I had a very happy childhood. We had very little of this world's goods, but enough to live happily. My brother and I were given gifts for birthday and Christmas, chosen with great love and care by our parents. There really were no other things bought for us throughout the year, apart from shoes and clothes and the necessities of life.
Anything left over out of the meagre budget each week was put aside for the big event of our year - the Royal Queensland Show. Excitement would build up as the calendar turned over to August and we dreamed about which two (or sometimes even three) show bags we would buy, and salivated at the prospect of the rare treat of buying hot potato chips (fries!) to eat with our wonderful home-made sandwiches. Life was simple and small things brought great joy.
Show day would arrive and first stop was always the Show Bag pavilion. After we had carefully evaluated what was on offer, we would buy one show bag; usually the choice was Licorice. Something as extravagant as a second or third show bag had to be thought about very thoroughly, so that was a decision to be made later in the day.
Agricultural displays, animals, birds, flowers followed, then over to the craft exhibition, cake decorating, photography. It was a whirlwind of sheer delight for someone whose small world normally consisted only of outings to visit grandparents, church, and a once-a-year trip to the beach.
After our gourmet meal (well it was to me), we would go down Side-Show Alley with its gravity-defying and terrifying rides. Our focus was on finding the best merry-go-round ride. It had to be safe, not expensive, and had to last more than just a few rounds, and the queue to get on wasn't to be too long. Once we were on the ride, we were just all smiles, and very bravely held on with one hand while we used the other one to wave to mum and dad. Then the merry-go-round would start to slow down, the music would stop and it would grind to a halt and off we would hop, ready to go and watch the wood-chopping competition or sit and rest the weary legs and enjoy the ring events. I smile as I relive the sweet pleasures of childhood.
Life for me these last seven months has felt as though I have been on a Merry-go-round. I have had health issues and have been on the round of innumerable tests. They have ruled out a few diseases, and every different test has consistently returned a negative result, virtually saying there is nothing wrong with me. But the symptoms have worsened and I have been feeling as though I am becoming a hypochondriac. The Merry-go-round has slowed down, the music has stopped, but I can't get off because it's still turning!
Last week the doctor decided to go down a different track and ordered more tests, and finally this week two of them came back positive! It is not a good result because my immune system is attacking my own body big time, but I am in some way happy, because it means finally there is a clue; there is something causing my illness, and I am not imagining it. The Merry-go-round will be turning more and more over the next months as I see specialists and undergo further tests, but there is a glimmer of hope that one day it will stop and I will be able to hop off! Meanwhile I am so thankful for family and friends who care and pray and support me through the round of unknowns, and for a doctor who has kept the Merry-go-round spinning in an effort to diagnose my problems.
Calendars are a bit like a Merry-go-round. They keep turning over to a new day and there is nothing we can do to stop it! I figure if that's the case, then we may as well have something pretty on the wall to tell us what the date is! The photos in this post are from my 2022 Block-of-the-month design, Days of Delight Calendar.
We are already into the month of April, and this month's patterns have been sent off to those who have subscribed to the BOM. It's not too late to join, so go over to the Days of Delight page where you will find all the details.
I hope you can find time on the Merry-go-round of life to have some time for stitching, slowing down, and smelling the roses.
Val
3 comments:
Well, I definitely enjoyed the first part of this blog post! I've been to the Sydney Royal Easter Show and it sounds very similar to the one you attended. I could relate to many of the items you reminisced about. I particularly remember the wood-chopping event which was amazing to witness. I also enjoyed the sheep-herding demonstration; those dogs are incredible! But of course, the second half of your post isn't so enjoyable. I'm really sorry to hear you haven't been well. And how dare your immune system attack itself! Would this be a form of Lupus? It sounds familiar only because I have a friend with systemic Lupus. Nonetheless, I hope the doctors are giving you the care you need, and that your health issues are resolved. Be well!
What wonderful childhood memories. I'm sorry to hear about your health issues and that it has taken so long to find out what is wrong. I pray God will give your doctor wisdom.
Thanks so much Michelle.
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