Thoughts............

The week I was gone to the manage the C-Fair Charity Horse Show was a difficult one. Yet there were aspects of it reminding me that I need to be grateful for what I have.

One of the vendors at the show is still recuperating from chemo-therapy. Even though it's been a couple of years since her treatments ended, her body still has not recuperated from the ravages of her chemo.

Some people think that once chemo is over, the suffering ends. I know from my experience with my daughter, that isn't the case. It took Lindsay years before her body shed all of the toxins that chemotherapy had deposited there. This vendor was having similar issues.

Because of those issues, the person responsible for vendors had allowed her to set her booth right outside the show office. That placed this woman right under my nose most of the show. From the first evening when she had to lay flat out on the ground to keep herself from passing out, I was painfully aware of this woman's presence.

In addition to that during the show, one of our exhibitor's lost her husband. This man was also plagued with cancer. The week before the show he'd been told there was nothing more to be done. His time was limited......yet he insisted his wife go show her horse. My heart was heavy when I heard about her loss.

On the way home from the show, I met Lindsay and Dave at the local Taco Time. Sitting there in the booth, I heard my name. Turning to find the source, I saw a friend of mine. On her head was a baseball cap hiding her hairless head.

Just a few months ago I'd seen this woman with a full head of hair. At that time she was on the other side of her third round of treatments for breast cancer. Seeing her cancer had returned added even more weight to my already heavy heart. I couldn't help but think how lucky I am I have my health. Yet, the fear I will lose this friend anytime soon haunts me.

Of all the things that happened during that week, these are the things that stick in my mind. I can't help but feel for each of these people and their loved ones.

At the same time, I find myself pondering again about the unfairness of life. I don't know that much about the first two people but the third.......that woman is one of my favorite people. She has suffered immensely at the hand of this insidious disease and she's done it with dignity and grace. I so want there to be hope for her.........maybe I want there to be hope for me..........I don't even want to think of a world without her.