Free Bird

Well dear readers I finally, FINALLY have received my signed divorce decree!  I'm free!

Truth be told, it feels a little anti-climactic.  After years of marriage BS (the last 6 years before separating); 2 years of divorce drama BS; and 5 months of waiting for a judge to sign off on the settlement agreement (now that's what I call BS) it's over.  And a lot of folks' first reaction is "Let's celebrate!" because they know what I've been through.  But you know what?  I've BEEN celebrating.  Celebrating the last 2 years of being strong enough to remove myself from a toxic and harmful situation.  Celebrating the stabilization of my health after so many stress-related reversals.  Celebrating my still-in-progress path back to financial stability.  Celebrating the joy of once again having actual choices in how my life is lived.  So while I WILL most likely raise a glass or two next Girls' Night Out, it will be in celebration of all of this, not just a signature on a document.

In fact, I have been free as a bird most of this summer, doing quite a bit of traveling (my FB friends already know this).  I took my granddaughter to Hershey Park as her birthday gift - an overnighter!  There is nothing like visiting a place like this to see it through the eyes of a 5 year old - and fortunately, these short legs fit on most of the kiddie rides!  At the end of July I got to fulfill a long time dream of road-tripping solo to Cleveland to visit the sacred temple of my religion - otherwise known as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Cleveland turned out to be a pretty cool city; I even got to be an Indians fan for one night while going to a game at Progressive Field (I do so love visiting new ballparks!)  After Cleveland, I made my way down to Mammoth Caves in Kentucky (another destination on my must-see list) for a little amateur spelunking.  And the drive home through the winding roads of West Virginia?  Pure fun - windows down, music blasting, singing, car dancing, and really DRIVING those roads are so twisty and turny!  Best. Solo. Trip. Ever.

I let freedom ring on with a trip to my beloved Seattle in August.  Besides the fact that my family there is THE BEST, I just adore this city and its surrounding areas and all it has to offer.  Hiking in Snoqualmie; riding the (new to me) ferris wheel on the waterfront; boating on Lake Washington with a majestic, snow-capped Mt. Rainier in the background; rocking out at The Royal Room with my music buddy Laurie; going to the Yankees/Mariners game.  Painting my aunt's house.  In ninety degree weather.  For 10 hours.  But...with my cousins and nieces and nephews.  Doesn't get much better than that.  Except road-tripping to Portland with my cousin-bestie Lisa, who without fail makes any kind of traveling more fun.  I'm STILL telling people about those awesome French fries at Jake's Grill!

And - for now at least - freedom from the tyranny of cancer.  The new medication continues to work well in keeping my disease at bay, limited to the tumors currently existing but not growing substantially (hey, 2 of them even shrunk a bit).  My white blood counts are low but stable over the last few tests so as long as y'all don't sneeze on me my immune system should be able to handle the basic stuff thrown at it.  And I really do feel that the lowering of stressful factors in my life have contributed to the improvement in my health.  I am once again free to contemplate a longer existence than previously imagined.

Thank goodness I'll be around to find out who got Lucille'd!  (You TWD fans know what I mean...)

Blessings and Love to All.