Families grow apart, come together, constantly reforming themselves from one entity to another.

When my mother got breast cancer, 5 -7 years ago, our dynamics changed once again. I helped her through the classes, the double mastectomy, the recovery. They got it all, and we were happy.

When my son went through a painful divorce, a year or two ago, we talked almost every day as he learned to handle the pain and redefine his being. He visited from Oregon more often.

Yesterday, Mom called to say she had metastatic breast cancer. It was now in her bones. My son has been working on wrapping up his life in Oregon and starting new down here in Big Sur. The two events are coming together during this year’s holiday season, and my life will never be the same.

As I help my mother through her transition from this life to the next, and my son from being two to being one, my own life is full. I need to get my practice into a position that I can take off at a moments notice, my own house in order in many ways, and be available to my family in transition. That is my current priority.

I am not abandoning bigsurkate’s blog. I am still here. I am still keeping an eye out on storms, road conditions, community events and other items of interest for and about Big Sur, it is just I won’t be here in cyberspace as often until this time of transition is a bit smoother – until at least one transition is complete, probably my son’s. I will check in when I can, but through the holidays, at least, posting every day, as I have for the past two years is not likely.

Blessings, and may this post remind you all that what these holidays are about is family and friends and sharing your time with them. Gifts mean nothing, unless it is the gift of yourself. Namasté.