When I was going through cancer treatments, I tried to visualize a happy place to get me through the procedures. I started off by thinking about a grassy green meadow, with a blue sky above, and maybe some yellow flowers dotted throughout the grass. That happy place usually lasted only about five seconds, and then I would be distracted. I didn’t mind watching the phlebotomist draw my blood or the nurse pumping chemotherapy into my vein. It was actually a fascinating process, once I got over the fact that I had cancer.
My cancer treatments were completed long before I had Lily and Emmy. When Lily was little, she spent more time in hospital waiting rooms than many people have, and it had nothing to do with me. Before she was two, my brother was in a motorcycle accident and was in the hospital and rehabilitation for six months. Ed’s mom was in and out of the hospital due to rheumatoid arthritis and Parkinson’s disease. Then after twenty-five years, my own mother’s cancer was back with a vengeance.
It was a rough few years. I cried a lot. Lily and Emmy saw me cry a lot, and since they were so little, a toddler and a preschooler, they asked me why I was crying.
How do you explain the ache that you feel when your own mother dies? It was an ache I couldn’t bear to talk about. When the tears came, Ed would tell the girls, “Go make your mother feel better.” And they would come over to me, hug me and give me sweet baby kisses.
They are my happy place. Forget the green meadow with the yellow flowers and the blue sky. If I am with my daughters, I am happy.
There are times, however, when I need to get away from my children. It is nice to go to a conference or have a night away. Ever since we spent the night in this cabin in Talkeetna, Alaska, I’ve longed to go on a writing retreat. Wouldn’t this little cabin be the perfect happy place?
Whenever I do travel with Lily and Emmy, I always miss my babies. And I always know that as much as I enjoy being away, my happy place is waiting for me at home.
Where is your happy place and what does it look like? Thank you for inspiring the prompt this week, Tamara (Tamara Like Camera)!
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You said it perfectly and yes my happy place is definitely with my two girls for sure. I had such great plans to write about this, too and then this week just truly got away from me. Seriously, just was one of those weeks, but still loved reading yours and like I said definitely can agree with you whole heartedly on this one 😉
Janine Huldie recently posted…3rd #glossybirthday + Harper’s Bazaar GLOSSYBOX
I completely understand! I’ve been struggling to get my posts written for the Spin Cycle and haven’t been keeping up with my blog reading! It seems like I’m always on the go.
Another beautiful post. I too find much comfort in my children’s hugs even now that they are grown.
This Busy Life recently posted…Simple and Cute Halloween Pet Costumes
I think those hugs are something that we’ll never outgrow!
Ginny Marie recently posted…My Happy Place {Spin Cycle}
That is lovely about your girls 🙂 Back during chemo, I would imagine the tree in front if my parents house, where I grew up. It us my happy space.
That sounds like a wonderful happy place! Chemo gave us a lot of time to think, didn’t it? Ugh, I’m glad that’s over for both of us!
Ginny Marie recently posted…My Happy Place {Spin Cycle}
This is so sweet. I have thought similar things, only I’ve been fortunate to not spend lots of time in hospital waiting rooms. I am fortunate enough to have a beautiful back yard. I get so frustrated keeping it tidy that I forget to sit with my coffee and enjoy it. 🙂
Lauralee recently posted…Teaching Prepositions
I love my backyard, too, but I do the same thing you do! I only sat outside once or twice with my coffee. I really should do that more often!
Ginny Marie recently posted…My Happy Place {Spin Cycle}
Beautiful writing here. Brought tears to my eyes. 🙂 Children definitely provide us with the kind of unconditional love and loyalty that inspires true happiness.
Jenny recently posted…A Happy Place
My boys are my happy place too, even if some days they so aren’t!
VandyJ recently posted…Friday 5 and A Confession or 6…
That was beautiful, Ginny! I don’t have kids, so I find my happy place at home, with my doggies, my plants, my boyfriend and my parents when I get to see them (maybe in that order!).
Lily Lau recently posted…20 winners highlights of the 2014 sony world photography awards
That sounds lovely! I love my plants, too…right after I got married, I yelled at my husband for touching one of my plants! He’ll never let me forget it…
Ginny Marie recently posted…My Happy Place {Spin Cycle}
What a sweet, heartfelt post!! Love that your girls are your happy place!!
I would say that my boys are my happy place most of the time – the rest of the time it is definitely working out!!!
Kim recently posted…Bullet Thoughts
Thank you for using this beautiful prompt, and so well too!
My kids are often my happy place. And space from them is happy too. All things in the right times.
Tamara recently posted…Are You With Me, Doctor Who?
My happy place is definitely my family, too Ginny…that being said, though, I also really enjoy when I get to go on a girly girl getaway with my besties! :)-Ashley
thedoseofreality recently posted…You Poked My Heart!
So special, and a reminder to all of us. (I needed this!)
Lisa Nolan recently posted…Motherhood May Cause Drowsiness: Funny Stories by Sleepy Moms
That looks like a great place to go to getaway and write….or do nothing at all!
Deborah Pucci recently posted…HAPPY WEEKEND
My kids are simultaneously my happy place, and my place of pain 🙂
Glad you have your happy place, we all need one.
For sure my happy place is when my kids and husband are with me. There is no other place so happy for me (My kids are both in their 20s). We do not all get together often enough, but there is nothing like having family around. Just thinking about them makes me happy.
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