Everything is Connected

There is a saying I have been quoting lately on Facebook by Leonardo da Vinci- “Learn how to see. Realize that everything is connected to everything else.” I learned that lesson again yesterday.

During my radiation treatments, I did a series of mixed media prints called Bubbles of Optimism which I decided to give to some of the doctors I have worked so closely with this year. I hadn’t had time to drop off the one to Dr. Marisa Weiss, my radiation oncologist, until yesterday, December 31. I haven’t been back to Lankenau Hospital since I finished my radiation treatment. I drove up and as I turned into the driveway, I felt myself tense up and feel kind of weepy. I left the package with the secretary.

By the time I got into the garage, I was a wreck. I did hold it together until I got back into the car and then I fell apart. Where did all this emotion come from? Why was I so sad and crying??? I was on my way to coffee with a dear high school friend Susan who I haven’t seen for a while but who I know forever. In fact, she and I went on our first grand tour of Europe together in 1965!! We don’t see each other often enough but when we get together we can talk about everything and we do! Our coffee lasted for hours!

What I found out this time was that Susan had breast cancer three times. I only knew about the one major time- stage 3/4, not the other 2 which she kept secret. So we talked and talked about everything, this time including our cancers, not just books, movies and our kids. She was exactly the right person to meet after dropping off that present.

The end of the year, coffee with a dear friend, drop off a present….everything is related.

Bubbles of Optimism 1, 2, 3, mixed media by Linda Dubin Garfield