While my volleyball mom friend Maria was visiting this week from Lake Tahoe, it just so happened that our sons Ian and Max were at Maria’s place to enjoy a weekend of skiing. It reminded me of the 1980’s Eddie Murphy-Dan Akroyd comedy Trading Places, a modern-day version of the Prince and the Pauper story, changing places and changing lives.
I traded places and seemingly became the pauper in terms of good health with a pancreatic tumor. I recall being obsessed with checking for the price of airline tickets shortly before I found out about the tumor. Suddenly not only was I not going to be taking any trips in the foreseeable future, the great airfare deal that I worked so hard to get became meaningless as I had to cancel the flight for a date with surgery instead.
It turns out I was never a pauper because I got the gift of a prince, or princess, of seeing life and what I have in much more healthy ways. The days don’t blend together, the times don’t seem so hard, and when they do, I stay away from the pending stress. I appreciate those who really matter and don’t let the others impact my days. It’s nice to be rich.
Beyond Six Five 