Tuesday, 20 July 2010

A topsy-turvy day

Wonderful news from my doctor today that there was no sign of any tumour on my MRI. Praise God! Whatever is causing my neck pain should now be safely treatable with physio. Thank you to so many of you who have left sincere, thoughtful and supportive messages in the last couple of days. You are all very lovely and I am blessed to count you as my friends!
That news was the 'top' for my day. The 'turvy' came this evening with a harrowing phone call from the wife of a old friend from Uni days. She bravely called to tell me that my friend has died at 46 from pancreatic cancer. Her distress was heartbreaking. She has four children, the youngest just two. Her phone call put my recent concerns in perspective. Her husband & I studied Soil Science together and spent many an hour at the Grandstand at Sydney Uni philosophising, arguing about religion & solving the world's problems, but mostly drinking beer! I am so sad for her and her children.
So, at 11 o'clock in the evening, I am an exhausted mess of emotions. So thankful for my own good news, but devastated by the bad news of my friend. When life gets too tough, I walk in my garden and talk with God, wondering with Him what on earth it is all about. And in my garden, even in the winter, I find solace & peace ...
Delicate creaminess of Erlicheeer jonquils, the first of the bulbs.
Bright & happy buttercups jump up out of nowhere, announcing cheerfully, 'Look at me"!
Drifts of violets, nodding heads in the breeze.
The first fluffiness of the winter's wattles.
The promise and hope of blossom buds, preparing for a riotous spring.

29 comments:

  1. I'm so glad your MRI came back clear.

    Terrible news about your friend. My sincere condolences.

    I love jonquils. My first are blooming and I love their perfume.

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  2. I'm so glad that you've got the all clear - it is really fantastic news.

    Wandering round my garden or a local park is one of the ways that I also come to terms with any emotional news - I hope your friend's wife has lot's of support at the moment and manages to get through this really hard time.

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  3. So happy you got a good report! You are so blessed with such a lovely garden...and we all know there is nothing like "knee-mail" to put things right! Big hugs!

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  4. Praise God for your good news. I'm so sorry to hear of your friend.

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  5. What a bitter-sweet day...Sending you ((((big hugs)))) I will keep you in my thoughts.

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  6. This life we lead really does give with one hand and takes with the other. Your results are just fantastic. My deepest sympathy to you and your friends family - too young, and that awful disease,too cruel. Solice in the graden sounds like great medicine at the moment I think.
    heartful hugs
    Miche'le

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  7. So pleased for you and your family that your news was good. So sad that you had to receive such terrible news as well, enjoy your garden and gain comfort from it and your memories.

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  8. Pleased to hear of your good fortune...then sad to hear of your loss. Life...can't explain it...sad times.

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  9. Wonderful news....regarding your test results....

    What a beautiful garden to walk and talk with God.

    Sandy N

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  10. Just can't put into words what I would like to say to you Ros, anyway I am hugging you, so very pleased but so very sad for you...there is a tear on the keyboard...Peg xx

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  11. the highs and lows of life.....
    ....so pleased your's was good news........but life is a challenge at times..............thinking of you...........

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  12. So glad to hear all is well with you - at the same time sad to hear of the passing of a special friend...... Hugz

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  13. Congrats on the good news, that must be such a relief. Sorry though for the loss of your friend.

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  14. When life just seems too confusing I often go out late at night and look at the stars and remember that I am such a small part of an amazing universe.
    I don't have your amazing garden, you see! :-)
    What a wondeful relief for you to get an alls-OK . So sorry for the loss of your friend - what a tough time ahead for his little family.

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  15. I am glad and sad for you. Gardens are wonderful places to think. I smell those bulbs!

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  16. happy and sad for you Ros xxx take lots of care

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  17. So sad for the loss of your friend - always so hard! And happy, so happy for your results!! I don't believe I've ever seen a jonquil - it looks like a gardenia in your pic...not sure if we have jonquils here in Michigan, U.S. I'll have to see. Take care of yourself!

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  18. Good news for yourself. Terrible about your friend. The violets are beautiful I can almost smell them. - Louise

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  19. learning to find peace in the midst of the storms is what it's all about. from clear MRI's (thankfulness supreme) to losing friends (opportunity to lean on a very big shoulder and trust Him a little further), each day I'm finding chances to see invitations to be more like the Master.

    blessings!

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  20. You are looking to the Right Person, our only peace is in Him, even when the answer is long to arrive. I'm sorry for your loss, and glad for the answer regarding your neck pain, and hope it is relieved soon.

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  21. Yay Bloom for your good news. The relief must be amazing. So sorry for the bad news of your friend dying. How heartbreaking. Only 46. Take care,
    Mandy Hawkins.

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  22. I am so, so pleased that all is well with your health. You have been in my thoughts.
    I'm sorry to hear of your friends death, such a sad time for all involved, especially with such a young family. XO.

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  23. ...Sigh....words can't express. My mum was 48 when cancer took her. Close in age - far too early. Leaves a big void here on earth...Take care. Glad to hear of your good news. The bag is great. Your blossie would be very pleased. Leanne.

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  24. Wonderful to hear such good results with regards to your health.... just a shame that it was saddened by the loss of your dear friend. Thinking of you.

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  25. So glad to hear your results were clear. So sad to hear about your friend. My thoughts are with his family.

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  26. Bloom, my thoughts are with you as you cope with the loss of your friend-what terrible news after celebrating your own health results. I hope you find the comfort your need in the support of family and friends and in the solace of your beautiful garden, Amanda

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  27. I'm so far behind with my blogging.
    Thinking of you and wonderful news.

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