Bittersweet

For some reason I found myself humming "The Circle of Life" from the movie The Lion King this morning. I looked up the lyrics and I now know why that song came to mind. The words of the chorus are:
"It's the Circle of Life
And it moves us all
Through despair and hope
Through faith and love
'Til we find our place
On the path unwinding
In the Circle
The Circle of Life."
When our older "kids", all now in their 40s, were growing up they participated in 4-H, a wonderful youth development organization that teaches skills and responsibility through various activities, among them raising and showing farm animals. Our youngest would have participated as well were it not for the fact that he was allergic to all things farm related, plant or animal. Those were great times. We'd pack kids, animals, equipment, food for humans and beasts and we'd practically live at the Fair.
We were thrilled to see the tradition continue with grandkids and we have enjoyed many shows with them, but today marks the end of the era. Most of the grandkids are in their teens now with other interests replacing their animals and their lives have moved on, but Meg, the last holdout, has her final show at the Maricopa County Fair this morning. It will be a bittersweet day for all.
I'm not sure how this all relates to our cancer journey. I guess today I am especially aware of how we all have our places in the Circle of Life, an ever-moving and changing entity that is really out of our control. I am ever grateful that God placed me into this circle and He will not forget me when He calls me out of it.
Life..... How very precious it is.

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:
A time to be born and a time to die,
A time to plant and a time to uproot,
A time to kill and a time to heal,
A time to tear down and a time to build,
A time to weep and a time to laugh,
A time to mourn and a time to dance,
A time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
A time to embrace and a time to refrain,
A time to search and a time to give up,
A time to keep and a time to throw away,
A time to tear and a time to mend,
A time to be silent and a time to speak,
A time to love and a time to hate,
A time for war and a time for peace."
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (NIV).

On the health front:
Playtime is over. My temporary treatment vacation ends today and I'll be back in the recliner once a week until mid-July. I'm a tad apprehensive since the memory of the first phase had blessedly dimmed, but it will be what it will be. And through it all, I'm not alone.