Embrace it all

With the way things have been going the past month for me and my family, I am hesitant to even remark that life seems to be slowly returning to normal-whatever normal is.

Over the past week, moms condition has stabilized and she seems to be stronger, a little more active and getting a hold of what she needs to do to continue on the path to recovery without the support she has been receiving day in and day out. She has been fortunate to have a Physical Therapist, Occupational Therapist, Bath Aide and her own nurse, all visiting her small apartment several times over the past few weeks. She will also now have a house cleaner coming once a week. While some of the extra help will soon end for her as her recovery continues and she becomes stronger on her feet, she is learning some of the important things she do at home to continue to live safely on her own for as long as she is able to.

Lewis and I continue to do laundry, grocery shopping, pick up prescriptions and visit her whenever we can and she has had a wealth of others; friends and family who have stepped in to help. She appreciates the extra help. We appreciate the extra help!

Our brother Tom visited this weekend for a flying 24 hour trip from the bay area. He and our brother Rob will do the same next weekend. For us, it has been good to have more family involved. We were able to go out to dinner Friday night with mom and it was the best she has looked in weeks.

We are back to full work schedules, I am starting to think about how I have neglected my body over the past 4 weeks. Not a single trip to the gym. Not a single thought about what I have been eating. Yeah, stress is good for you. Put down the ice cream and back to the gym Blair. The hair's a little grayer I think.

I honored by husband this week here. This has been no picnic for him and our relationship. I am thankful for the solid foundation we have created in our relationship over the past 12 years and with our anniversary just around the corner, I am more thankful than ever for him being in my life. We have shared tears, exhaustion, anger and frustration these last few weeks. I want to reach out to him more. Hold him more. Look into his sad eyes and tell him how much he matters to me and the people he reaches out to. Thank you is all I can say.

So we move onward and upward. We may not be completely out of the woods yet, I know. In addition to the craziness with family, we have also had some craziness at work. The airline is preparing to reduce our cabin staff again and I will be returning to flying more and working on extra projects less. I am not making the change without some kicking and screaming. I really have enjoyed the extra work I have done in addition to flying over the past 4 years and have so many things I still want to contribute to. The upcoming change is mostly out of my control and I must accept it and be flexible. Something you are asked to be when you are hired as a Flight Attendant and something you must continue to be throughout your career. The past 4 years have been a good ride. I have had the opportunity to play a part in testing new product and procedures on our flights, work with our various committees, teach new Flight Attendants, write procedural manuals and fly the line. It has been a perfect balance.

I believe in new beginnings and today is no better place to start. With a deep breath, shoulders back and head held high, a new week is arriving and I welcome it with open arms. Winter has rushed in with heavy rains, gray skies, wind, snow and flooding. It's a time to be even stronger, stand up to life; the storms, the gray, the stresses of family and work, all of the changes and simply embrace it all.

Have a great week!