Gratitude
Posted: August 24, 2012 Filed under: breast cancer, literature | Tags: breast cancer blogs, children's literature, Gerald and Piggie books, gratitude, gratitude journal, Journeying Beyond Breast Cancer, Mo Willems 19 CommentsMarie at Journeying Beyond Breast Cancer has issued a challenge. I can’t resist a challenge, so I’m in. Her idea? Take a photo each day of something for which I’m grateful and share it online.
Today I’m grateful for Mo Willems. He’s a children’s book author who writes a charming series called Elephant & Piggie. We’ve read this series a million times, and with titles like There Is a Bird on Your Head and I’m Going to Surprise My Friend, these books never get old. Even now that my favorite girl has way outgrown Mo’s books, I still smile when I think of Gerald & Piggie. As I recover from Wednesday’s knee surgery, I thought of Gerald & Piggie, and instead of Today I Will Fly, for me it’s Today I Will Walk. 
48 hours is about all I can take of the forced sedentary healing, so Today I Will Walk. Stiff-legged and slow, and probably a bit of shuffling, too, but Today I Will Walk.
My favorite girl and I were lucky enough to meet Mo Willems several years ago when he came to Blue Willow Bookshop. 
He read from his latest book, The Pigeon Wants a Puppy, and took questions from the audience. 
After his presentation, we stood in a very long line to have Mo to sign Macy’s books. He was funny and charming and everything I expect a kids’ book author to be. My favorite girl chattered endlessly about ideas she had for Mo’s books. She had a ton of story ideas in her 5-year-old brain, and I suspect it made perfect sense to her that they could collaborate. So when Mo asked Macy if she had any questions for him as he signed her books, she said, “What’s your phone number?” Sweet Mo was a bit taken aback, and when Macy explained that she has some ideas, he realized he didn’t need to panic, we weren’t a couple of crazy stalkers.
Meeting Mo and being in his presence and seeing how he interacted with all the kids was a super cool experience. Today I’m grateful for Mo Willems. And Today I Will Walk!
The Pink Underbelly 
Peg-leg your way to the beer fridge and plop yourself down in a comfy chair and get to writing “Today I Will Drink”!
I second Ed’s Idea 🙂
look at her beaming… moments like that can nurture her dreams forever
About this walking…..I’m going to give you a call! Better yet, maybe I need to get over there to tie you to your crutches!~ You MUST use both crutches and put limited weight (pain tolerance) initially. Then you graduate to one crutch on affected side–then walking without crutch assistance. This is a process that takes days to go through. I really think it’s the whole “once I’m ambulating without assistance, I get to take this TED hose off” that’s got you in a sprint for the ambulating finish line! This process should take about 10 days….for you 7 maybe. Don’t rush it, remember that patience you blogged about yesterday? If you rush it, you may cause more harm than good! (Remember, YOU are the one who labeled me your medical sherpa! I don’t want to fall down on the job!)
Amy, you made need rope and duct tape to slow her down!
By the way! That Macy is something! Mo doesn’t realize what he missed out on by not collaborating with her!
I know you’re not one for following orders, but please listen to Amy. Find a good book and sit still. You can use your leg after it heals to kick all of our asses.
I know I’m not Mo Willems (I loved Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus), but Macy can collaborate with me anytime. She and I are on the same wavelength. Do you think she’d like to write the stories or do the illustrations?
Oh what a wonderful story Nancy – it put the biggest smile on my face 🙂
Forced inactivity is good for the soul. (And the healing knee!) I’ve never heard of this author, thanks for sharing his happy work! Be well.
You go, girl!!
I nominated your blog for the “Super Sweet Award” – see my recent blog for details. Was thinking of you during the Petaluma/San Antonio LLWS game last night. This town has gone bat-shit crazy with our Little Leaguers – hoping for a “W” on Saturday! ~ Paul
I’m so glad you took on the challenge, Nancy. And what a great first pick! You go, girl, with your walking. You’re such an inspiration. xox
[…] of you couldnt’ wait to get started with this challenge of celebrating the ordinary. Nancy of The Pink Underbelly got started straight away with this post, closely followed by Philippa of A Feisty Blue Gecko and […]
[…] of my fellow bloggers have already met the Day 1 challenge (The Pink Underbelly and Feisty Blue Gecko). Since a blog prompt like this keeps my creative juices going, I’m […]
[…] Gratitude […]
[…] Day 5 of Marie’s gratitude challenge, and after a rotten night’s sleep and an early-morning wake-up call from Princess Piggie, […]
[…] installment in Marie’s infectious challenge comes in the form of a routine appointment with my orthopedic surgeon to check my new, improved […]
[…] its way into the world, no longer still and helpless but bending and flexing and strengthening. As Marie’s challenge reminds me, I can appreciate that, on every […]
[…] pretty sure I’ve posted more than a week’s worth of celebrating the ordinary topics for Marie’s blog challenge. I’ve never been one to color inside the lines, so if I post more than a week’s worth […]