Marilyn Claire Murphy

It’s my birthday.

A few months ago, my calendar showed that I’d be flying to India today.

How things change. How things we take for granted – like health – can sneak up and whack you (me) alongside the head and rock ones’ world.

India will wait. As will every other country in the world. They’ll be there next year when I’ve tamed this cancer. Yesterday I completed my 8th chemo cocktail. Again, without suffering any negative side effects. I really expected – as did my staff – that I’d probably be working only a couple of days a week. But I feel fine and go into the office most days, even though I don’t have the volume of prime projects I once had. And my team is taking care of things admirably. I almost feel unneeded. 🙁  I have started to wonder: is there a message in this health crisis that’s telling me to start doing something else?

I know that’s not true. At least I hope I haven’t completely lost my mojo. And with three of my team out of the office for about 10 days operating a major program to India, I’m guessing there will be lots of things to delegate to the boss lady!

I say: bring it on!

::

I’m grateful for so many things … but especially grateful for good girlfriends.

This past weekend, I set off with my best friend, Kathleen, to visit another friend, Donna, who lives in Mariposa near Yosemite. Kathleen and I have birthdays within three days of each other and have – as she reminded me (because her memory is better than mine) – that we’ve spent the last five birthdays together.

Kathleen lost her husband without warning a little more than five years ago. I was there for her whenever she needed me and she’s been there for me since this cancer diagnosis. She sat with Scott during the surgery, asked great questions of the doctor, took me to my first chemo treatment and texts me regularly to see how I’m doing. She badgers me to do nice things for myself – like healing reiki treatments and yoga and workshops. She’s the very definition of a good friend.

Donna and her husband Eric moved up to Mariposa county from Agoura Hills about a dozen years ago. Donna was my fitness coach for a few years before that, and I introduced her to Kathleen. We reminisced about the people in our lives back then – friends we’ve retained, and other girlfriends, clients, employees that we’ve released over time because the relationships didn’t serve us. We spoke about the changes in our lives that we would never have imagined a dozen years ago. We speculated about where we’d be in another dozen years.

As I lay face down on the massage table at the Tenaya Lodge’s Ascent Spa near Yosemite on Saturday, I started to cry with gratitude for all the wonderful things I’ve manifested in my life. First and foremost, my husband and his girls and my other two stepkids, siblings and family, my wonderful company and fabulous employees who are like family, my friends and spiritual community, awesome and loyal customers, a beautiful home that is my haven, my cats, feeling this good through eight weeks of chemotherapy and, finally – this gift of a wondrous life that’s allowed me to see the world and share its wonders with thousands of travelers for the past thirtyish years.

If you’re one of those travelers, thank you for the trust you’ve placed in me and my team to deliver an extraordinary travel experience that you’ll remember for the rest of your life. It’s a responsibility we take very seriously. Your time away is so precious – we want to make it the best it can possibly be and fill every moment with magic. If you’ve not traveled with us … I hope you’ll consider coming along one of these days. India, perhaps?

Yes, it is, indeed, a very happy birthday!

Namaste.