Hold On
The other day I had dinner with some of my dearest friends. It was the usual for us….wine, salad, whipped garlic and arabic bread, a healthy marinara dish. We spoke of jobs, relationships, diets. Three of us got right into our usual analysis, the complexities of masculine versus feminine and the road to emasculation. The other one of us who happens to embody masculine made fun of us, playfully insulting our insight.
We bitched a little, ate a little, laughed a little, drank a little, reflected a little.
Yes..it was an ordinary night of our usual loveliness.
and then…..
we shaved our friend’s head.
Breast cancer. Aggressive. Chemotherapy. Hair falling out.
My dear friend took off her hat, exposing her patchy head. We marveled at her beauty..still present, even without her usual thick shiny head of hair. We pulled a stool into the bathroom. Our “masculine” friend decided to be the shaver. (We let her as we didn’t want her to feel emasculated). She lathered her head up and began, carefully, softly, lovingly shaving the remains of our friend’s hair.
As we watched….and talked…..sharing stories and wine.
I deliberately slowed time in my mind……I allowed myself to take it all in… this significant and important moment. I let my soul capture the experience which was overflowing with life and love and the connection of all beings. Friendship…truth…..beauty. I let my mind travel back in time, to when I first met my beautiful friend with her long hair, healthy lifestyle, and interesting viewpoints. The past seems so innocent and vulnerable when seen from the future which is now the present that has brought with it life altering circumstances.
I took a mental snapshot of the scene that I was experiencing. I did not ever want to forget the image of my pretty friend….emitting more beauty and light in this tender occasion of complete exposure. I did not ever want to forget the precious feeling of true friendship and love………I breathed it in and absorbed as much of it as I could, filling my soul with strength and the knowledge that
there is nothing in this world that can break down the pure power, the rapture, the positive vibrations and beams of love that sparkle from our souls.
We are the lucky ones…no matter our life circumstances.
If we can just hold on…to the moments….and to each other.
and then we had dessert.
…
Oh how beautiful that you were all able to do that for her! I have huge tears running down my face and I have never met any of you. But I’m able to visualize and feel to my core the emotion of that event. I don’t know how on earth you all were able to remain supportive and bright – In any emotional moment (yes that includes happy, sad, mad, glad) emotion wells up and overflows out my face and heart. It’s always been that way and I envy those who can control their emotions to any extent. I’ll say a prayer for your friend and I hope you keep us posted as to her recovery
love to you all.
So beautiful Andrea!! I had tears also – thank you for sharing this special moment. If ever I would have to face that challenge that is the EXACT way I would want to handle that moment! Truly touching.
Beautiful.
Sounds like quite an intense loving moment between friends. You are lucky to have eachother and I will say a prayer for your friend. My father beat it, and she can to. With love, support and lots of positive energy anything is possible. The brain and its way of thinking is our most powerful medicince.
Love to you all. She will be in my thoughts and prayers
xoxox
Shannon…thank you for all of your support which always serves to inspire me further! I’m finally going to start responding to these comments on my blog. xo
i feel honored to be given this glimpse into such a beautiful, real moment. yes. sending light to all of you…
Thanks for glimpsing Liz…and providing light to so many yourself. xo (I’m looking at your beautiful book right now which has inspired me greatly as I’m going through a divorce (see new blog post). Nothing says Inner Excavation like divorce.
What a gift you gave yourselves…a gift to your friend and a gift to each of you. How you have described this and what you shared is really what this life is all about. Sometimes it takes the shadow of death in it’s many forms to bring us to this reality but there is no doubt…it is our family and our friends and their support who carry us through the difficult times. I’m now a 6 year and counting survivor but I will never forget those days…how the support lifts you. I’ve said so many times that cancer is a gift…it was lessons form me and yet my story was also a gift for those who love me. I hope you always have this kind of love in your lives. I’m also going to direct my readers to come and read this post.
Thank you so much for reading this Sherry! I’m glad it touched you. I would love for your readers to check out my article. That’s wonderful! I haven’t kept up in my blog for the past months due to getting back on my feet after divorce. Maybe you will inspire me to start updating again. Warm wishes to you!
Andrea, here is the link to my post from today. Loving stories are always worth telling! xo
http://sherrysmyth.blogspot.com/2011/10/lifting-and-loving.html
Wow! I’m honored Sherry. I’m going to share your link on Facebook! Hope to get writing again real soon. Best wishes to you. Your site is lovely!
I am one of Sherry’s readers, and I love her so much. She ALWAYS knows when to share things that touch her/our souls. This did… what a touching story, I laughed and cried and have goosebumps. I will say a prayer for your beautiful friend, and you…much luck and love to you as you start a new path… I have a feeling you have a very good support system for you, xo
I came over from Sherry’s blog and reading your words filled my heart with love and hope. This loving gesture you gave your beautiful friend is truly inspiring. Thank you for sharing so openly