it all started with captain d's

Days like today deserve to go down in the record books... I have always appreciated the good days, but even more so since mom was diagnosed with cancer in December. I recognize how quickly these good days with her could have been taken away and am even more thankful for them now then I ever was before. When she was first diagnosed I thought of all the things we never did that we were going to do "next summer" ... and realizing that we might not have a "next summer" really struck me and has made me think about the importance of making the best and most out of each day. I will be honest and say that it is also never far from my mind that her cancer could come back. Her type is never "healed" or completely removed. It may come back in 3 months, or never come back. Supposedly, if it does come back, there's nothing the doctors can do. I definitely believe that God can heal her if He chooses to and that is what we are hoping and praying for. But the reality is, no one knows when their life will be over (thank goodness). I say that not to be morbid, but to point out that we can't live life fretting away about all the "what ifs." A perfectly healthy person could be taken in an instant in a car accident while someone with cancer may live for another year. While I believe I have always lived my life with purpose and with the mindset that life is too short be boring, that mindset is even more concrete now .....and when mom and I have good days, it's worth noting.

Today started off with mom's wonderfully wonderful boyfriend coming over and suggesting we run out to Captain D's for some lunch. We all piled in the car assuming we'd grab lunch and go back home. Well, after lunch we all agreed that a hot summer day like this required some really good ice cream ... and mom personally thought that the BEST ice cream place around was the one that was 45 minutes south - in South Carolina. While some people might scoff at the idea of driving 45 minutes for a good ice cream, my mom and I both know that any excuse to take a drive on a beautiful summer day is a good one. Bert was at the mercy of us both, and I was the driver so he had no say :) One thing I love about Bert though, is his spontaneous spirit...so he suggested that we take all the back road instead of the boring highway. Definitely a winning idea in my book. About an hour later we arrived at the ice cream place and found a nice shade tree to sit under and enjoy. As we were talking about how we really were out in the middle of nowhere, Bert pointed out that the lake was only another hour down the road.... so, it was only logical that we should keep going since we were already halfway there :) GREAT IDEA! Now when I say in the middle of no where, I mean NO WHERE. I saw some of the most redneck people I have ever seen in my life today. But what's great about this lake is that it's huge and beautiful and hardly populated because it's so far out. On a beautiful day like today, we were able to show up and be one of only a few out enjoying the scenery. After awhile, we were all talking about how hot it was and how much we wished we had known we'd end up here because we would have grabbed our swimsuits. But...hey, we are all about seizing the moment right? What started off as a "let's just get our feet wet" turned into a full-blown, fully-clothed swimming session for my mother and I :) Bert just sat on the beach shaking his head at us, but he's learned by now that the more he tells us something is not a good idea, the more we will want to do it :) The day ended with a nice drive back to NC, a good dinner and a movie, and sitting outside on my hammock under the stars.

Yep, I think this is one for the books.