2015 Creative Cups

Frances Cuomo Perpero

Follow the Road

There are many ways one can interpret the themes of The Wizard of Oz, but for me, I remember it in its simplest form, from the perspective of a child. It’s the story of a young lady who is thrown into a mysterious and scary world, rather unexpectedly. She doesn’t know what it means. She doesn’t know what lies ahead. All she does know is that she wants things to go back to the way they were. She wants to go home. But to do so, she has to follow a specific course of action…following this road. What’s at the end? Who really knows? But she trusts. She doesn’t complain. She doesn’t ask Why Me? She keeps her head tall, and follows orders. She carries on despite it being the most terrifying moment of her life. And amazingly enough, even though she has her own troubles, even feeling tired and weak, she is still helping others along the way. In fact, she learns that she has these amazing gifts inside of her, never realizing how courageous, loving, strong, smart, brave, patient, resilient and inspirational she could be.

I look at my friends Robin and Sandy, and my mother-in-law Carol Ann, with total admiration on how they accepted and fought breast cancer with strength, kindness, trust, spirit, gratitude and grace. What beautiful, beautiful ladies who had to go on this unexpected journey but chose to in a manner that is remarkable. So blessed we are that they made it home!