Sharing: TIME GOES BY "Choosing a Life - Or Letting It Happen"

I recall sharing one of Ronni's posts here previously. This one is particularly poignant.

Reflecting on the life I have lived is not something I have much dwelled upon during these several years of living with terminal cancer and COPD. I've always been more of a now person than a then one. Not that... Related Stories Let's You and Me Have a ...

‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ 

Having trouble viewing this email? View it in a browser. Choosing a Life – Or Letting It Happen Reflecting on the life I have lived is not something I have much dwelled upon during these several years of living with terminal cancer and COPD. I've always been more of a now person than a then one. Not that I don't remember things or that they don't come to mind or up for discussion. But mostly, now is more compelling for me. Perhaps it was true for you, too – that in school, there were two or three or four or so classmates who from a young age knew exactly what they wanted to be when they grew up and lo - they actually did that, doctor, lawyer, auto mechanic, whatever they fancied. But not me. I had no earthly idea what I would do when I grew up – even when I grew up. All I knew from my lower middle-class family was that it was up to me. Maybe it was not said quite out loud but the idea instilled was that my parents had gotten me to working age and now I had to follow through to support myself. Looking back, my mother was right about insisting I take typing class in high school and that kept me employed for the several years it took until a career trajectory began to come into view. (An overview of my career is recounted here.) Even though at the time I believed I was choosing this job, rejecting that one, making a lateral change for better pay, location, whatever, sometimes it has felt like someone or something else was making the decision. It is rather amazing the number of interesting jobs that dropped into my lap over the years from unexpected telephone calls, even from strangers once or twice who had heard of me from someone and thought we should talk about working together. Not to go all woo-woo on you but now and then I have wondered if I really chose the men or the friends and others in my life. Did someone or something direct all this? There are people who believe such things. Without going down the free will rabbit hole, so speaking of this in the most prosaic sense, I have felt at times over the years that I have had nothing to do with my life, that it was written down before I got here and I'm just following the script. At nearly 80 years into my life now, it is still kind of fun to ponder such notions, but there is a growing sense inside me, too, that I have arrived somewhere – that one way or another I am coming to enough. No more striving, just accepting. But that imperative to survive I mentioned the other day is still deep and strong. My god, it does hang on; illness doesn't affect that. And there is still a great joy in living each day – well, each good one. And here is how part of that goes: Many years ago, I worked for a woman I didn't like much. She didn't like me either. But we were both smart, good at our jobs and respected one another so it worked out. One day I was surprised to learn that she was a boxing fan, that her father had taken her to all the matches he attended in their town when she was a kid and it had stuck with her. Me? I blurted out rudely that I couldn't think of any more boring way to spend an evening. And then she said to me, "Ronni, everything is interesting if you pay attention." Since then, that piece of news has never failed me. Choosing my life? Pre-ordained life? That I am right on script during this final chapter? Or am I just getting weird in the late days of my predicament? What matters is that all of it is just as interesting as everything else has been since JoAnn explained it to me. Related Stories Let's You and Me Have a Bit of a Chat Today When Bad Days Turn Good – Part 2 When Bad Days Turn Good – Part 1

Lifelong Learning: Kids' Summer Vacation Cooking Camp

Students in Grades 4-7

‌ Lifelong Community Learning Where fun and learning meet! Summer Vacation Cooking Camp with chef Sandhya Jain of Sandhya's Kitchen For Students Grades in 4-7 REGISTER NOW!! https://reg.abcsignup.com/view/cal7a.aspx?ek=&ref=&aa=&sid1=&sid2=&as=79&wp=426&tz=&ms=&nav=&cc=&cat1=&cat2=&cat3=&aid=FPSLLI&rf= DATES: July 29 - August 1, 2019 TIME: 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm LOCATION: Franklin High School During camp, students will: Enhance their kitchen skills Learn complex techniques like: searing, sauteing, folding & more! A sample of what students will be cooking: Breakfast for dinner: carrot cake pancakes, smoothies, quiche   Comfort food: butter dinner rolls, parmesan crusted chicken nuggets, & apple pie cups with whipped cream Cookies: healthy oatmeal fruit cookies, stained glass cookies, coconut macaroons Snack attack: fresh pretzels, cheese-flavored crackers, granola parfaits Lifelong Community Learning, 218 Oak St., Franklin, MA 02038 LCL@franklinps.net www.FranklinLifelongLearning.com Follow us on Twitter!

FPS- Lifelong Community Learning | 218 Oak Street, Franklin, MA 02038 Sent by lcl@franklinps.net in collaboration with Try email marketing for free today!

Lifelong Community Learning: Winter/Spring 2018 Registration is Open

Something For All Ages & Interests

REGISTRATION IS OPEN CLICK HERE FOR BROCHURE

FPS- Lifelong Learning | 355 East Central Street, Franklin, MA 02038 Sent by reedb@franklinps.net in collaboration with Try it free today

my brochure just arrived in the mail

Download the Lifelong Community Learning brochure

http://files.constantcontact.com/5600e112101/b75760f7-d2c6-4825-9bb6-e53fe9bc7315.pdf

Lifelong Community Learning Announces Classes - Winter / Spring Registration Opens - Jan 3

Registration opens for the winter/spring semester at Lifelong Community Learning on January 3 and classes begin in early-February. Again for this session, most classes have been extended to a full semester of 14 weeks rather than the 10 week sessions in previous years.

Lifelong Community Learning
Announces Classes

Participation is open to individuals, organizations and businesses alike in Franklin and the surrounding region towns. Participants can choose from a very interesting variety of options. Classes include everything from Child Care Education, Basics of Internet Safety for Adults, Special Occasion Photography to various food and wine offerings, and a Wine Tasting Reception in early May. 

For kids, participants will find an expanded Kids’ Corner program including cooking, language, robotics and so much more.

This session participants will also find more exercise and sports programs than ever – Yoga, Zumba, Community Walking and a Community Walking Wellness Challenge, beginning in February. Badminton is back along with Men’s Basketball, Intermediate and Advanced Volleyball classes rounding out the field.

If you would like more information, you can go online www.FranklinLifelongLearning.com and click on Community Learning. While you’re there, you can register. You can also call Community Learning at 508-613-1480 for more information.

ABOUT US: Lifelong Community Learning is a program of the Franklin Public School’s Lifelong Learning Institute, dedicated to providing diverse and enriched education and experiences for all area residents and children – a resource for all ages.