Autumn Escapades

Autumn is a lovely season! The temperature is just right, the flowers are still in bloom, and most of all, the change in the foliage colors is just stunning! I take in this experience like a hungry child, and so I try to take long drives in the fall just to enjoy the amazing colors that Mother Nature generously scatters all over the northeastern United States.

Driving to Michigan early in the month, around a bend in the Pennsylvania turnpike, we were suddenly met by a very beautiful display of autumn colors: various shades of red, orange, yellow and green. I clapped my hands in delight at seeing such perfect mountainscape bathed in the afternoon sun. After this sight, on the way up and coming back, I was on a lookout for similar sceneries but nothing else can match that gorgeous sight.

We also decided to visit Lady Liberty just to say hi to her. Actually, Cynthia, my brother-in-law’s wife is visiting us, so we thought she should pay her respects to one of the most noble and popular ladies of modern civilization. We went on a weekday, so the tourist rush was not that bad, but I cannot say the same of the New York city traffic. We couldn’t seem to find Ground Zero in the maze of traffic and one-way streets and what’s more, got pulled over by the NYPD traffic cop – for turning right on red! Well, at least, we can say we saw New York city, even if it was only from our car. There was nowhere to park, even just to find a restroom! Country bumpkins that we are, we drove away without even stepping on terra firma of this famous city.

Another lady we visited just this weekend was named Lelawala. Have you heard of her?

No? How come? I thought she was famous!

Maybe her birthplace might ring a bell: Niagara.

Okay, here is the story: Lelawala was a beautiful Indian princess(aren’t they all are?) who live upriver from Niagara. She got betrothed (don’t ask me how) to a guy chosen by the chief (yes, same plot), someone older, richer but mean (you can see where this is leading, but hold on, there might be something different here). On the day of the wedding, Lelawala was so heartsick, she ran away (Cynthia said she’ll run away too if she were in L’s place – the groom was old and ugly and fierce looking). Lelawala could not bear the shame that she has brought to her family, so she took a canoe, and fled. The story (really, the myth) says that she heard the call of the thunder gods, and followed their voices. She paddled her canoe until she reached the rapids of the Niagara, and plunged into the thundering roar of the waterfalls. People say they sometimes see her standing on a rock, thinly veiled by the mists of the roaring waters, hands stretched upward as in worship. They claim she protects those who respect the beauty and strength of this amazing wonder of nature, and is the reason for the survival of some of those who plunged into the water below.

Hey, nice story, isn’t it? The boats that ferry tourists from the US side is called “Maid of the Mist,” while those from the Canada side are called “Lelawala.” Now you know!

Beautiful, amazing, powerful – I am out of vocabulary for this wonderful handiwork of the Lord. See the photos, otherwise, give this place a visit –it will be worth your while. And say hi to Lelawala for me. Happy Autumn!

People and Places

My Journal

I was not a journal keeper at all. I started a diary several times in the past but faltered after a few days – you know, the usual kind: daily for the first week, two or three entries the next week, then will drift down to once a week, and then will totally disappear. Many of those notebooks were recycled into something else, or tossed away still looking new. Not until I was diagnosed with cancer and faced with the shortness of life that I thought about journaling seriously.

The one I have now is a cross of a diary and a prayer journal. Sometimes it is creative, often I just write down what I feel or whatever is the issue of the moment. It is a record of what happened during my cancer journey. They say that writing releases a person’s creative energy which is beneficial, even imperative, to someone in crisis situation like me. Author Nuala O’Falloain writes, “Everyone should write so as to understand themselves. When you write down something about yourself, you kind of clarify in yourself what kind of person you are.” In addition, it is also a tool to confirm –or argue-- about a hospital bill, which comes painfully often.

All these, and the thought that my family would need something of me when I depart, spurred me on writing down my thoughts. Now I thoroughly enjoy doing it. Some are profound (I think!), some are funny, others are about my pain and despair, some are just brief enumeration of what happened.

Journaling allows me to have mental exercise, makes me feel like I am accomplishing something, gives me joy, relieves stress. And reading them from time to time gives me a better perspective – kind of like standing on a crossroad, looking at the unknown over the horizon, and turning to look back at the road I emerged from.

Let me share some of my entries, in the hope that this will nudge you into getting serious with your idea of keeping a journal:

May 20, 2007: “I have to lock the bathroom door when I take my turban off. My husband and children had not seen me bald yet. I am okay with this, I was ready, but well, I’d like to spare them the agony of seeing me without hair. It looks like they feel worse about this alopecia. Anyway, I know this is temporary, that when it grows back, my hair will be better. Besides, it is fun to try on wigs, scarves, hats and see which style fit me. I feel like I am a little girl playing dress-up. Thank You, Lord, for the hope that this will soon pass and will give way to new things, new hair, new life in You which is richer, nobler, more fulfilling!”

August 14, 2007: “Labs done today at 10:00 AM, they drew 12 tubes of blood; bone marrow aspiration at 1:00 PM with conscious sedation. Mindy did a good job, it was painless. Had to be on NPO for 24 hours – it was tough. I ate a little bit after I was out of sedation but threw up shortly afterwards. Good thing Jem was quick – nothing spilled. Reached home without any other incident.”

December 24, 2007: “Today I called Dr. Huff about the rash that developed on my left chest, armpits and inner upper arm – she said they were shingles. Terror! They look so ugly! I started on an antiviral today and took some pain medicine that knocked me down.”

Dec 27, 2007, in pencil: “Father, I am feeling awful from all the pain from these shingles. I do not want to take antipyretics nor Benadryl because they make me drowsy and inactive. Please, Father, if it is thy will, please take this illness from me today. The pain is like fire burning – the pain and itchiness keeps me awake and unable to focus on anything else. O Lord, please grant me the strength to live today…“

Have fun with your journal!