May Day Has Come, Now it’s the First May Monday!
May Day means creative basket arrangements of flowers in my beloved hometown of Annapolis, MD. May Day means Lei Day in my husband’s hometown in Hawaii. Flowers in any form are enough to bring some joy to this quarantine season. This is also about the time that I start looking ahead to my favorite season of summer. If I have learned one thing from all this quarantine business, it is not to plan for much beyond today. So my summer plans, many of which have already been canceled, are begrudgingly held with an open hand this May.
Despite the lack of clarity for summer, I continue to believe that there is good to be found in this time of isolation. Some days I am able to see the good more than other days, but a healthy routine of exercise, e-learning, reading, walking and listening keeps me hopeful. In many ways, this time has felt like the 10 months I spent going through my treatment for breast cancer. There was no other option but to slow down and release control of tomorrow. I also remember feeling desperate to not let those days be wasted as I am feeling during this time as well. And when life was set to resume, I was terrified. I even wrote about that HERE. I hate to admit, but even now my tendency is to get anxious about re-entry once we are given the permission to do so. How sweet to be reminded by my previous post from January of 2012 that if we don’t ever go back to “normal”, then we might miss the opportunity to use what we have learned.
“If I don’t go there, then all that I have learned will be worth nothing. This experience has without a doubt changed me and I believe I am better as a result of it. Now is the time to step back into life as normal and make a difference with what I have learned.” -My 2012 Self
Pinked Update
We continue to send Kits out at an alarming rate. Since the start of the pandemic, we have shipped 40 kits to those facing treatment. And the mastectomy surgeries are still happening in certain regions of the country. I can’t even imagine having to navigate breast cancer treatment during this scary time, so we are happy to be able to continue to show support during the pandemic.
Kit Assembly gatherings and Donation Parties continue to be on hold. Because of the amount of requests coming in, it was necessary to get the #HomeTeam to work and spend one of our many quarantine days putting kits together as a family. See our fun photos below! While it was fun to do it as a family, I look forward to the day that we can get back to gathering in your homes, schools, churches, and girl scout troops to assemble kits and collect supplies for those facing treatment!
Spring Button Down Pajamas and Soft Pink Fabric Needed:
As the weather is changing, we have transitioned to lighter button down pajamas for those facing treatment. We understand this is a time of financial hardship for many, and we are sensitive to that reality. If you are in a position to contribute to the needs of Pinked this month, spring/summer button down pajama donations would be hugely appreciated. Our Amazon Wishlist has been updated with our current needs.
Also due to some sewing projects we have been working on for the kits such as the masks above, we would also welcome donations of soft PINK patterned 100% cotton and/or flannel fabrics.
