

There is more to this story.  All I shall say is that when people show who they are . . . believe them.  And, altho she and I did reconnect when it mattered...again she showed me who she was.  I extended my hand when we were in Minnesota in October but to no avail.  Sadly the chapter is finally closed.

The world is a big wonderful place IF we are willing to step outside of our comfort zones.  I was willing and embraced my experiences both the good and the bad and everything in between.  I will not put myself in a "pity party" and prefer to engage with life.

AND, look where I am now....married to my truly amazing Mr B and living in Canada.....


You are in the Studio with Mrs. B