by Alison

my rosy fair skin

susceptible to the sun -

Basal Cell Cancer

.

It’s been a tough week. Basal Cell Carcinoma is a very treatable form of Cancer. I know this. It’s not the same as Melanoma. Still, when the doctor called to say “Cancer” today I found myself a little shaken up. I could kick myself for spending the past 8 months trying out “herbal remedies” on what I thought was a persistant little rash. I could kick myself for always saying “I don’t have time” to see a doctor. I’m guessing there will be a scar of some sort and a subsequent change of hairstyle. Not bad, all things considered. But this echoes the theme of my last haiku. My mantra for the next year will be “Alison, take care of yourself.” It seems it is true. It is impossible to take care of others if you don’t take care of yourself.

by Alison

Advice for all moms -

Never forget to take care

of yourself as well.

.Oh, Kelly. I love the idea of Zumba. I love remembering our Salsa days. But here I sit, 41 years old with a bag of frozen peas strapped to my sore lower back. So I’ve been doing a lot of reflecting this week in terms of how I parent and how I take care of myself. Parenting? I’m hardly perfect. But I give it my all and Penny is wonderfully herself. Shy but confidant. Thoughtful. Growing every day. I am growing as a person too but my body has paid a price. Stiff joints. My first big bout of lower back problems. And my love of spas and yoga seems too far a part of the past. Ouch. Giving my all to parenting and too little to myself is not a long term solution and so I am setting a goal for myself. Get back to my roots as a “healing” sort of woman. I remember doing handstands and downward dogs in between college classes to relieve stress. I remember being sure to book an appointment with a masseuse each month despite my meager teacher’s salary. And I remember (Kelly, was this with you?) dropping little tinctures into my tea and claiming that I could feel the energy. And so here I am, googling Pilates and Yoga classes and core energetics. Booking appointments with accupuncturists and chiropractors. And reading books about the spirit. So please, check in with me dear Kelly. And as a soon-to-be new mom, I promise to check in with you.

by Alison

deep stretch

runs up and down my thigh -

purple cork gym floors

by Kelly

sans hat, sunglasses

and sunscreen I go walking

for vitamin D

by Alison

mismatched pajamas,

tangled hair and too much tube -

seven days home sick

by Alison

kiddo sick all week

I’m exhausted from childcare -

I need a grandma

by Alison

green tea and kale chips

yoga and inspiring books -

I’m feeling healthy

by Alison

summer’s end -

already I’ve caught

a winter cold

by Alison

he talks on and on

entertaining me until

my hoarse frog voice heals

by Alison

I waste the hours of

a perfect spring day whining

about a toothache