Constance Ore is a retired Teacher, Choir Director, and Organist. And a formidable cook.

May 1, 2006

Filed under: — Constance at 8:46 am on Monday, May 1, 2006

This day is absolutely stunning with sunlight, birds, all the wonderful things that add up to splendor here. The Big Blue Heron flew overhead and a meadow lark delivered its morning song especially well as we walked past.

I feel good today; energy is up, Oxycodone is in place, injection of blood thinner didn’t hurt very much, hair looks awful, but then who’s looking, and Janna and the twins are coming out by noon. Today is the 135th day of my new life, and I feel a great deal better than I did when the year began. This is the month we have been waiting for, and I am thinking of portents. . . in another time and culture, the priests would be seeking out the chicken that would be killed for the reading of the entrails to see what is to come next; here it is the Bone Marrow Aspiration that we have been talking about for quite some time. On May 12th, the wall of the hipbone will be breached, the marrow and blood sample will be sucked out and bits of it will be carefully sealed into tubes to be given to those trained to “read the portents”. Thank goodness it’s not just the innards of an erstwhile chicken! On May 18, we will gather at the oncologist’s office and see what has been sorted out for the future.

Last night I went to a concert of music written by Mozart and Haydn 250 years ago. All of us in the audience sat as one entranced by the beauty of the sounds of orchestra and choir delivering the familiar psalm texts of Vespers and our faith’s story in the Lord Nelson Mass. A soprano soloist’s voice floated above and over. Afterwards, I said to daughter Heidi, “When I get to heaven, I will request becoming a soprano.” She replied, “I don’t know Mom, it looks like a lot of work, being a soprano. . . now altos, they get to rest quite a bit, and just sing some fantastic songs now and then, but sopranos, I think they have to sing all the time.” Yes, indeed, and I shall be a great soprano!

May Day! Little paper cup baskets of flowers and M and M’s hung on doorknobs with wishes of happiness and joy to the residents within. May Day! The sounds of “Sanctus” and “Dona Nobis Pacem” written so long ago sounding now in the head and reaching forward. May Day! Granddaughters coming through the door with big plans for us and for Alphie. May Day!

4 Comments

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Comment by irene beethe

May 1, 2006 @ 1:15 pm

Dear Connie,

I was gone for the weekend – went to Saginaw to play the program, once again, at George’s church. The audience was filled with people that have had a part in my life…from my 2nd grade teacher to former bell choir members from Macomb. What a special day!

The people especially loved Charles’music and “What a Friend” popped up as a favorite, with several people talking to George later about when HE was going to play it…confirmation, funerals, whenever! He said, “Thanks, alot!” Now he has to learn it.

When I read about your past few days, I didn’t know what to say, except to continue to pray for you…one of those times when the Holy Spirit knows what to ask..with groans and sighs!

I rejoice that today was better for you. The visit from Janna will truly be a special one…Thank God for those special connnections of family.

Peace and JOY to you in Jesus,
Irene

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Comment by Caroline Schau

May 2, 2006 @ 7:49 am

What a glorious start to my day; birdsong, cool breezes, and Connie feeling better. Able to touch those granddaughters, not just see and/or hear about, able to go to a concert! Things are indeed looking up.
However, John-paul, pleeeaassee! Rush Limbaugh on the same page and in same condition as Connie? Heresy, surely!
God be with you, as I suppose as a Christian I must say, God be with Limbaugh as well. Ciao!

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Comment by Paula Huebschman

May 2, 2006 @ 1:39 pm

Dear Mrs Ore,
First, I must thank you again for sharing your journey. People seem to listen more closely to the testimonies of those who are in “the valley” – and your message stimulates the mind and touches the heart more deeply because you have such a gift of language.

May 12th will find the Huebschman family holding two people in prayer to our Lord – you, as you face the bone marrow “harvesting”, and our nephew Joshua. On the 12th Joshua, who is eleven, will be undergoing a procedure on his heart. It has a sort of electric circuit malfunction which causes it to sometimes race uncontrolably. These episodes leave him exhausted and have on a few occasions caused him to pass out. The procedure is intended to short-circut the faulty “wiring” and restore his heart to a normal beat.

It gives us comfort to place you and Joshua into the hands of our Creator God. May it give you peace and comfort as well.

With love and friendship,
Tim and Paula

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Comment by Carol Anderson Weber

May 10, 2006 @ 9:52 pm

Connie, I’ve deeply enjoyed reading your words over the last few months…it seems an oxymoron to say that, given the path you are on and what the subject is of so many of your words, but it is such a joy to read of the details of your life in your well-chosen words, to see in my mind’s eye the nature you describe, to laugh at your humor and to delight in your deliberate joy.

I’ve been holding you in prayer, but haven’t felt the need to comment until today, when I roared with laughter at your words. You see, I’ve always maintained that when I get to heaven, I want to be a bass! I’ve been a first soprano most of my life, and it is indeed great fun sailing up to those high notes…but those quintessential bass lines are such a satisfying delight! So, enjoy the soprano lines you’ll be singing, but look for me in the bass section, where I plan to be booming out the bass line, grinning from ear to ear!

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