Sunday 5 October 2014

Re-Entry

When one re-enters life after family death or divorce, one can crash and burn. Or one can float gently into the arms of Mother Earth, and that is how I wanted to come back after recovering from cancer. But even parachuting in, there can be an unscheduled landing on bystanders, who become casualties.


It is now three years since the bone marrow transplant that enabled stem cells from my donor to banish my lymphoma. I have gratefully returned to work in my family practice and community, and I have resumed most of the sports and activities of my former life.

I had promised myself a longer trip to Greece this year,  and I went for the month of August. After joining up with family I immersed myself in the golden light and honey taste that is Greece.
I was able to affirm life and love by connecting with my parents, my sister and her kids,  and extended family and friends.
I also spent time with my own kids, who are preparing for entry into a world without the familiarity of home and university.
Re-entry from cancer therapy is fraught with pitfalls, unexpected challenges. I came back to changed relationships and professional obligations and a temporary dip in my health. The landscape had  shifted while I was gone, and it jolted me out of my siesta and into a new focus. And that's okay.  One just needs to make space.

Though I've flown 
One hundred thousand miles,
I'm feeling very still,
 My spaceship knows which way to go.
Our commander comes back down to Earth,
and knows.

(Thanks to David Bowie, Commander Chris Hadfield, and Beth Johnson
view video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=poZCINzxzrQ)