A life sentence, not a death sentence

While waiting for my sixth brain MRI yesterday, a friend who is also dealing with cancer, but in remission pointed out that cancer isn't a death sentence, it is a life sentence. She is correct but on some days it takes mental gymnastics to convince ourselves that each moment is especially precious, don't be concerned about the frivolous or mundane cares of the day, and focus on the gift of life and all that it gives us. In the days running up to my MRI the cloak of worry and concern was hard to cast off and innumerable mental, spiritual, and physical exercises didn't give me complete relief.

We returned a few days ago from Mayan country in the Yucatan.When the Roman emperors were throwing early believers in Christ to the lions, the Mayans were perfecting their architecture, astronomy, mathematics, and alphabet. But like the early Christians, Romans, and Greeks, the Mayans couldn't explain life's travails and felt sacrifices to propitiate the gods would purchase them comfort and safety. They carried the cloak of worry, the priests told them the necessary steps to achieve peace of mind, but in retrospect human sacrifice seems an uncomfortable prospect, especially in you are being offered up.

So what did I believe in Mayan territory? The phrase that gave me and my family comfort was "I believe I will have a Dos Equis". How was the weather you ask? Well, apart from an occasional white cap on our martini's, it was most comfortable. The fishing and bird watching in the Sian Ka'an biosphere was wonderful and we look forward to returning and spending more time.

What about the MRI? Well it "looked good" according to my Oncologist, so that cloak of worry lifted from the love of my life and me, and in thanks I ran to the top of the nearest mountain to celebrate, but I think I sprained my knee. Small matter in life's grand scheme, and a reminder of our mother's admonition, "don't overdo".

"the value of life lies not in the length of days but in the use we make of them." Michel de Montaigne

Do good works, love to all, Eric