Dear Maggie,

I think this years lessons might include the word perspective.  Different perspectives, different insights, into the daily weavings of my life.  Sometimes, it all catches me by surprise.

So much has happened since my last letter to you.  We left our wonderful home in New Orleans a little over a year ago, which at the time seemed like a good idea.  We needed a break from the emotional stress of living in a city struggling to recover its identity.  We moved to the beach in North Florida for the summer, which seemed like a great idea when we were lying on the beach.  Then we moved here, to Orlando, which, don't get me wrong, is fine and clean and nice, very nice, but seemed like just another one of our ideas which didn't quite fit.  We forged ahead anyway.   After buying the cutest little house with the most fabulous studio space I have ever seen in my life we proceeded to paint and fix up and rip out walls then paint and fix up some more.  We hung new shades on every window and art on every wall, landscaped every square inch and bought  just the right dining room furniture with the most perfect polka dotted chairs.  All of which seemed like a good idea until we realized our hearts and our home were in New Orleans.

 My perspective on this was simple.  It just took us awhile to figure out where our hearts belonged.  Of course, I had to struggle and whine and carry on about all of it, but it all seems so clear now.  We need to go home.  It took me a year and a half to realize this perspective on where I want to live my life.

Then, just a few weeks ago, we learned my partner, my very sweet, loving, caring, beautiful partner, has brain cancer. Just like that.

Just like that.

It puts everything in perspective.  Painfully clear perspective.

Please send us good thoughts and prayers for our journey home.

Love,
Cathy