Blog 63 Three Most Memorable Stories of my Thirties

(My dog, Mahli! Lived 16 wonderfully spoiled years!)

(The Decade of Dreams)

During my thirties, I had a few unbelievable things happen. One, I held secret for many years, but was blessed by God to overcome it despite I was only given a few years to live. However, at age thirty-two, I was given a cancer diagnosis that was not promised to recover and a lifespan of a few years. I did not tell a soul. At my age, it could have cost me my ability to continue my work.

I was at peace in my heart and just felt God was not ready for me to go yet. Therefore, I refused treatment because it was just as bad as the cancer, and did not promise a cure. I did not lose hair and each year, I seemed to be getting better. I dove into improving my strength and in such, I beat the odds and I am still here after twenty-seven years. But, I did not fully realize what could happen by not being radiated or taking chemotherapy. This is a story for a latter blog.

One day, I had the sudden desire to go to the swimming pool that I practiced in during the Seventies. I was surprised to see that the man that took over the team my senior year was actually still there. I, also , caught eye of a young sophomore who seemed to actually have the talent to beat a lot of the decades long records. I was very surprised to see my name still on the record board after so many years. I asked him if he felt that he would commit himself to more rigorous daily practices, twice a day and a weight regimen that would build muscle, but not BULK him.

The young man agreed, and I got permission from his dad (who was very supported with the idea) which allowed me to take him to the gym every weekday, followed by a second swim practice. I was allowed to take him to outside swim meets, also. That year, he broke every record, except breaststroke and diving for Seagoville High school. He went on to place in Regionals and State competitions. It was an honor to know that I had a hand in these achievements. In all, the Seagoville High school Swim Team also won the District championships, because I was able to come to workouts and the team improved enough to win. The teenagers receive and deserve the hard work and results for that year.

At the same time, I was helping a left-handed tennis player. He had a desire and unbelievable belief that he could out win right handed players. That year he placed second in Regionals and within the top sixteen in State. Both of these made me feel my life had potential, and a lot more to give.

(Getting to spend much time with some of my nephews and niece and Robert’s, too)

Robert seemed to be the “favorite uncle” for his family and I was able to help do the same in my family. By not having our own families ,we were able to help our sisters and brothers in taking care of their children while they were developing their own commitment in building their families. We spent the entire nineteen nighties, with the chance to make a difference in our next generation lives. I feel, now, that we were successful in doing so. We hardly had a peaceful weekend, with out any of these kids were not in our care. We did so much with these kids and they got t see, first hand, the trials (and values) of what the responsibilities of adults were meant for them.

I look at them all now, in the year 2020, and I see parts of their lives reflecting in Robert and mine. Again, this would not have been possible if we had children of our own. We had a family, in part, and they gave us a reason to keep our lives as an example for them. We never needed to explain the relationship between Robert and me. We encouraged a “normal” life for them, and while they were with us, we never once put ourselves in a position to make them anytime wonder for themselves other than they were loved by us both and our focus was all about their lives, nothing else.

In the millennium year, 2000, we had the money to go to Hawaii for a graduating present of the four oldest of my nephews and my niece. It was one of my all-time favorite events and the most I could give them for their lift into adulthood. It was a very cheap trip, because of the scare for changing into a new Century. We went on January second, two thousand. All went well, with many stories coming from that trip. (I believe that I will wait until I finish the age of sixty, as a fun trip. It would make a blog of its own, if not two blogs.)

(The cheap trip to Telluride , Colorado for Robert and me.)

One year, Robert’s sister worked for a big name hotel By doing so, she was able to get excellent discounts at all the hotel chain’s designation. One was Telluride, Colorado. Usually the skiing spot for celebrities/ You actually had only one entrance into the town and the hotel was in the middle of the mountain, called a ski-in, ski-out hotel. A room there (in the nineties) cost regularly between $250-$500. we got 4 nights for $85 each. The had Gondolas that took you down to the village or to the top of the mountain to a business and dining area.

The mountain was beautiful, the city old -time looking, and for $200 for the entire time, Instead of calling for your car, you would call for your skis and they would be ready for you at the time you set to pick them up. It was just like a car valet, only skis. They called you by mister or sir and your name. I literally would just go down stairs and everything was ready. I would ski out of the hotel, ski all day, and when I was finished, I skied back in and set the time to have them ready the next day, and my gear would be waiting for me. You felt elite and special.

Robert did not like to ski, but loves the snow. He would go to the city and we would meet for lunch and dinner. I sat in a seat where Oprah Winfred had sat and signed her name. There were so many perks and other than Hawaii, is still the best trip I had taken.

(But, it was not easy to get there…..and that is a blog all of its own.)

(Blog 64 The drive to Telluride)