You know, it’s been a hell of a year. Enormous change, too much loss and an awful lot of heavy lifting—both emotionally and physically. I am stronger for it all but weary as well. Make that exhausted.
Mom’s death knocked me out of orbit more than I could have imagined—as I feel I may have lost the person who cared for me the most.
I say that in a quantitative sense: Evalynn loved her children heaps. However, from a qualitative perspective, our mother did not always love us well. Strong willed, occasionally self centered and histrionic, her affections were like a wild fire, and sometimes we got burned. Once upon a time I tried to reason with her: ‘Mom, just because you will do anything for me, it doesn’t mean you can do anything to me.’
Grieving has been complicated. I miss the hell out of her but am also tasting that bittersweet broth of relief and confusion that happens when a very passionate but emotionally destructive relationship falls out of one’s life.
Make that two relationships. David and I were a couple for over twenty-five years. There are many parallels between the bond I had with my mother and that which I shared with my husband. Duration, intensity, depth of love, degree of difficulty–but also importance. My mother and my husband have in many ways shaped the arc of my life.
Perhaps because I am the one who moved out of our home, there are those who felt my decision to leave David was selfish. I may go into more detail at a later date but I can assure you that getting divorced was never my first choice. And under the circumstances it was and is hardly easy. Again, a conversation for another day.
I realize most of you come to this blog to read about lung cancer, and that some of you have been on pins and needles as to what is going on with my lung cancer. I am feeling well—unexpectedly well—and I am also acutely embarrassed and even ashamed that I have not shared that update with you sooner. However, my illness has not been foremost in my mind these days.
There is an op ed piece in the New York Times this morning, The Problem With Collective Grief. In reference to the response of the Dutch public to tragedy, it struck a personal cord with me:
“The sad thing about mourning is that it really is quite unshareable, that it involves an extremely individual emotion. People have the right not to show their emotions and not to share them, even when it comes to soccer and calamity.”
And then this:
“…that we are often indifferent, that we are busy enough as it is trying to provide emotional succor for those closest to us, and often don’t even succeed in doing that, seems to me not so much a sign of our inhumanity, but of our humanity. Were we to actually allow the world’s suffering to sink in, we would quickly become psychiatric cases…”
I share these observations with you because they help explain my own emotional state. I’ve been grieving one very important relationship only to suddenly have another come to an end. And because life doesn’t hold still, I’ve attempted to maintain some semblance of order and sanity, all while starting a clinical trial, working on a fairly contentious divorce, attending to my children’s needs, worrying about my financial future and contending with the side effects of treatment. I’ve hit most of the high notes, but it’s been a bit hit and miss when it comes to communication. At least one friend has jumped ship and others may follow suit. I’m saddened by this inattention on my part—but it’s been all I could do to take care of my own.
Last week Peter got his driver’s license and the two of us have been busy painting walls and moving vintage clothing into my new studio space. Yesterday I had the Moh’s surgery for the basal cell on my shin. There will be a memorial for Mom in Fort Collins on Saturday and Peter and I will be driving to Colorado. We were to leave early this morning but I just couldn’t get it together in time.
It’s a good thing sometimes; pushing pause. An extra day gave me that space I needed to finally get this blog written.
We will hit the road first thing tomorrow, with Peter doing his fair share of driving. Should be a fine mother/son adventure.
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life and breath: outliving lung cancer 