So much depends upon

The fall is my busy season at work. And by busy, I mean crazy and flat out. I have a staff of 5 for 4 months and I (along with my colleagues) try to maintain what we call "game face"- the appearance that all is well regardless of the level of fundraising crisis we are now face to face with. So we call the fall- "campaign". And campaign is always busy, the time when all the planning we have done comes to fruition in a maddening pace. 

Combine campaign with family crisis and you gave the reason for a long absence on the blog. 

My mother has been battling metastasized breast cancer for the last 2 years. And one month ago we found out the cancer had spread to her brain and her bones. A sad shock to say the least. So I took a week off to be with my mom as she dealt with the news and as she prepped or surgery. 

That meant taking a week off the week of campaign, leaving the chaos in the hands of my generous coworkers. God bless their support. 

In the end, Mom made it through brain surgery and is recovering well. She is back to driving us all crazy, which means we have reached the realm of normal.  She starts radiation and restarts chemotherapy soon. 

While I may sound cavalier about it, I cope with it as rationalizing it as the new normal. Every time we meet with a new low in the cancer experience, I am able to deal with it (as a mere supporter) as understanding it as the new level of cancer normalcy. 

So this fall has been chaotic. And beyond my best friend and husband, who are both equally understanding and amazing, I seem to go back to one place to keep me sane: "The Red Wheelbarrow." 

This poem grounds me; it reminds me to focus on the basics, because that it what is important. I have stopped and gone back to this poem more times that I can count in the last month, and I am sure I will keep going back many times in the future. 

so much depends
upon

a red wheel
barrow

glazed with rain
water

beside the white
chickens.