These one THOUSAND paper cranes... painstakingly folded... one at a time... belong to my BFF who has Stage Four Cancer. Another of her friends made them for her and sent them in a beautiful bowl (she keeps it on her family room table) to lift her spirits and give hope for healing for her.
I don't think they "bring good luck" as the Japanese tradition says, but I do know that she cherishes them and loves what they represent: that some people care about her enough to fold one THOUSAND paper cranes, just for her.
I got tired from just SORTING them into color groups! Ha! ... I can't IMAGINE folding all of them.
One thousand is much more than I thought it was. *grin*
I'm thinking some will complain about the scissors. I tried it without them and ... the scale was lost.
I like them anyway... even if they're not used in folding paper cranes.
If you have a moment, will you please pray for my friend? Pray for her healing and her salvation... if you're into that sort of thing. Thanks!! (I am.)
She'll be on chemotherapy for as long as she is on this Earth.
She's a tough one! And... you'll never find a person who is more kind than she... or who has a more positive outlook than she.
She loaned me her precious 1,000 paper cranes... quite generously and without reserve.
I just found out that Mary Anne's future here on Earth is not as long as we had hoped.
I am ... beyond... feeling at present.
[Feb. 25th, 2014 12:26:43 AM]
So... here's a question for YOU, friend who is looking at my comments after the challenge.
If you knew that you had less than two years... less than 730 DAYS... to live here on Earth...
What would YOU do?
Would you thank your mother? Wpuld you go to her and tell her everything you tell your therapist about her?
Would you finally go slap that person that's bothered you for years at work?
Or would you go ask that person at work what is it about you that rubs them the wrong way?
Would you want to know about you? About how you affect the world... or at least YOUR world?
Would you take up sky diving? Would you expand your photography world? Expand your relationship world? Or... close in and focus on a few things? Close in and focus on a few people whom you love and don't tell.
Would you go sit by a creek and listen... REALLY LISTEN... to it pass by you?
WHAT would you do?
It's time now to do it.
Now.
It's time.
Do it.
It may be today that you're told you now have less than 730 days here to live.
Oh! You've used up three minutes of that time already. Was it worth it??
Make your time count.
EDIT 9-1-14: Mary Anne's body died this morning. My heart physically hurts.
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Place: 3 out of 76 Avg (all users): 6.7823 Avg (commenters): 8.8000 Avg (participants): 6.5333 Avg (non-participants): 6.9241 Views since voting: 3302 Views during voting: 244 Votes: 124 Comments: 30 Favorites: 0
Beautiful entry, Lydia, and as Marion said, very touching notes. I am so very sorry that your friend is going through this. But I know that in many ways, it is also a blessing - a statement that anyone who has NOT gone through it will find bewildering. Tell her that a "sister" sends her love and strength, and understands.
Lydia, I love your entry. Congrats on the ribbon. Your notes are very touching. My thoughts are with your friend in her battle and her loved ones, including you.
So why there is still no cure for cancer?? So that the pharmaceutical companies can keep on making money on chemotherapy!?? Sorry but this situation could be made much better if the mighty $ did not run healthcare. Hang on Mary Anne, doctors are wrong quite often. One has to have hope!
Nice tribute, Lydia. I hope something can be done. Never lose hope.
prayers for your friend, Lydia.. and just as an anecdote of hope... when my friend Peter was dying this past fall, he was visited by friends of his, the wife of the couple had been diagnosed about 5 years ago w stage 4 breast ca w lytic bone mets.. prognosis grim. She is currently still alive and well, and the lesions have healed. So, not sure if this is science, miracle or a bit of both, but there is hope.
Sadly, my friend Peter didnt make it.. he died very quickly after diagnosis, of a different kind of cancer.
I hope your friend, however long she has on this earth is able to make the most of her time, however she chooses.
XOXOXOXO
Anni
oh, I forgot to add.. nicely done taking 3rd place!! congrats!
Congratulations on the yellow ribbon. It's a beautiful tribute to Mary Anne. I wish both she and you gentle peace and strength as you walk the paths you have found yourselves embarked upon.
Yes, prayers are on the way. My BFF passed the same way and it leaves void. Cherish every moment. This is a great tribute and a lovely image. Thank you for sharing.
And what you wrote is so inspiring. I do live everyday of my life like it was my last, every conversation I have with my fiancee, I have it as if it were my last and and my son... nothing is more important than taking in every single moment I have with him.
I like how you say 'really listen', that's something I've been telling people lately, to stop and really take in the sights and sounds, not just to be there but to BE THERE.
Like you are there for your friend. :)
Congrats and I wish courage and happiness to you and your friend in this difficult period.
First of all congrats on the Yellow. An amazing beautiful and colourful image.
As for your friend, really sorry to hear this. I don't believe in praying anymore but I really hope that the time she still has left may be blessed with love and friendship!
And for me, ever since my best friend died on the age of 36, I lived my life as if it could end any day. Enjoy life whenever you can is my life's motto.
Good question about what would you do with 2 years left - for me I wouldn't change a thing, except to try harder to spend more time with family and friends (which I already do). This because I try to live every day as if it is my last or one of my last. (Oh, there is one thing - I would pray more). I write this because often one will read the "what would you do if you had x years left" thing, but the truth is I am living pretty much like that and it is definitely possible. Just do it!
The movie About Time also has this message and puts it well into perspective.
Oh, congrats on the ribbon! It's a beautiful image. :)
1,000 Paper Cranes for Mary Anne
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