April 27, 2023 - Love is In the Air

Oh! I’m so corny! Truth, I love corny. Today is the 27th anniversary of the day that I committed my life to my true love, Jamie Kranking. Gah! Corny! But, it is so true. (If you can stand it, listen to the song that I commissioned for him…..I know, but it was the best gift I ever gave him!)

I’m not sure how we find our “one and only”, but I found mine. I’m in amazement every day. How in the world did I find a man who loves me so? I’m so lucky and loved. I won’t belabor the thought, but I do love him…I love him hard. I love that he is the father of my greatest accomplishment in this world…Mason. I love that he is mine.

April! April is a great month. It is the birthday month of Mason, my mother Margaret, and some bad-ass friends that I love. This month has been rich in memories. When I reflect back on the last month, I can’t help but pinch myself. I must be dreaming. Blessed.

SCANS! My 5-letter word. I had my PET scan in early April. Miraculously, and I mean miraculously, I had a clean scan. I praise the Lord daily for my continued F-U against this insidious disease. I continue to take the chemo meds that fight the invasion, but I won’t lie. It can be hard. I am blessed with a glorious family and a tribe of women who make me feel “normal”. My next brain MRI is in June. I can only remain confident that my stubbornness and inability to concede will prevail!

Are you there God, it’s me Renee? Just kidding!! It is ironic that my beautiful mothers’ name was Margaret! I love, love, love Judy Blume. My first novel that I read was “Iggy’s House”. I was in 3rd grade and became hooked on reading. Judy Blume explained life to me. I won’t be graphic (maybe a little), but she taught me everything my mother refused to discuss!

I understood the trials and tribulations of a young Margaret Simon, but to actually learn about wet dreams in “Then Again, Maybe I Won’t”, oh my! No one talked about that! And, Deenie was the most beautiful person I could imagine, but when I read “Forever”, I was enchanted! I never knew Ralph was someone I should meet! If you know, you know! (IFYKYK: in internet lingo).

Squirrel: How did I just lose focus and fan girl on Judy Blume? I know…because she is brilliant? Yes, that must be it! I am lucky! Next week, I am going to see the movie adaptation of “Are You There God, It’s Me Margaret” with a group of amazing women.

I should be focusing on 27 years of wedded bliss! But, that is a lie! Marriage is hard, really hard. I am lucky that I have a partner that compromises. We start many discussions on opposite ends of the football field, but we always seem to be facing each other on the 50 yard line……..we meet in the middle when it counts.

I love him dearly. I am so blessed and thankful that he is by my side. We never dreamed our life would be ‘in waiting” scan by scan, but I couldn’t do it with anyone except Jamie…my one and only. I love him so…