(not necessarily in that order)
It’s been a flower-filled birthday, with these beautiful bouquets delivered right to my door!
Ramesha and I took it easy today. We grabbed delicious salads to go from a nearby cafe, then ate them while sitting by the pool at Crystal Hermitage.
The evening has been spent reading (or listening to) my many birthday messages on Facebook, Messenger, text, email, and voicemail!
All in all, I’m feeling extremely blessed.
Because my sister, Cathy, and I were born right near the summer solstice (five years and one day apart), it often happens that one or the other of our birthdays coincides with Father’s Day.
Last year my birthday did so, but this year Cathy has the honor.
So, Happy Father’s Day to the best Dad ever, my #1 Fan and constant support!
And Happy Birthday to my beautiful baby sister, whose smile spreads light wherever she goes.
I’m grateful to have both of you in my life. 💗
Yesterday — June 17 — was the twenty-ninth anniversary of the day my mother — Bernice Louise Stroud — left her body.
Hard to comprehend that twenty-nine years have passed since then!
We didn’t have the easiest of relationships; I wish we’d had the last almost thirty years to grow in appreciation and learn to understand one another better.
My sister shared these photos yesterday in honor of my mother’s passing. I must have seen the first two before, although maybe not since her funeral. Looking at them, I’m struck anew by her sweetness and her smile.
The last one — with my father — has always been one of my favorite photos of all time. What a beautiful couple they are.
Remembering you with much love, Mom.
As much as we enjoyed our short stay in Guerneville, it’s always great to be home once again.
And thank goodness we changed our minds about going to LA! The three and a half hour drive to Guerneville and back was more than enough for us, thank you very much.
The coast will forever be my happy place.
We enjoyed a short but beautiful drive from Guerneville, then walked coastal paths near Fort Ross; had a delicious salad for lunch in Jenner (at a delightful cafe with views of the Russian River emptying into the ocean); and visited an adorable shopping area in Duncans Mills.
It was sunny and windy — the kind of invigorating coastal weather that I love the most!
Our first full day of vacation started off with some challenges from fellow Airbnb guests. We were eventually able to move to a different suite of rooms but it ate up pretty much our whole morning.
But then we had a delicious lunch, followed by a visit to the Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve, which was just what the doctor ordered!
It’s been way too long since I was in the sacred presence of redwood trees. What a blessing.
Yep, we’re in Guerneville for a few days of rest and relaxation.
Looking forward to time spent by the Russian River; walking through the redwoods; and visiting the coast.
Yep. Added a new chemo med today and my body is definitely letting me know it’s working!
Went through a whole upper respiratory thing in about three hours — from tightness and slight wheezing in my chest; to congestion, sneezing, and red, scratchy eyes; to mild irritation in my throat; and now things are mostly returned to normal.
Interesting.
After all these months of cruising through treatment with hardly a side effect, it seems the time has come for more intense meds. Meaning the honeymoon might be over.
Rain in June always feels somewhat miraculous to me, especially given the current realities of drought and fire danger.
The fact that we got serious rain last Sunday and even a little rain today — just one week later — is cause for jubilation in my book.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could have even one good day of rain a month throughout the summer and fall?
“Hitting the pause button” is my new way of thinking about the days when I do nothing but rest.
It was pointed out to me a while back that I was describing my “do nothing” days in a somewhat negative fashion. Now I make a point of consciously embracing the fact that I do nothing because I’m resting, and resting is a good and valuable activity in and of itself.
The tasks that need doing still buzz around my head like gnats, but they’ll just have to wait until I hit the play button tomorrow.