Aunt Mugsie's I Believe List

My Aunt Mugs is one of my dad's sisters. She is my godmother and one of my all-time favorite people. My mom used to tell me how crazy she thought it was just how like her I am. She didn't live next door, but has always been part of my life. In college she lived down the street and would take us college kids out for real meals about once a month and always seemed to know just the right time for a time-out from the college scene. She has been a wonderful god-mother and an example that I am that I have had! Now, I know how to be a great godparent. Thanks, Aunt Mugs!

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I believe in God and that he sustains me through good times and bad.

I believe that Scottville was a great place to grow up.

I believe that it is okay to read magazines and newspapers for free at the bookstore as long as I buy some coffee.

I believe that we are definitely products of our parents.

I believe that it is always sunny in Kelly Shorts Stadium.

I believe that singing music by Palestrina and Bach, when the sun is streaming through the Cathedral stained glass windows, is a most sacred event.

I believe in buying cut flowers and good chocolate to mark special occasions and to continue precious traditions.

I believe that the music from the 70’s is the best.

I believe in prayer.

I believe that I carry my sister Christine with me everywhere I go.

I believe I learned my strong work ethic from my Dad.

I believe that all of my nephews and nieces are smart, beautiful and well loved.

I believe there is a comfy couch “up north” and that Mom, Dad and Christine can make room for anyone they want.

I believe that I can learn how to live a better life by paying close attention to my brothers and sisters.

I believe in public service.

I believe we all have a responsibility to help out those who are less fortunate.

I believe that the cup is half full.

I believe that friends are family.

love in an elevator.

What is it with elevators? They are in songs, featured as main characters in sitcoms, and the most anti-social small space to share with strangers. Today I rode in a few elevators and had the thought about how we can share such a close space and not even look someone in the eye--at all. I decided from now I would break that social norm and smile, make eye-contact and say a small hello (just like my friend Molly). For the better part of the day, this proved to make the trips up and down more enjoyable and less akward.

I had just seen my surgeon for the pre-op appointment and got all the nitty-gritty details and my inner- scientist questions answered. My head was spinning, but in a good way. I am ready! (Before going on, I should explain that the surgeon's office shares a wing with the Cancer Treatment Center at the hospital. Every time I go see him and am about to feel sorry for myself, I see those women and men and realize this ain't no thang.) As I was exiting and swirling in thought, a woman got on the elevator with me to go down to the lobby. She was the cancer patient I would want to be (if God forbid I ever had to be). She had a fabulous scarf covering her surely bald head and an amazing pair of dangly earrings--she looked beautiful. As she got on I totally had to compliment her scarf--it was gorgeous. So we had that brief elevator chat and then got quiet. And just as the doors had closed and the elevator began it's decent---SCREECH! CRANK! brakes. Yep, the elevator stopped.

Gorgeous Scarf (GS)looked at me, and asked did the elevator make that noise? Me: Yes, it's definately stopped. GS: Oh dear- should we call 911? Me: Um, I think we can call the elevator and they can give guidance. (So we called. They were sending help) Me looking at GS: "Um, seriously?" and cracking into a HUGE grin and just started laughing. We did not stop laughing for the full 45 minutes we were in the elevator.

She called her husband (he was downstairs) and offered to loan me her phone for my work call (I politely declined and thought this might be the best excuse to miss a call EVER!). We started to talk and just kept laughing at the situation we were in. Amoung the laughter, I leanred the CliffNotes version of her story. She is in her second round of chemo treatments for breast cancer. She is a mother of 2- 4-year-old twin boys that were born after her first diagnosis when she was 25. At 31, she is a mother and soon-to-be 2-time cancer survivor. Her name is Heather. And I spent an afternoon with her giggling in an elevator.

It was an everyday adventure. And today I learned that life can always be scarier than you think it is. That scary things really can bond you to someone else. And that laughter really does fix all things.

It was a good day. Who else would this happen to? Seriously.