vicissitude: a good word for our lives

I came across this word today when reading about what I am cooking up for Christmas. "... but during the visiccitudes of France, it's wars and so forth the recipe was lost."

The definition of "vicissitude": successive, alternating, or changing phases or conditions, as of life or fortune; ups and downs.

It sums up the fact that Pace, the wee one and I are still in for another 6 months of Doctors and operations before this is all over. Life changes states within all of the time: emotionally, spiritually, fiscally and physically.

Just as molecules of water can be vapor, solid or liquid. There's a time to live in different states of stress, excitement or agitation, the key is to maintain control during the transitions between states.

It's the $10 word of the week!