It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood

Laugh if you will, but Wisconsin is the BEST!

It was sunny and 70 here today, with a slight breeze. We went to church and ate brunch out. At church, a friend mentioned that another friend of ours might have a return bout of cancer. This friend (we'll call her S because I haven't yet asked her permission to write about her), is one of the happiest, best, friendliest, coolest people I know. And she's only an acquaintance.

The day I met her, we started talking about Jim's cancer and she told me that she, too was a cancer survivor. She's been cancer-free for 5 years. You know how you meet someone and you instantly know there's a connection? She's one of those people. For me and for Jim - she's really awe inspiring with an attitude and sense of humor that cannot be beat.

So we got word today that S may have cancer again. We immediately went over to see her, and as it turns out, she's still waiting to hear. Argh. The waiting is the worst part. She doesn't get her scan until Thursday of this week. She won't have her results until MONDAY the 30th. That is just NOT right. Can you imagine sitting around for the next week, wondering if you have cancer?

I was glad we went to see her. We wanted her to know that she's got our support all the way. She just seems like one of those people we're supposed to know. I'm not sure why, but I'm certain that the reason will present itself over the next year.

After we went to visit S, Rachel and I shopped a little, picked up grass seed, and came back to putter around the yard. She played with the girls next door while I started spreading grass seed. It was a lusciously sunny day. There's nothing like the first day that really feels like summer. Our neighbors set up their trampoline and the girls exhausted themselves "helping" and then finally jumping.

Even Jim and Jake were able to get in on the action after their afternoon naps - they came out and sat outside with us to get a little Vitamin D into their systems. Good for both of them. Jim, because he's cooped up, and Jake, because he's pasty white like me.

While the girls were jumping, I got bored of grass seed (see Headless Angel), and went inside the house to start dinner.

That's the kind of place Wisconsin is. Sunny days, and lots of them. We're able to let our kids play outside without watching every single step they take. We're able to easily connect with other people who might need our support through cancer (or better yet, though a cancer scare, but a benign tumor), able to hear that a friend might need us through another friend at church.

Cancer sucks. We know it does. But I am constantly reminded that we are in the right place at the right time. When he beats it I'll bet Kohler will do something totally Norman Rockwell like have a ticker-tape parade or something like that. Don't laugh - it's Wisconsin.