I Have Lost My Mittens, and I Do Not Care

     February is sitting here with me, all gray and dreary.
     Maybe a flake of snow will surprise us, and I have lost my mittens.( could be a metaphor for my mind, but we will go with mittens??!!)
     I believe my two pair of gloves are in the pocket of one down jacket. Last week, I was a snowbird, watching my babies enjoy? skis and slopes. ( Uma watched from afar, but I had to go outside to see this feat of Olympic hopefuls) I think I had to wear gloves, how do people put up with all these layers of clothes, and you are still cold? It baffles me.
     Now I sit in February, at home, and the weather people predict the high tomorrow is 32 degrees ! WHAT!! THE FOCK ( people in Ireland and Scotland say the F curse like this, I Love it!!) FOCK, FOCK, FOCK.!
    I will not put on that coat again, or hunt for my gloves, Its February, and the groundhog is my friend, Bloody Hell ( British peeps!)
    So I continue on my reading list from January. I think I would encourage you to read them all, but one has my heart.
Trails of Broken Wings by Sejal Badani

The Sound of Gravel by Ruth Wariner

The Things We Keep by Sally Hepworth

The Art of Hearing Heartbeats ( I cant read the authors name on my kindle, you can find it!)

And the one that has my heart is When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanith

Also read ;

Boys in the Trees by Carly Simon ( I loved, but you would have to love James Taylor and their story to desire to read this) ( It sort of broke my heart, and reminded me of living in that time of such change)

Cutting For Stone by Abraham Verghese ( I loved most of this, enough to offer it to you as, good)

Now for a few reasons I will read again When Breath Becomes Air.
         Highlights
miscommunication between people can so profoundly impact their lives

gathered experience is worn down by the details of living

We are never so wise as when we live in the moment

Surely intelligence wasn't enough; moral clarity was needed as well

"I don't know. What I do know-and I know you know these things, too-is that your life is about to change." ( on hearing that this person has cancer) ( me just trying to explain, why??I don't know??)
               (you are smart!! I know my people)

Humans are organisms, subject to physical laws

How much neurological suffering would you let your child endure before saying that death is preferable?

When there is no place for the scalpel, words are the surgeon's only tool

I had met her in a space where she was a person, instead of a problem to be solved

in taking up another's cross, one must sometimes get crushed by the weight

What kind of life exists without language

I work my whole life to get to this point, and then you give me cancer

joy, a joy unknown to me in all my prior years, a joy that does not hunger for more and more but rests, satisfied

This is a beautiful story of a young doctor and his journey through cancer. It does not have a happy ending, yet teaches us so much about living. It is very much a book for all people. His wife actually finished the book for him, for he lost his battle. To find joy in the middle of pain, and loss, is just so beautiful. I wish for no one to be tested so harshly, by any disease or loss. I am forever grateful, that those that are tested, write and leave behind their story, to aid all of us on our life journey.
       So on this day, may you find time to read, reflect  and rest satisfied. 
       I may never find my mittens, and that is OK