Sometimes on the way to a dream you get lost and find a better one.

I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten-page research paper that I swear I did not make any changes to.

I have been asked to write my reflections from my own experiences. There was so much I never knew. There was so much I learned. If my experiences are thought to be helpful to others than it seems to me the more viewpoints the more value.

Early on, I learned that every cancer journey is one of a kind. Cancers vary, stages, circumstances, treatments, and most of all people are individually unique.

Currently, it has been my pleasure to interview various people as they share their own unique experience. When we are finished I present them with a copy of Their Story.
Some people have used it to share with family and friends. Others have used it as a way of letting loose their pent up emotions. One person, after sharing it with family and friends burned it as a form of closure. Most don’t realize how amazing they are.

Eventually, I will take various experiences, tips and lessons learned and add them to the book. I would only use first names or pseudo names. Nothing would be included without the express written permission of the individual.

The writing initially started as research for the book. Instead it has turned into the most rewarding experience of listening as people share their incredible journey with me. It is an experience I cherish and a responsibility of trust I take seriously.

If you know of anyone who would share their story please have them contact me or share their contact information so I may contact them to see if they may be interested. Cancer affects more than the person diagnosed. It affects the lives of family and friends too. If you would want to share the experience from your perspective, that would be awesome.

Thank you. May you enjoy every moment of your life. It is truly a gift. That is why it is called the PRESENT.

Judy McKay
St. Pete Beach, FL
727-642-3658
mzdavinci@aol.com
Please put “cancer” in the subject line if you e-mail. Thank you.

We got new phones yesterday. I wanted to learn how to text and move into the twenty-first century. Unfortunately, I think I need my grandchildren to show me how to use it. No doubt Hope, Noah, Jake and even Jonah could grasp the "how tos" faster than I am.

When it comes to technology I am in the dark ages.

Federally approved oil spill response contractors are on standby to clean up oil that washes ashore. Environmental officials and volunteers are standing by to help wildlife. The Coast Guard and DEP Officials, leaders from various environmental organizations including Save our Seabirds, the Sierra Club, Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary, the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, and Tampa Bay Watch are prepared with options. No actual operations have begun.

The weather plays a major role in the 72 hour projection of the spills path which changes everyday.

Collection drop offs have been set up at various schools, restaurants, hotels and resorts. Dawn dish washing liquid, hair from freshly washed and trimmed pets (clean dry hair is an oil magnet), very hard and very soft bristle brushes are needed, panty hose (the netting is perfect for creating a sponge when stuffed with the hair or other oil absorbing fibers), t-shirts (not to sop up oil but so volunteers can change often (when the crude oil gets on clothes it is not only gross it's dangerous).

My brother, Bob is heading to Nashville to work with a volunteer group this weekend to help the families devastated from the floods. My sister, Wendy is donating the proceeds of her yoga classes to help them. My sister, Bonnie is traveling by bus to visit her daughter in Arkansas and is taking extra things in case they stop in Nashville that she may donate and help.

We will gather up materials here and take the donations to the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary and volunteer to help as needed over the coming weeks.

Much is happening around the world that is causing grief and heartache. The effects of the problems in Greece have directly effected our stock market which has impacted all who count on their investments to provide income in their retirement years.

Accidents, political unrest, Mother Nature, there are lots of "rocks" hitting the surface of our lives. Each has a dramatic rippling effect. It is up to each of us to get involved. Never under-estimate how even a little help can make a huge difference.

Tomorrow morning the US Postal Service will be collecting non-perishable food to share with those in need. If you have some extra cans of food please give them to your Mailman and share.

A special thank you to all who take time to read the ramblings on my blog. You make a positive difference in my life. Time is precious and it makes me smile that you share some of yours with me.

Today they are working on the outside of my bedroom window scraping and preparing to paint. Today it isn't so much like bees buzzing as it is a gnawing sound. It's like something is gnawing and clawing trying to make its way in. Since I'm on the 4th floor it must be a tall something.

In any case, I am evacuating and heading to quieter work areas.

You could add/remove problems in your life using the control panel.

You could put people and events into the recycle bin and restore them into your life when you needed them.

You could improve your appearance by adjusting the display settings.

You could turn off the speakers when life gets to noisy and you want some peace and quiet.

You could click on "find" (Ctrl, F) to recover your lost remote and car keys.

To get your daily exercise, just click on "run".

If you make a major mistake, you could always pres "Ctrl, Alt, Delete" and start all over.

(L-R) Jim McKay of the TEAM for West Virginia Children, WV First Lady Gayle Manchin, Amanda Wilson of The Manahan Group and myself at the press conference.

For many months they have been working on our condo building. They are refurbishing and preparing it so it can be painted. I have counted my blessings that the noise and disruption has been happening this year and not last year as it was originally scheduled because this year I can get in my car and find quiet refuge somewhere else.

Yesterday they painted the front door of the condo. Consequently, the door needed to be left open all day so the edges could dry. It was loud, no air conditioning made it hot and the paint smell awful. I was determined to not be a whiner.

Alas, today if I stay here beyond the next few minutes I will become worse than a whiner. They are using an electric sander to sand all the railings. There are lots of railings. It sounds like I am caught inside a beehive. I am going to leave as soon as the dryer has stopped its cycle. It is terrible and I feel myself becoming frustrated after so many months of the mess and noise I am as they say "over it." I am ready for all this to be done. Unfortunately, there is much left to do.

I will go for a walk. Do my reading and writing elsewhere and hopefully by the time I come home the work will be done for the day. Other than this crazy annoyance it is a wonderful Wednesday and I am glad to be given the opportunity to enjoy it even with the background music of buzzing.

"What I know for sure is that no matter where you stand right now - on a hilltop, in a gutter, at a crossroads, in a rut - you need to give yourself the best you have to offer in this moment. This is it. Rather than depleting yourself with judgments about what you haven't done, who you could have become, why you haven't moved faster, or what you should have changed, redirect that energy toward the next big push - the one that takes you from enough to better. The one that helps you rise up from a low moment and reach for your personal best." Oprah

I had a phenomenal weekend. It started last week before Friday even arrived when I learned that David Johnson's surgery had been successful. Then I heard that despite the flooded roads through-out the south especially in the Nashville area,
Lt. Col. Jack Peavy (US Army Retired) made it successfully to his Army Reunion in Columbus, Ohio. My grandson Jake sold his rock for $31 on e-bay. It was all good news.

Feeling especially blessed it was nice to join with friends on Saturday to pray for Juarez. The violence there is frightening. My son Tom was part of the Prayer Meeting at Chamizal Memorial and I understand that it was a beautiful day. People came together to join in unity praying for Juarez and praising God. For updates on the situation there you can follow my son, Tom's blog at www.prayforjuarez.org

Saturday we also went to the St Pete Dog Track and bet on the Kentucky Derby. I like to do that every year because it makes me smile thinking of my Mom. She liked to predict who would win. I don't think she ever bet. She would select a horse at random and was often right. My horse, Ice Box, came in second. Happily I bet $2 on him to show so I will win something. Maybe my $2 back..LOL I'll have to take my ticket in later this week and see.

Saturday night we went to the South Florida Museum & Bishop Planetarium. They are located in Bradenton, Florida. It is quick trip across the Skyway Bridge. They are in the same building. They had a Cinco Di Mayo Celebration. The fourth Saturday of the month they always have something. A gentleman by the name of Howard monitored the Planetarium Show. He was fantastic! I never thought about using binoculars to look up at the night sky. You can actually see the rings of Saturn. There were 2 back to back shows about the stars and galaxies and then a Rock Fest. It was the first time in years that the word psychedelic came to mind. They played loud rock music from the 60's and 70's while overhead was an incredible show. part of the time I felt I was trapped in a lava lamp and the rest as though I was inside a Kaleidoscope. It was amazing and fun.

Sunday was the adventure to find the Skunk Ape of Florida. We drove down to the Everglades to the Skunk Ape Research Headquarters in Ochopee, Florida. It is a little place. Definitely a crazy tourist attraction. Adjacent to a camp ground the place not only includes memorabilia for sale but in the back a host of cages with huge python snakes, assorted tortoises (what is the plural for turtles..LOL), a cockatoo that will get on your arm and an alligator you can pet (no thank you). It was truly weird but fun. About a mile from it is the United States' smallest post office. There were lots of photo opportunities.

It is fun to play tourist in your own state. Florida is overflowing with a wide variety of things to do and many have little or no charge. The only disappointment in the weekend was that the detour we took to LaBelle, Florida didn't result in pie. Flo & Ellen's is a famous place for succulent pies. We decided to take the detour and give them a taste but they are closed on Sunday. Maybe the next time I go to South Florida it will be Monday through Saturday.

It was a true blessing to feel healthy enough to enjoy this weekend adventure. To many such crazy long day trips would seem out of the question. Happily, I got the opportunity. I don't take a moment for granted. I realize how fortunate I am.

I pray for all those who were effected by the frightening and damaging rage of Mother Nature this weekend. It could have been us.

Wishing each of you a wonderful week.