The Face of a Woman

This evening I saw the face of a woman that caught my interest.  Her features were by no means striking or breathtaking - she had a petite face with pretty features.  Her hair was perfect, and her make-up subtle.  What fascinated me about this woman was her eyes and her smile.


Her eyes sparkled with a beauty that could only come from having a life so rich and rewarding that it shone through them like diamonds.  They were alive and vibrant - and gave a hint of the fun she had living the experiences that had shaped her into the woman I was staring at.   Her eyes held a touch of mischief, a dash of adventure, and a glint of true contentment.  Her eyes weren't searching for anything or anyone.  It was as if they had already found what they were looking for.  


Her smile was wide and bright - and told the tale of a life filled with laughter and love.  It was a smile that shone from the attention of her friends, and from the love of her family.  Her smile radiated like she didn't carry a care in the world, as if in that moment her life was so blessed by the presence of friends so true and amazing that she couldn't stop the joy from bursting out of her heart through her smile.  It was the smile of a woman that knew she had everything she could ever dream of having - and she was eternally grateful for it.


So after looking at this woman for what must have been a couple of minutes, and studying her as closely as I could - I smiled at her, and with perfect symmetry she smiled back at me.  Mirrors are good like that.  

A letter to God

22 Phillip Street
Johnsonville
WELLINGTON


16 June 2010


Dear God


I am writing to confirm that I would like to accept the position of your Executive Assistant starting within the next couple of months.  Before I commence this role, I'd like to take this opportunity to put a few things on the table for us to discuss, and for you to understand (and get sorted) prior to my imminent arrival.


Firstly, while I'm stoked to be offered this role so early in my mortal career, I have to say that it's a tad earlier than planned - and I hope that my professional development gives me the necessary skills to take over from the angel you currently have in the position.  I'll be honest - I'm a little nervous.  The office that I have down here is pretty cool, and while I know that the environment you'll be offering must be up there with the best, I really have made myself a nice little niche down here.  Don't get me wrong - I know that it's a big deal to be making my way up the 'Corporate Ladder' to you so soon, and I'm sure you're itching to get me settled in and started......I just really wanted you to know that I've had such a great time here it really is going to be a bit hard to leave.


When I arrive with you I'll be interested in getting involved in Workplace Safety and Wellbeing (my current focus and passion) and flexible working hours are also a big thing here on Earth - so we can make sure you have Best Practice when I arrive.  Leave it with me - I'll get it sorted.  I would also like to take an active role in any Social Committees that you have.  You may know that I'm super organised, and love getting things whipped into shape - so consider me your 'go-to-girl' for these things.  I'm picking you already know this about me, hence the call-up to come and be your 'gate keeper' (pun intended - get it??!!!!!). 


You'll also have to get used to my unique sense of humour.  I sing off key, but really don't care (the theme to 'The Love Boat' being a favourite).  Do you have 'Sing Star'?  I'm also a demon on the Wii (tennis) so get your tennis whites out.  It's all on like Donkey Kong!  I'll let you win the first couple....but then I won't be taking any prisoners.  I like my tea strong, and prefer cheese scones (heated with butter please) to fruit ones.  Shoes and handbags are my guilty pleasures - so I hope the salary package you're offering can accommodate my tastes for all things fine and Italian.  Long lunch hours are a must, and access to FaceBook would be nice if you can swing it?  Do you have a profile page?  Again, we can discuss - although I can appreciate the photo might be a bit tricky.


I'm picking there may a delay in filling my position here on Earth, and trust that your ultimate plan has this covered suitably.  We can discuss this in more length over a glass of bubbles one day, because this really is a very big deal to me.  Indulge me with the bigger picture please.  I'll shout the bubbles.


One final thing.  Upon arriving with you, I really would like to spend some time with my Dad, my daughter Samantha, and my Nana.  It's been a while since I've seen my Dad and my Nana, and as you know I never really got to meet my little girl - so I'm hoping you're okay if I hang out with them for a while before I come and assume my new role with you. 


So that's it really.  I'm picking the time frame can't be negotiated?  A wee bit more time would be nice.....but I trust you.  Please remember this come Annual Performance Review time.


Take care, and talk soon
Lee :)

Tea for two......

It's 8.00am on a rainy Monday morning, and I'm sitting here with a cup of tea wondering how to put into words the past few weeks of my life.  Needless to say it's been quite a roller coaster of emotion, and to be honest I think it's a task that will take more that one posting, so instead I will give you an insight into one day.......so here goes.

It's now 8.31am, it's still raining, and I'm about to make my second cup of tea.  In 31 minutes I have written a little more than a couple of dozen words.  I have, however, checked internet banking, downloaded emails, worn a Disney princess crown whilst pretending to be a Queen for Emily, text my best friend about catching up this afternoon, and put on a load of washing.  I'm also contemplating making some breakfast for Elliott who has had a well deserved sleep in this morning.  Bacon and eggs sounds good.  And a cup of tea.

9.38am and I have no idea where the past hour has gone!  Mornings always seem to pass quickly for me - don't ask me why.  The past 68 minutes has been spent making breakfast for my gorgeous husband - Eggs Benedict.  Yum.  I also put on another load of washing, and sent a few emails. El and I also had a brief discussion about how to tell our 5 year old daughter that the Dr's don't have any medicine to make Mummy better.  Terminal cancer is a concept that Emily won't understand - but I think death is.  The anniversary of Samantha was a year ago this past Thursday (03rd June) so she's had some exposure to loss - but to have to sit down with my beautiful princess and tell her that Mummy isn't going to be around to watch her grow up is something that not only breaks my heart, but shatters it entirely.  Is it too early in the morning to have something stronger than tea??

12.56pm.  A cup of tea and a gossip with one of my best friends has taken up the past couple of hours, and it's been lovely.  We filled her in on the details of our wonderful holiday in Disneyland and San Diego, and delighted her with photos and trinkets.  She's been my best friend for the past 7 years.....she's more like a sister than a best friend.  We had plans to go on a cruise around the Mediterranean when we were old and had blue rinse hair.  We were going to pester the cabana boys and wear inappropriate gold sparkly shoes while taking tango lessons on the Lido deck.   We were going to drink expensive cocktails out of fancy glasses, and wear huge black sunglasses as if we were famous actresses eluding the paparazzi.  I hope she still goes on the cruise, and has the time of her life - because that's what it's all about.  She will have enough fun for the both of us, and live life to the fullest for me.

5.40pm and I'm a bit knackered.  I've spent the afternoon drinking tea with my BFF from work who had her beautiful baby boy (Jacob Sullivan - welcome little man x) last week.  What a treasure.  Such a teeny tiny bundle of love and sunshine.  I looked at the peacefully sleeping face of the son of my dear friend, and silently apologised for the things I am going to miss out on - things I would have been right there at the side of his mother for.  I would have bought him new shoes when he took his first steps, and read Dr Seuss to him in a silly voice.  I would have rocked him to sleep in my arms while babysitting him - despite strict instructions from his Mum to let him settle in his cot.  I would have taken a million photos of him, and sung him a million lullabies.  I would have watched him grow into a boy, and then into a man - and as his Mum's BFF I would have offered her my hand to hold while she guided him on this journey.  But instead of doing these things I will look over him a different way.  I will be a guardian angel to him, and a guiding light to her.

10.32pm.  It has rained for most of the day, and as I sit here drinking a cup of tea I can hear it gently tapping at the window and on the roof.  It's been a long day.  Emily had an early night, a side effect from the time difference between here and LA.  I lay with her while she fell asleep, and nestled my face in her hair in an effort to commit the smell of her strawberry locks to memory.  I lay there and prayed to any and every God who could hear me to be frozen in this moment in time, resting peacefully with my perfect princess.  I prayed that in years to come she will have some memory of me.  I prayed that she will forgive me for not being here for her when she needs me in the years to come.  I prayed that she will know in her heart how much I love and cherish her.  And I prayed that she grows up knowing and accepting that what my life lacked in length, it made up for in substance.

And after such a day, I think I need another cup of tea.

A postcard....

Throughout my adult life the road I have travelled along has, for the most part, been well mapped out and followed with a satisfying degree of success.  It has been smooth and wide, with beautiful scenery of stunning green fields filled with flowers of the most vibrant colours.  Over the years I have enjoyed not only plotting the course of this road, but travelling down it.  To date it has been an incredibly memorable journey of love and laughter.  Whilst walking along this road I met and married a gorgeous Scotsman, we travelled the world, and started a family.  This road had no potholes, no detours, and the ground was firm and true.  Recently, this road changed.  


The surface became rough and loose under foot, and what was once a safe passage very quickly became an unstable path. Where once I could see the perfectly straight and flat road before me stretch for miles ahead, I could now only see sharp corners and steep hills.  The fields of colour  became shadows that closed in on me, and lined my unstable path as far as it went.  So I did what any sensible traveller would do when the terrain changes.  I changed my footwear.  And I bought a postcard.


My path has proven to be a tricky one to negotiate, and for the majority of it I am proud to say that I managed it with strength and style.  I have paced myself when fatigued.  I have stopped and asked for directions when lost.  And I have brought with me a pot plant of beautiful flowers to remind me of the fields of gold from the road that lay behind me. And in my pocket are seeds waiting to be sown in the fields alongside the road that lies ahead of me at the end of this path.  And while my footing has been mostly strong and sure, a revelation came as a result of a stumble.


What I previously thought to be shadows of darkness along my path, I discovered to be the silhouette of people who had come to protect me from falling while on this perilous journey.  Their presence, so immediate and overwhelming, touched me more deeply than I can ever convey.  My family and friends, sacrificing anything to be within arms reach of me should I need their help.  My journey continues, and so to my husband, my mother and step father, my brother, my family in New Zealand and Scotland, my best friends and dearest work colleagues I send you a postcard.  But it doesn't say 'Wish You Were Here', because you already are.  And for that I thank you, and I love you.  Lee x

Woohoo

Happy days in the Henderson household - I discovered another dessert I like. Bridget, stop making me food I'm not supposed to like, unless it's dessert of course!!!!

In other news, Lee got the all clear this morning and in what must have been a hospital record had her discharge papers within an hour or so and left the hospital with her handsome chauffeur.

I wear my undies on the outside

Hi team - it's Lee here. Since being admitted into hospital on Wednesday for surgery I've spent a lot of my spare time lying in bed wondering about several things.

I wondered whether there are any real flesh and blood doctors that are even half as attractive as the ones on TV.  There aren't.

I wondered whether hospital food got progressively worse the longer you were subjected to it.  It does.

I wondered whether nurses have favourite patients who they give special treatment to.  They do.

I wondered whether I would be one of those favourite patients.  I was.

I wondered whether visits from my gorgeous husband, friends and Mum & Poppa would make me feel infinitely better.  They did.  

So as you can see I spent a fair bit of my time wondering about very important things, which I guess makes me Wonder Woman.  Which I guess means I should wear my undies on the outside.  

It's all good

Well folks, Friday was a pretty good day all round. Not only did Lee get to spend the entire day in my company, she was moved to her own spacious room with ensuite - think her room mate was sick of her positiveness (if that's not a real word, it should be).

She had a pretty good nights sleep last night, the iv lines were taken out of her arm and neck this afternoon, she managed a couple of short walks today and her appetite is coming back - although not necessarily for hospital food so I had to make a mercy dash to the nearest drive through.

We'd have been happy with all of that but Lee also had a visit from the surgeon who said all going well she can come home Sunday. The surgeon that was supposed to operate (but didn't in the end) also visited to put a face to the name - he's spent long enough debating the case with colleagues so had to meet the medical weirdo for himself. Their opinion seems more positive than we could have imagined but won't count our chickens until they're sliced and diced by the pathologist.

So there you have it - at this rate she'll be ironing my shirts and pampering to my every whim by this time next week. It's only been 13 years of wishing, it's got to happen some time doesn't it?