The Orcs are just outside...

They started banging on the windchimes at 4 am; hammering on the perfectly tuned to the key of C chimes, transforming them into clang,bang,banging tuneless chunks of metal. All we need now is the booming bellow of the drums as they pound on the doors. A storm is approaching...

Truly, a winter, no wait, this is spring. A spring snow storm is forecast for today and tomorrow. Snow, maybe lots of snow and wind, but we already know about the wind. Winter is sneaking in behind spring to deliver a last, one hopes it is the last, sucker punch. There is nothing we can do about the storm except prepare as we are able and wait for it to arrive and then, for it to leave. I have to travel to the Cities today and that might be interesting in all sorts of ways that may not be fun. But really, it is just bad weather and it will pass. This is after all, spring. That is what the calendar says.

There is this other storm coming though. One that possesses a much greater potential for true devastation. Like the spring blizzard that we know is coming, we wait and prepare...

The orcs of cancer are pounding on the doors of friends and loved ones. My sister-in-law Judy, has breast cancer and is going in soon for a masectomy. One of my best friends was just diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer. Sue and John are still in the discovery stage of their journey, finding they have more questions than answers. Karen and I know, we remember, what that is like. There is no way to avoid the fears. You have to face them. You have to be angry and cry and curse and rage at the injustice of this most terrible of afflictions. And then, you have to wipe your eyes, bite your lip and start moving.  

Movement is the answere. Sue's friend in Wyoming told her the key is Relentless Forward Movement. When I told that to Karen, she nodded. She understood. From years of raising and working with horses, she knew that was wise advice. I am paraphrasing but basically it goes like this "As long as you keep their feet moving you have a chance. When the feet aren't moving, you can't tell what the horse is going to do. Anything can happen then."

So we all keep moving. Terry and Judy, Sue and John. Their daughters, their friends and family, You and I, all of us, keep moving. Keep working on helping to make them better. Send prayers. They are cheap, easy and effective and you don't need a computer or phone to do it. Send love. Send peace. But whatever we do, we need to keep moving. Relentless Forward Movement will be our mantra, and as long as we are fighting the orcs, it can be our battle cry as well. Maybe we can get flags and T-shirts, too?

So, I am going to move now, into the kitchen and scare up something for breakfast. Then I will move to work and later today, I will be moving through the storm to get to the Cities. The key is I will be moving and I will pass through the storm and come out on the other side, tired but safe and alive. This is what we want for Judy and Sue. We need to help them move through the storm to come out on the other side.

The orcs are still banging around on the windchimes like meth-crazed monkeys with crowbars but we are not afraid. We are Relentless Forward Movement.

Peace and love to you all.
Mike