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Christmas Tree

Bird’s Nest in Christmas Tree: Wordless Wednesday on Tuesday

January 6, 2015 by carol anne Leave a Comment

Bird's Nest in Christmas Tree

Posted in: Photos Tagged: "Bird's Nest", Christmas Tree, Wordless Wednesday

I Put the Christmas Tree Away (thoughts on normalcy & moving forward)

May 10, 2012 by carol anne 2 Comments

Christmas Tree circa 2009

I took the Christmas Tree down yesterday. I know, you’re saying, “You took the Christmas Tree down in May? What were you waiting for?”

Well actually, I normally keep our tree up all year long and decorate it for each season. Unfortunately, for the last 2 years I haven’t felt up to changing the decorations with each season so it has sat there with only its Christmas lights on it looking sad and neglected with half of the lights burned out, but I’d faithfully turn it on every night. In a way it became a security blanket for me. To me it represented normalcy even if it wasn’t what it once quite was.

I took it down yesterday. I talked about taking it down for months but yesterday was the day. I don’t know why yesterday was the day I finally got the gumption to take it down, but it was. The poor tree was covered in dust and filthy. It had sat there for 2 years unattended to but loved so very much. It was my comfort item. In a way I’m sad that it’s gone but then I look around the living room and I love the space it being gone frees up. It feels like letting go.

I suppose I should also tell you that I spent the other part of yesterday making my next round of medical appointments; blood work and 2 MRIs in June, follow-up appointments with the oncologist, neurosurgeon, and plastic surgeon in July. I’m coming toward the end of my 6 weeks of physical therapy and I am feeling good. As I’ve noted in my many late National Photo Month posts I am sleeping through the night, which is incredible. I’ve had epic runs of insomnia over the past 2 years with patches of less than fitful sleep in between. But now I’m sleeping soundly almost 8 hours every night and I feel great.

I’m feeling good. I feel like a fog has lifted, like I’ve come out of a coma or maybe a deep depression. The physical therapy has given me the use of my left arm back. I’m feeling stronger. I wish the doctors had prescribed physical therapy of some sort when I came out of the hospital in October 2010 if only to get me moving. The physical therapy is helping in so many other ways than just fixing my shoulder. I feel like I’m accomplishing something. I have a sense of purpose. I feel like I’m doing something to help make myself better.

1 biopsy, 4 CAT scans, 4 MRIs, 5 surgeries, 6 weeks of physical therapy, and 32 radiation treatments (not in chronological order) later I am starting to feel normal. But then a day like yesterday arises; a day when I vacuum and I do laundry and I take the not-quite-itself Christmas Tree down just hours after making my medical appointments and I wonder what is normal? For the next 2 years I will have to have MRIs every 3 months to check if the cancer has come back. It’s been a little over a month since my last follow-up with the oncologist and I’m feeling good so I have moments, days, weeks even when I can sort of forget and let go of the fear and the anxiety and then there are days like yesterday when I face forward, put my security blanket away and hope for the best.

I put the Christmas Tree away and for now that has to be enough.

Posted in: Major Surgery & the Road to Recovery, Soul Baring Ramblings Tagged: cancer, Cat Scan, Christmas Tree, MRI, normal, physical therapy, radiation treatments, recovery, surgery

Merry Christmas!

December 25, 2010 by carol anne Leave a Comment

Vince Lee’s Reading of Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus

Posted in: Holiday Ramblings, Photos Tagged: bokeh, Christmas, Christmas Lights, Christmas Tree

I’m Dreaming of a … Hot Pink Christmas Tree ???

December 20, 2010 by carol anne 4 Comments

27" Hot Pink Feather Christmas Tree

7' Pretty Pink Feather Christmas Tree

Oh my gosh! Are these just not absolutely the coolest Christmas trees you’ve ever seen? As I was searching for the link to Vince Lee’s reading of Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus I came upon a story about a local store selling feather Christmas Trees. I took some time tonight and looked up the store and the manufacturer.

If you’re in the PA, NJ or northern DE area the trees can be found on South Street at Busybee Homestore & Design Center. For those not living in the Delaware Valley, the trees and some awesome wreaths are made by Angel Wreaths. The 7′ tree is a little out of my price range but I was thinking about spending the $60 for the 27″ size. I mean look at it. Seriously. It’s awesome. It needs me. Okay, maybe it doesn’t need me so much as I need it but oh my gosh — a pink feather Christmas tree. I’m overcome at the pinkness of it all.

I was looking at Angel Wreath’s site and they have a matching pink feather wreath. OMG! The neighborhood needs a door adorned with pink feathers. I mean how could it not? I’d totally hang that all year long. Everything’s made better with a lil pink and some fluffy feathers.

Where have these people been all my life? I bought a little hot pink tree at Borders last year and this 2’3″ feather tree would make for an amazing companion for my itty bitty pink tree.I think that’s what I need to do, start a collection of pink trees. They can be a family of pink trees. Anyone know where to buy hot pink Christmas lights?

Pink Tree from Borders

Posted in: Holiday Ramblings Tagged: Angel Wreaths, Busybee Homestore & Design Center, Christmas, Christmas Tree, Feathers, Pink, Pink Feather Christmas Tree

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