Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Life is a Gift (And so are Friends!)


Hanging in L's entryway
It's been 11 days since my "Yesterday I fell Off a Cliff" post in which I wrote about hearing tragic news about a friend of a friend that really made me stop and appreciate life.  I was brimming with gratitude and thankfulness for my own healthy and happy life.  I had no idea that 3 days later I would hear the earth shattering news that one of my dearest friends, L, has a brain tumor.  The first thing I did was call our friend A.

I have been friends with L & A for 17 years.  L & A, along with the boys who would become their husbands (and my husband) went to college together.  Since I met them all a few years after college I like to refer to myself as the newcomer in the group.  As three couples together we used to call ourselves "the six pack."  I've joked in posts before that L and her family are the largest collectors of my artwork.  She is a faithful reader of my blog and even commented on my "cliff" post just hours before she found herself being rushed to the hospital.

For an agonizing day all we knew was that L had a tumor but not what kind nor if it was treatable. A came to my house to wait for news and finally we learned that it was "the best kind of tumor you can have."  Operable and benign.  In less than a week L had two surgeries, the tumor was removed and she is now recovering at home.  I summarized it here in two or three short sentences with a happy ending, but for all involved, especially my dear friend L, it was the longest week in our lives. 

Life is a gift, every moment is a gift.  It can change in an instant.  L is the luckiest girl in the world. She had an army of friends and family sending positive thoughts, praying, bringing Red Vines and making sure she was never alone.  She had one of the best neurosurgeons in the country, a brand new state of the art hospital, the most amazing nurses (seriously...they were awesome!)

Hanging in L's dining room
A & I have been addicted to each other, with dozens of daily texts and phone calls, hugs and tears. We spent hours in the hospital with L every day (and night!)  The three of us are forever bonded now in a way we never imagined we would be.  I feel like the luckiest girl in the world, too.  I love my friends and am so fortunate to have them in my life.

Celebrating L's birthday in the hospital. She requested A's famous coconut cake
 
The three of us at a wedding over a decade ago.  Me, A & L.
 
Easter, 2012

 And oh yes, it was Thanksgiving last week!  I know I had A LOT to be thankful for. 
I hope you did, too.

 Sharing this with my friend at Paint Party Friday...because online friends are also a gift!
 
Paint Party Friday
 

27 comments:

  1. that was beautiful and you are all beautiful as well!

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  2. So glad to hear L is doing well. The three of you are very fortunate to have such an incredibly trong friendship!

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    1. that was "strong" not "trong"

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    2. Thanks Maggie, I appreciated your text about the doctor, too...we had heard he was great but hearing it again from you helped!

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  4. Oh Rita! What a week for you! Thinking of you and your two precious friends. What a relief for you all that the surgery was a success and that you had each other through it all to hug and share and comfort together. xx

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  5. Well I felt gratitude before this all happened after your last post, Rita. Even after this challenging week and all I went through I feel tremendous gratitude. Everything went as well as it could have gone. I also know I am the luckiest girl in the world because I was surrounded, supported and loved by my family and very special close friends. This "crazy brain tumor." Love you and know how valuable true friendship and sisterhood is.

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  6. oh, I'm SO sorry to hear about your friend. At the same time, I'm so happy to hear such sweet friendships exist in your life, too. You 3 are beautiful. You're inspiring too, Rita! <3 praying and wishing for all of the best.

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  7. Beautifully said Rita! Grateful, lucky, blessed...so happy to be going through this life with you and L as my dear friends. - A (aka Angela)

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  8. Thank you for sharing your beautiful paintings, story and photos. So special. Happy PPF, Annette x

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  9. Beautiful paintings and beautiful post.
    Yes, life truly is a gift. Thank you for reminding us.
    I'm so glad that you and A and L have each other. :)
    ♥♥♥
    Happy PPF!!
    Mary
    Mixed-Media Map Art

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  10. Very touching story...thanks for sharing! I'm so glad your friend is ok and doing well. Sure does make me want to be more grateful and thankful. Love your art! Happy PPF!

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  11. wow.. so glad she came thru with flying colors. one never knows from one moment to the next what will happen, but with your lovely art work in her house she had to come thru. :) What fun to have the three of you be so close. HPPF You look like Juila Roberts in that last photo. If you are the one on the left.:)

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    1. Gah! That is me on the left...thanks for the kind words, of course I only posted pictures good pictures! :)

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  12. I am so glad that your friend is doing well. Life is truly a gift and when we can share it with good friends and family we are truly blessed. Thank you for sharing your story with us.

    PS Your painting that your friend owns is beautiful. I love how the light shines in it.

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  13. Beautiful paintings. Very happy to hear that L is on the road to recovery. It's great that you have friends to stand by your side like that. You are all very beautiful ladies!

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  14. Your paintings are so beautiful! What a wonderful story of friendship. i'm so glad your friend will be OK.

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  15. Wow, what a week! And what a relief that it turned out okay! So great that you now have a bond that's even stronger because of this. I love your two paintings. they're so beautiful and serene.

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  16. Love the seascape, so peaceful, I am glad L is going to be ok and wish her a sppedy recovery. You are all so lucky to have such a wonderful friendship

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  17. Sorry, I ment to say 'a speedy recovery' :)

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