Joey asked John last night, “Why do girls have so much stuff?” Hiding his laughter and feigning a serious tone, John asked Joey what he meant. Joey said, “Why do girls have boobies and bras and pants and shoes and shampoos?” I am not sure what John told Joey — I’m not sure if John even knows the answer. I do know John and I are still laughing today at this question, posed by a five-year-old who is trying to figure out this confusing world. Sometimes he can’t figure out the complexities; sometimes he gets it right on. Like the other day when Danny asked me while we were driving in our van, “Mommy, are you winning?” I told Danny that driving is not a race — even though a car had just passed me by — and that I do not try to “win.” I told him some cars drive faster and some cars drive slower but that we should all go the speed limit. Joey piped in and said, “Danny, actually, the cars that are going faster are the ones who are losing because they are going to get pulled over and get a ticket.” What perspective. Now he just has to grasp this girl thing. Maybe that won’t ever happen. All I can do is tell him why I have so much stuff. Because it makes me feel good.
But “stuff” alone doesn’t make me feel good. Simple joys do the trick too. Like watching Danny yesterday as he learned to pump his legs while swinging. And watching him today learn to start himself on the swing, without a push from anyone. He is a whole year younger than Joey was when he learned this daunting task. Danny is not even three years old. Close, though — he will be three on May 30th and he talks constantly about his party where he wants to invite Wyatt and Jayda — two five-year-olds from preschool. He invites everyone, really. At the pediatrician’s office one day recently, the doctor asked Danny his age. He said, “Gonna be three. Want to come at my party?” I’m not sure what will come of this party, which I think I will have one afternoon on the school playground. But joyous it will be. I know that for sure.
Other simple joys — a new job I was just recently offered at www.thecancerblog.com. I will work part-time writing posts that relate in some way to cancer. They can reflect news and information and personal perspective too. Oddly, several people contacted me during the same week asking if I would write for them. They found me through this blog, liked what I’ve written, and offered me jobs. I could only accept one and am honored, flattered, happy that I will get to write not only for pay but for an audience that may benefit from what I can offer. I also found out today that my site is featured as one of the top 10 sites for breast cancer information on http://breast-cancer.toptensources.com/TopTenSources/Default.aspx. And I may do some volunteer guest articles and Q & A sessions for some other sites.
More joy: a training/exercise routine that has me actually noticing a few muscles I never knew I had, a ban on candy in our house that we hope will encourage healthier eating, and a check-up with my surgeon that revealed that my breast thought to be infected is not in fact infected.
When it rains, it pours. Downpours of simple joy.
Jacki Donaldson