Sunday, April 17, 2011

Super Powers... ACTIVATE!

This evening I went on a walk with Marni in the delightful, perfect spring air, bursting with blossoms and the smell of charcoal barbecues warming up all around our neighborhood. Oh it made me hungry. And then I saw it--a perfectly normal little two-door white Honda, with a sketch of Spider Man on the side.

I asked Marni what superpower she would paint on HER Honda if she HAD to paint one on. She wants Wonder Woman. I decided on Inspector Gadget (I believe he has super powers--Go-Go Gadget spring feet! Go-Go Gadget whirly helicopter head! Go-Go Gadget rubber band arms!). Oh the places we'd go!

Tonight Debbie and I were texting our weekly check-ins back and forth. She's due with her third baby in the next couple of weeks, and I, well, have cancer. We joke that we're both getting dumber by the day--I with my chemo brain and she with her prego brain. We're a good match.

As I expressed my concern that each chemo pill is making me dumber AND less fertile, Debbie made a new suggestion (and I quote): "It will probably super charge them and you'll have super powers!"

I love it. It's my new plan. My chemo is super charging me. It's not JUST killing my cancer. You just think my short-term memory is failing. In reality, I worked on a chapter that was due in November and it's in pretty good shape. And I have plans this week for my dissertation. Plans, my friends. And those eggs? Well they are being super charged to make one or two or three REALLY bright, darling, talented children. Just you wait.

And all that anxiety-energy that keeps me up at night? Well maybe I'll super charge that into some incredible PhD power and rip out my dissertation this summer. (my advisor is now rolling with laughter at the possibility)

It all comes down to this. I really believe that our greatest weaknesses can become our greatest strengths. I believe that deeply and fully. I believe it takes a lot of hard work and even more divine power. Grace.

I love the quote Janiece sent me tonight from Neal A. Maxwell, my fellow leukemia-super hero:

Her deprivation is like an excavation, the readying of a reservoir into which a generous God, one ... day, will pour the Malachi measure of compensatory blessings, “that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” (Mal. 3:10.)

7 comments:

The Wyler Family said...

oh, jenny reeder, i love you all the days! i'm pretty sure you already have super powers! you are AMAZING!!!

Artsy Aut said...

We talk about super powers all the time around here! Usually "fire power" is the most desired. Kristen told me you gave her a hug for me! Thanks!! I will send one back with her for you :) Miss you friend!

M said...

Amen to that, friend! Super powers are totally in our futures!

Barbara said...

May the force be with you

Arian Goodman Johnson said...

You are RIGHT!!! Why is it so easy to forget, though? Thanks for the reminder and here's a reminder for you: we've always known you are both super AND powerful! So yes, of course you have super powers!

kimi + joe said...

Sounds like a perfect evening for a stroll and super power discussion. Jenny, you have many 'super powers' and are a glowing example to others.

Elisa said...

I am inspired by your comments. I wish I had fortitude and faith in the face of my trails which are small in comparison to yours. But I find they overwhelm me again and again. Maybe if I start reading your blog, it will help me out. Thanks for being a good example of faith. --Elisa B.