Buffalo NY Wedding Photography, Monday Musings 1.3.2011

Hello faithful reader,

“Monday Musings” has been moved to Tuesday just for this week. I realized I had taken quite a bit of time for myself this weekend and when I awoke Monday morning and turned on the computer, I realized I had not even begun to write this post. I apologize for the delay in posting.

The first blog post of the year and I’ve got writer’s block. Normally I have a number of ideas racing through my head. This morning…nothing. Then, when I decided I could think of nothing to write my phone rang. I looked at the phone and instantly recognized the name. It was Ed. I had worked with Ed at my previous job. He is a tireless supporter of myself, my photography and of my son’s football as well as of the kids with whom we worked. I last saw Ed in early November when he traveled to Alfred, NY to see my son play. Three weeks later I received a phone call informing me Ed had been diagnosed with bone cancer and leukemia.

I sat in my office this morning lamenting the fact several patients in a row failed to attend their scheduled appointments. I had been thinking about Ed during this time and even mentioned to Nancy the night before my desire to see Ed as his health had improved enough that visitors were now seen as a positive.

Shortly after I thought of Ed, my cell phone rang. A quick glance at the screen and a smile crossed my face as I noticed it was Ed. The phone call was brief, lasting approximately one minute. Ed was difficult to understand. His speech slurred by anxiety, depression, pain medication and fatigue. I asked Ed if it would be alright if I visited with him tonight and he responded in his low raspy voice, “What time will you be here?” I declared a time and he happily agreed. I called Nancy who said, “I wish I wasn’t working tonight. I’d love to see Ed. I really like him.”

I arrived at the hospital and navigated the hallways to arrive at Ed’s room. The sound of his voice on the phone this morning threw me. Nancy said, “Don’t be surprised when you see him. He might not look that good.”

I arrived at the hospital and navigated the hallways to arrive at Ed’s room. As I rounded each corner I began to think of excuses to not enter Ed’s room. What would he look like? How would I react? I quickly pushed those thoughts aside and thought of our friendship. I thought how Ed would do anything for anyone and I entered his room.

We chatted and Ed, always sounding optimistic reminded me everything would be OK. That is the Ed I knew despite it not looking like the Ed I remembered.

As I drove home from the hospital I contacted a mutual friend and we continued a discussion we had had on several previous occasions. We discussed the importance of “not sweating the small stuff” and “understanding there is nothing more important than family and health.” None of us knows how long we have on this Earth and it’s important to make the most of every minute. I, like most people need to be reminded of this fact. I know it on a cognitive level but choose not to accept this fact as often as I should.

I knew there was a reason, somewhere, causing me not to write this post earlier. God Bless you Ed. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Get well!

I hope everyone has an awesome New Year. Remember it is what you make of it. Remeber what is important and don’t sweat the small stuff.

Thanks for reading everyone.

Namaste.

Chris