500 Miles

Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; for His steadfast love endures forever

1 Chronicles 16:34

Happy Valentine’s Day!  Chris and I don’t usually do anything overly romantic for Valentine’s Day, for several reasons.  The first is, I am tired of planning events after Christmas, New Years, one February birthday and another one a few weeks later.  So, I just don’t feel like making sure yet another event is fun and memorable.  

Over the years we have tried several things, like going out to dinner, elaborate dinners at home, pizza and a movie, going out to a movie, etc.  Nothing seems to stick as our “Valentine’s Day tradition.”  Some years, we are too busy to even take a moment to celebrate.  For example, last year Chris and two of our kids were on the youth ski trip, which meant I spent the evening with our youngest and 2 of his friends.  Not very romantic…

I also feel there is so much pressure on Valentine’s Day to make it memorable.  So, I guess what I’m saying is, basically, I just don’t love Valentine’s Day.  Yes, I said it, me – who loves an excuse to get dressed up, decorate, eat good food, and celebrate – does not love a day set aside to do all those things.  

I did have a good friend who loved Valentine’s Day.  She looked it as a day to let the ones she loved know how much they were loved.  She celebrated Valentine’s Day as a family.  

This year I have decided to take the pressure off making things special and start a family Valentine’s Day tradition.  So, we will be ordering Bang Bang Shrimp and salad from Bonefish Grill, have a special dessert, and eat as a family in the dining room.  It’s easy, but something different, and sustainable year after year.    I am coming to realize that the great thing about traditions is they take the pressure off Moms to be constantly planning everything.   

Chris and I are not a very ‘romantic’ couple. Don’t get me wrong – we are a very ‘loving’ couple, but we have never been ones for doing grand gestures to show our love.  We just know the love is there, all the time.   This year, however, the love was very one sided.  Chris demonstrated what true love is.  He wonderfully lived out our wedding vows of “…in sickness and in health…”

Our latest binge-watching has us watching the show Zoe’s Extraordinary Playlist. It is about an adorable mid-20 year old who suddenly hears people singing songs to her.   Of course, as in all good shows, there is a love triangle.   At one point, one of her admirers sings her this song:

When I wake up, well, I know I’m gonna be
I’m gonna be the man who wakes up next to you

And when I go out, yeah, I know I’m gonna be
I’m gonna be the man who goes along with you

And if I grow old, well, I know I’m gonna be
I’m gonna be the man who’s growing old with you

But I would walk 500 miles, I would walk 500 more
Just to be the man who walked a thousand miles
To fall down at your door

When I come home, yeah, I know I’m gonna be
I’m gonna be the man who’s coming home to you

And when I’m dreaming, well, I know I’m gonna dream
I’m gonna dream about the time when I’m with you

But I would walk 500 miles, I would walk 500 more
Just to be the man who walked a thousand miles
To fall down at your door

I have heard this song before (duh, I grew up in the 80’s), but the arrangement in the show, especially the way they chose to end the song, was so beautiful it made me think about what it really means to love someone enough to walk 500 miles, and then another 500 miles. Have you ever walked 500 miles??  I run half marathons which are only 13.1 miles.  I am worn out after that.   Last year on Valentine’s Day I had my biopsy.  In a year Chris has not actually walked 500 miles, but I know he drove me over 500 miles.   I would not be surprised if he spent 500 hours sitting in the car on conference calls waiting for me at chemo, surgeries, or doctor appointments.  

I am pretty sure he spent 500 hours worrying about and praying for me.  He spent over 500 hours in lonely nights when I was at my worst after chemo.  He took care of the kids and cooked for more than 500 hours.  I bet he spent 500 hours just moving us into our new home.  The amazing thing is he has already said he would do it all again.  He would walk those 500 more.  

This Valentine’s Day, if you have someone in your life who would walk 500 miles for you, thank them and say I love you.  Maybe Valentine’s Day should be more about love and saying thank you for loving me.  So, thank you Chris for being the man who would walk 500 miles for me, and 500 more.  I am so lucky to have the love of a lifetime in you.  

Thank you all for loving me and my family for the past year.  Thank you for caring enough to read my blog and keeping up with my journey.  

One quick update on me.  I am still doing PT twice a week to help with the cording.  It is working and slowly we are seeing progress.  On March 1^st I will have reconstruction surgery.  Then I am done- put back together and cancer free. Prayers appreciated for successful surgery and that I come out of the anesthesia easily, with no nausea or vomiting. Although I like being called Sleeping Beauty by the nurses, I really would rather wake up easily and feel good on the car ride home!