Feeling pleased, hoping life co-operates

[monrein]

I'm very excited actually but hardly dare to utter just how much.  I used to spend the month of May in France, well for about 8 years we did, exploring different areas and it was always my husband, me and my mother-in-law.  (I had lived in France on two separate occasions, once as a student, once teaching in Nice.)  But then my blood work and kidney started showing signs of all-not-being-well and that annual trip had to end.  My mother-in-law is also now 92 and she had started to become too fragile. 
Two and a half years ago my sister-in-law (brother's wife) gave me a new kidney, name of KAKE (Kathy's Amazing Kidney Extraordinaire) and my age started going backwards as my life felt like mine again.
 So we are all going to France, starting this Sunday, for three and a half weeks...me, my husband, my brother, my donor, my nephew (17) and my niece (13).  We were thrilled to start planning this trip and then my m-i-l suddenly ended up in hospital where she spent 6 weeks with a bunch of things.  My husband was there every day for at least 4 hours and often longer while I was told to stay away from the hospital.  One of her doctors is also one of mine and she was emphatic.  I'm close to my Mum, as I call her, and my husband is an only child so this was all very difficult.  Lee also felt that he might have to miss out on the France trip which depressed the heck out of our Mum.  She's one of the loveliest people. 
She's now home (retirement home) with services plugged in, my aunt visiting her every day we're away, and we leave on Sunday.  There is still so much to do that I feel a bit overwhelmed but I made our first lunch reservation at an amazing restaurant in one of my favorite little villages and I'm feeling excited.  I most look forward to showing my brother and his family places that are special to us and even though the summer isn't my favorite time to be in France at least it won't be peak season.  I've rented a house in the Dordogne region (southwest) for a week and another in Paris for a week (perfect location, out the door, turn right, walk very short distance, look across the street, across the Seine at Notre Dame de Paris).  We also spend some time in a lovely medieval village called Cordes-sur-Ciel, a walled village built high up on a hill and we visit friends who live near Bordeaux.

I share this with everyone here with two things in mind.  The first is simply to catch up with those of you here who have been with me through the transplant failure, dialysis, new transplant thing.  The second is in the spirit of the wider perspective on life in general and ESRD in particular.  When I was on D, due to feeling awful plus the restrictive nature of the business,  this all seemed totally impossible and I never dared hope I could do it again.  I do live in the moment and I found my joy in little things like orchids, my garden and such...which can and do bring great pleasure actually.   I tried and managed to get through bad moments and to experience better moments.  Now, while away on this trip to France I will savour the fun experiences but always know that all things will disappear, joy will give way to frustration which will pass in it's turn and so it goes up and down and round and round.

Now if only I could get packed in between trips to make sure that all is in order in my mother-in-law's world.

P.S.  She's also decided and we've made arrangements NOT to return if she suddenly were to die while we're away.  As we discussed, our return would not bring her back, a funeral can wait for life and perhaps most importantly we each know where we stand with each other and feel lucky to have shared so much.  As for mother-in-law jokes, I never get the punch lines, mine has been and still is pretty darn wonderful.

P.P.S  I promise to toast IHD and it's members regularly.   

[willowtreewren]

So wonderful, Monrein. 

And it is so true that we need to be mindfully in the moment, whether good or bad, knowing that now is really all we have.

Enjoy France! Enjoy the beauties that life has to offer, whether large or small. Celebrate! 

Aleta

[billybags]

Have a lovely time.You deserve it.

[Rerun]

Oh, this sounds wonderful.  For us who can never make this trip please bring back pictures and tell us about every little adventure.

       

Have a great time and your MIL will be in my prayers to make it until you get back so you can tell her all about it.

Have a safe trip and drink bottled water.

[rsudock]

Well I am thinking about your MIL and have a marvelous time on vacay!!!

yeah!!

xo,
R

[okarol]

  It sounds wonderful - have a great time - it's fabulous that your transplant gives you this freedom to live your life! I want to see the photos too!!   

[tyefly]

very exciting....   we will be watching for up dates on your trip and   like Okarol said......LOts of pictures..

[Bill Peckham]

That sounds like fun!

[MooseMom]

Oooh, La Belle France!!!  I love France; when I lived in the UK, we'd pop over for Sunday lunch.  We had many annual vacations in that beautiful country, and I developed a great love for that wonderful French country cuisine.  I was in Normandy one year on D-Day (just by coincidence), and it was a truly unique experience.  I hope you have a wonderful time and will take many photos to share with us upon your return.  I am sorry to hear about your mother-in-law, but I am glad that she is urging you to go and enjoy this trip.  That is very generous of her; I'm sure she understands that this is why so many of us are longing for a new kidney and a new lease on life.  I am thrilled for you and can't wait to hear the details of every meal (I would always take photos of the fabulous dinners I'd have throughout France).

Have a safe and wonderful trip!!

[boswife]

awwwwww, life at it's best     Im so happy your able to make this trip.  What a great feeling to know your accomplishing this once again 
Hugs to your MIL, bless her for being so good to you and making it all beautiful..

[kristina]

I wish you a bon voyage and a lovely time,

Kristina.

[jbeany]

We want pics, too!  Have a fabulous time!!!

[Sax-O-Trix]

I studied at the Bordeaux Conservatoire de Musique for short time in the 1980's...  I hope you enjoy your vacation!  Your MIL sounds like a real gem - I wish she were mine

[galvo]

Envious I am!! Have a great time.

[paris]

Oh, you know how excited I am for you!   That is my goal, to beable to go back again.  Visit favorite spots, wander the streets ----  I am thrilled you are going.   Show us how to live and vacation after a transplant!!    Your mother-in-law is so gracious.  If something does happen, you and the family can stop in any church to light a candle and say a prayer, then have whatever ceremony when you return.   You have shown her so much love and given her a great senior life and she is returning the favor by asking you not to come home.  Makes me tear up. 

We are living through you this next few weeks.  Save travels              

[Ang]

save travels Gail, Lee and family

[glitter]

have a great trip- enjoy your family! 

[monrein]

Thanks so much everyone.  I'll seriously be thinking of all of you with great fondness during the trip and wishing good things for you too and since my nephew is Mr. Photograph, especially food, I'll be sure to post some pics.

[st789]

 

[Poppylicious]

Have a wonderful time! I shall just miss you (we're travelling through a bit of northern France to get to Belgium on Saturday to buy my MiL her dastardly cigarettes) but I shall wave to you from across the English Channel! Oh, and I too wish your MiL were mine. She sounds a real gem.

 

[kitkatz]

Have a great time!

[lmunchkin]

Iam so excited for you MOON!  I do believe life will cooperate for you. You go and have a "Delicious" time! Our prayers go with you always!

I'm just a weeeeeee jealous, but hey, I do sincerely hope you have a ball!!!


lmunchkin       

[monrein]

Well we had a truly wonderful time in France and every step I took, as well as every bite of food that is not on a renal diet, made me feel so grateful.  It was nice having my donor sister-in-law along and I was so thrilled to show their family around places that have always meant so much to me.  I promised photos and I apologize if there are too many but I love seeing the ones other members post of trips and themselves so here goes.

[monrein]

And more...

[monrein]

And again...