Thanksgiving Shaka Style

Crawling out of bed was a slow process with several surrenders to continued slumber. This is not at all my style but for the last week, it has been the course. But when it came to Thanksgiving? The drudge of the winter cold was the golden ingredient.

On Thanksgiving Day, Bobbi called to ask if I was on my way (I had planned to visit her and Laura, Gerogina and Valerie, as well). In Bobbi's straight to the chase manner, she told me that I would feel better if I got out of bed and got going. She was right. I got myself into the car and on the road, arriving tired at her house just as she served a most perfect traditional Thanksgiving dinner. Bill and Reggie, Bobbi's sister and brother in law and Andi joined Bobbi and Wil for the feast. Carson and her little fam added to the night for the dessert fest.

A stroll on the golf course and baby Lucy on my lap were the topper for a very relaxed day.

Sadly, I could not visit Laura or share in the tasty fixings Peter had prepared because of the nasty cold. I did catch up with Valerie and my father. But Georgina was so busy (up at 3 am on Black Friday) that ours was only a by phone visit.

THe Sky Falls

Yesterday (Tuesday Oct 7th)it seemed that the sky fell.

Lesions found all around Laura's brain on Monday's MRI prompted her doctor to order a spinal tap. Things went downhill. Laura's up mental outlook of the last few days faded and tonight she is so drugged that she could not respond to any question I asked. I don't even thing she knew who I was on the phone. I am glad that Vickey is there. This would not be possible without her. It is surprising the inconsistency in the Cancer Center care, crazy scheduling, missed information, and misinformation.

Yesterday tiles from my faulted ceiling fell on me while I worked at the computer (literal sky falling). I was knocked out of my chair and onto the floor - I was able to roll over as the third tile fell, missing my head.

The Dow is way down and after another 1/2 point rate cut the rally has only been 100 points this morning. Another kind of Sky. Does this have any relation to life in Placerville? Most certainly!

Today is another week. The bruise is healing and I am planning to be in Chico on Wednesday. Not sure how long. But today is full with 3 rentals coming vacant, my new roommate, Kathy, moving back to her home in Pollock the end of the month, an escrow closed and a listing to sell. In the midst, Laura.

Sister Victoria is there and Peter has arrived. Still which direction to go on the cancer. Everyone has different ideas. Laura does not seem committed to chemo but with the drug they gave her last week she only sleeps so how can we make decisions. Now there is a lot of help but also many differing ideas as to what the best thing is to do.

Yesterday, I took my mind off of everything and attended a salsa workshop in the afternoon, learning 'dips'. It was great to see friends I have missed since I am dancing very little in Sac these days. Today I am wonderfully sore!

Laura seems much better under Sister Victoria's loving care. Today was brain scan day, tomorrow, bones and heart then Wednesday, I believe it will be chemo. Words seem to make it so clean and clear but cancer is nothing like that. Days are exhausting, draining, murky and confusing. It is like war, I would think and I am no 'leave' right now. Away from the front line, knowing that my sisters are in there fighting for life. I can't exactly relax.

After long days at Laura's Bobbi made her home a haven of rest, love and beauty for me as she made artful meals 'Like Water for Chocolate' and waited for me past the time I said I would arrive without mentioning the wait or her own hunger. She knew secrets like how  "Dancing with the Stars" was just the perfect needed mindless necessity. She made meals for Laura and ran bills payments all over  town.

In the midst of all, I got to know Baby Lucy a bit. She is sweet, easy and beautiful and speaks her mind when hungry.

Joseph and a big crew of friends descended on the little farm, hauling, moving, clearing, mowing . . . giving something that Laura can never pay back. Joseph brought the 'will' back into the little farm and he seemed to bring Laura new life.

Daughter Cynthia was there despite the press of two young children and a master's program to help with bills, grocery shopping, and juicing. Comfort and peace were how Laura described the presence of this grown up daughter.

While 12 year old Victoria came to the plate with resolve requiring rising at 6 am to make her mother some oatmeal and fresh juice before school, Laura could not refuse to awake as such a sweet sacrifice. It made her want to cry. She was encouraged.

Now Sister Victoria takes over and I am home to try to catch up on work. I hear in her voice weariness, that all of her energy is like the throwing-cups-of-water-into- the-ocean feeling I had when I was there.

Many many people have come to help. Is Chemo the right thing? Prayer.

Yesterday I took a day off and it turned out to be the perfect blend of a recluse day on Larry's Bella Michelle. It was a small group invited of Lulu' s family, absorbed in the camaraderie of family, leaving me time to soak in the October sun, drift on the glassy river and swim without feeling as if I was ignoring anyone. It was a lovely day.

Today it is back to work trying hopelessly to complete the list of 'to dos'

The after dark trip along the Sacramento River with the lights of the waterfront were amazing.

Laura

Laura and Kelly get married 1960's

It's been a month! Exhausting would not be the word. Visiting Laura, I found her in a dark room, propped up with pillows, incoherent in conversation, overwhelmed with pain and chills. The bathroom floor was soft and felt as if it would fall through, sheetrock in the ceiling in the dining room was missing with insulation hanging out, clutter made isles through the house. Without great support, I would have been paralyzed with sadness.

Three days a week I have been trying to help in Chico. No one seemed to know who the doctors were, what the schedule or the plan was, what the history of the cancer had been. I began with the doctors, trying to straight en out the history, find out where Laura's kids were in all of this, compline a list of 'helpers' and to get the house where someone could operate and live safely there. Everywhere things were a tangled mess it seemed.

Bit by bit it has come together but I will have to tell the story later. I am off to a day on Larry's boat feeling a bit drugged after a deep hard sleep. There are few people invited today and I am hoping for distraction and realization.

Starting with Friends

This morning it is breakfast with Cindy Flaherty but only after Steve showed up to do the shower (now in the third week) and Chris arrived looking for his father, Dennis. Busy morning already and I am not on target for the work waiting to be accomplished.

Yesterday ended with a beautifu dinner Kathy made followed by a long conversation with Laura - she has stage three breast cancer and sounds very very sick. It was hard to sleep last night even after the exhausting day of meetings.