Inspiration

Yes! Breathing in and out,in and out,in and out.
 Go on-do some breathing with me now - you know you want to.

In the days following surgery when I was breathing through a trachy and almost drowning in my own saliva,
I had a gem of a charge nurse over-seeing my care.
A Charge Nurse in charge indeed!.
Gayle was a rather formidable, super capable, no nonsense ,'stop your carrying on' Australian woman of whom initially we were all a bit afraid.
Of course despite her brusque manner she turned out to have a heart of gold.
When I was struggling with pain and choking and gasping for air she would stand over me with a hand on my shoulder, gently but firmly and say:
"Your only job is to take another breath.That is all you have to do.You are alright, just breathe in and out."
Fantastic advice to anyone in a difficult situation,panicking.
And jeez she wasn't even a rebirther charging me an arm and a leg.(The surgeon had already got his dibs on those.)

And really all any of us have to do is take that next breath and calm the mind.
Wonderful Air.

Remember it is air that creates the bubbles in your champagne.

So often and in many different situations(even standing on the tee box) I hear Gayle's voice reminding me to
just breathe.

As for inspiration for this golfing adventure.....

Check out this young woman- http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/6213390/Flight-a-rite-of-passage-for-new-pilot

Early in January of this year whilst I was thinking how I might like to celebrate
 actually making it to 50
I read about Chloe and her "Flight of Passage" to mark her 21st.
Hmm I said to myself -what momentous and significant adventure could I create for myself to mark the half century?

Birth of a Great Adventure

And then it came to me:

 Having that very day thoroughly enjoyed playing  nine holes at the Kawatiri Golf Links in Westport
 I knew my adventure......

  would have to involve  Golf .

Playing Tiger at Kawatiri Links,Westport.

I wanted to have a party with all my beloveds but  it would be hard to get them all together in the same place,and if I did I would not really get to spend significant time with them in a party situation.

Perhaps a Road Trip would be in order so I can visit friends all around the country.

And so the idea was born.... 
I will play fifty golf courses around New Zealand and combine it with catching up with all my dear friends (and no doubt meeting new ones too).

And I will write a book about my journey.
That journey being the past five years of my life. 
The golf will provide a way into the story that needs to be told about my particular
 cancer rite of passage and shamanic journey.

The working title of this book will be:  A Fairway to Fifty.

As brother Hamish commented "this idea has wings" and it will fly. 
It will fly like a ball struck squarely and firmly with my 7 Wood from 80 metres out, all the way to the green.

Let the games begin!