On Turning 50

Leap of Faith © Yvonne Cornell 2013

Saturday is my BIG 50!

My original plans were to stay in an ocean bluff cottage on an organic farm with my husband, our boys and the dog, followed by a zip lining adventure in the coastal redwood trees.

Life offered me a different leap of faith.

I have been diagnosed with breast cancer.

To be sure, my prognosis is really good because I found it early.

I’m still in the early thick of countless diagnostic tests.

Nonetheless, I’ve met my first foe — my own hasty desire to squarely set the plan, manage it and get on with it.

A better friend appeared today — the ability to be nimble and light-footed in face of the unexpected surprises and turns ahead.

It reminds me of that 19^th century English nursery rhyme:

Jack be nimble,

Jack be quick,

Jack jump over

The candlestick.

Any presupposed outcome is only a temporary plan until the next set of diagnostic results alter it.

I’m working to stay nimble and quick,

Ready to jump over the next candlestick.

This includes staying sharply tuned into the unexpected goodness and good news.

So on that original plan of turning 50?

It’s a milestone, and a numerical one at that.

The gem is that on my BIG 50 this weekend,

although I won’t be chilling in that distant cottage by the sea,

I will be surrounded by my husband, my boys and our little dog.

I have an entire year to settle into number 50.

We have future plans of staying on that farm at the ocean’s bluff,

and taking that leap of faith amongst the coastal redwoods.

My sons are already calling it my Post-50 Party.

So stay with me on this path of nimble and quick, open to the unexpected.

And I will keep posting here on the found and foraged.

My weekly Thursday’s Tribute on artists and their work is likely to appear monthly for the time being.

Above Photo: Leap of Faith © Yvonne Cornell 2013

Found: rusted gas stove cover, bird wings, downy hawk feather, bottle cap, rusted metal washer, and silver metal shaving.

Foraged: lobelia flowers, mother-of-pearl shell, sand worn sea glass, pinecone scales, walnut shell and California buckeye stems with buds.