reflection

Wednesday, May 16, 2013

There are twenty-two greener thumbs in central Oregon than there were yesterday.

Today we threw a couple of planting parties for our cancer community. We provided a plethora of herb starts, potting soil, pots and seeds—“Bring your garden gloves ... optional, if you like the feel of soil”—and two co-workers, whose side businesses involve gardening, provided the professional instruction. 

As luck would have it, central Oregon decided to rain today, starting about the time our first garden party was kicking off. And picking up by the time our second party was scheduled to begin.

Hardy gardeners, these cancer survivors. They’ve been through surgeries, chemo, radiation. A little rain at a garden party? Are you kidding?

Cancer survivor herb container planting party

This is my job. Brainstorming with co-workers to provide classes, events and programs for cancer survivors and caregivers – programs that allow them to expand their horizons, laugh out loud and connect with one another.

And they actually pay me to do this.

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Sunday, May 12, 2013

“Thanks for a lovely Mother’s Day weekend,” I say to hubby. “You let me do everything I wanted to do.”

And then a light bulb clicked on. “No, wait. You let me do everything I want to do every day.”

He just grins, this very wise man I married.

The weekend began Friday evening with Pizza Mondo slices in Drake Park listening to the distant thunder and hoping we weren’t going to get drenched.

On Saturday, we hiked with our cancer posse along the Metolius River. Icy blue waters frequented by fly fishermen ...

Metolius River

... families of geese swimming their young, a circling osprey, bright yellow wildflowers, a blue-dotted butterfly.

Metolius River butterfly

And today, a Mother’s Day picnic along the north shore of a melting Sparks Lake. Homemade chicken salad studded with chunks of apples, red grapes, celery and green onion. Warm, crusty bread. Fresh fruit.

Sparks Lake with Mt. Bachelor standing by

Grateful for Gary who has been the best father and husband a girl could ask for.

Grateful to be mom to four terrific children – two that I actually birthed and two that married into the fam.

Grateful to be called grandma by three exceptionally bright and beautiful grandkids.

Glad for the remembrance of the importance of family this lovely Mother’s Day weekend.

My cup overflows.

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Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Hungry for a good salad when I got home from work and with some leftover roasted chicken in the fridge, we decided to commemorate National Salad Month for dinner this evening.

My favorite kind of salad is combining as many items on hand that might go together. The more differing textures, the better.

Tonight, chicken, red beets, green Anjou pears, red onion, toasted pecans and bleu cheese over spring greens. You noticed the color palette.

Chicken Beet Salad

Hubby gave it two thumbs up, this combination of crunchy and soft, savory and sweet served with a homemade vinaigrette and some crusty artisan bread.

And really, two thumbs up from hubby is all that matters, isn’t it? Happy National Salad Month to one and all.

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Friday, May 3, 2013

For further proof that spring has arrived in central Oregon—even though temperatures are still dipping into the 30s overnight—hubby and I have begun our two-dates-a-week ritual.

This is where the weather warms up enough for the wife to talk the husband into dinner out on Thursday evening, and then a second date at Drake Park on Friday – setting up in front of the river, shooting photos, some general people/geese/duck watching and playing Words with Friends.

Friday evening Drake Park date

For those of you who don’t know, one of our dating rules is to save up something interesting to tell each other.

I have slowly trained myself to not tell hubby all the interesting things as they happen, to save at least one thing. In fact, I keep an abbreviated list on my smart phone. (The only challenge I run into from time to time is trying to decipher what some of my abbreviations mean.)

Hubby, on the other hand, grasps for anything on the fly when I ask what he’s saved up to tell me.

“I hear it’s supposed to get up into the 70s next week.”

Really? That’s the best you can do?

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Sunday, April 28, 2013

Spring has finally arrived in central Oregon, but locals here are smart enough not to let down their guard.

I remember one Easter Sunday, temps in the 70s, barbecue and Easter egg hunt in the backyard for family and friends ... and the next day we woke up to three inches of freshly-fallen snow (much to my secret delight, but don’t tell anyone).

At any rate, residents were out in force today. Hubby and I walked the Deschutes River Trail with friends where we discovered that swimming lessons were in full session, Papa and Mama Goose sharing the water with kayakers and stand-up paddle boarders.

Family swimming lessons

From our vantage point, all eight goslings appeared to have passed Tadpole and Minnow swim classes.

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Friday, April 26, 2013

I am not now – nor will I ever be – a rock climber. Too  attached to the feeling of solid earth beneath my feet. I get dizzy just looking over the edge of a cliff or skyscraper ... in fact, at even the thought of looking over the edge.

Today, several guys from Shepherd’s House, the local rescue mission where hubby volunteers, went rock climbing at Smith Rock. Hubby went along to capture the action in photos.

Shepherd’s House climbers

What is it about conquering the unconquerable that draws people to risk life and limb by dangling off steep rock ledges?

Maybe the thing that’s unconquerable in one’s mind isn’t the rock wall. Maybe it’s fear.

Rock climber Mike Borghoff says:

“You can grunt and heave, sweat and strain, wear yourself out, and unless you simply forget about it and step up, you won’t even get off the ground.”

Granddaughter Lilly, far right, getting off the ground

I found myself wondering about the unconquerable things that hang around where I live.

Facing the fear. Accepting the risk. Taking the first step off the ground – I’m thinking that’s the key.

How about you? Are you planning to get off the ground sometime soon?

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Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Now that we’re back on Oregon soil, a thought about east coast tolls. If we had to do it over, we just might opt for the E-Z Pass when renting the car.

Six states last week. We landed at Newark; drove north to Boston; speaking engagements in Concord, Mass and Portland, Maine; then south through New Hampshire, Connecticut, New York and back to Jersey.

Stop ahead – pay toll

Bridge and turnpike tolls ranged from fifty cents to five dollars for a total of thirty dollars, plus change.

And that doesn’t count the fine that we’re expecting because we inadvertently went through an E-Z Pass lane. Without an E-Z Pass. A big no-no. In fact, a local resident said to expect a $25-45 fine, depending on the particular toll location.

The way I see it, hubby and I now own a large chunk of asphalt in the Atlantic Seaboard area.

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Sunday, April 21, 2013

Raise your hand if you experienced the luxury of lazing away a couple hours in the spring sunshine at a Little League game this weekend.

Hubby’s and my hands are raised. Talk about your stress-free zone.

And then there’s browsing the aisles of a Barnes & Noble bookstore with grandkids in tow, shooting hoops and getting caught in a game of tag on wheels ...

Tag on wheels

... bedtime stories, good-night hugs, late night conversations with The Parents – they all served to banish stressful thoughts of returning to work tomorrow.

I suppose most jobs carry their own levels of stress. The strain of mine comes from juggling several bowling pins at once. On any given day.

It doesn’t help that a co-worker’s last day is this Wednesday; hence, throw a few more bowling pins into my juggling act.

So you can imagine how lovely this stress-free zone has been these past few days.

Laughing at grandpa the photographer

Leaning heavily into the moment. Relishing life’s simple pleasures. Counting my blessings – wonderful, not-to-be-taken-for-granted blessings, three of which happen to appear in the photo above.

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Thursday, April 18, 2013

It’s a challenge to write a light-hearted blog about our quick trip to Portland, Maine, yesterday because my heart is still heavy from the events in Boston on Monday.

Flags are flying half-mast everywhere. We watched the crowd at the Bruins game join in loud and strong in the singing of the national anthem. A fund has been set up to help the victims of the bombings. We’ve chatted with people on the streets, in restaurants, and before and after our presentations.

These wonderful northeasterners are resilient and compassionate, and they’re talking about the kindness and heroism that has come from this tragedy.

This is one of the things I love about America.

So here goes ...

Last month when we were in Portland, Oregon, I wondered out loud in a blog how the west coast city might compare to Portland, Maine.

Well, we’ve been to Maine and now have all the answers. The two cities do compare. And they don’t.

Both cities sport marinas with expensive yachts parked out front.

Portland marina

Portland in the west is known for its salmon, while Portland in the east for its lobsta (not a typo).

Lobster stew at J’s Oyster Shack - a hole-in-the-wall restaurant on the marina (my favorite type of restaurant)

I don’t think Portland, Oregon, has cobblestone streets that date back to pre-Revolutionary days. And while we did find a Starbux in Portland, Maine, there wasn’t a coffee shop on every corner as you are likely to find in her Oregon counterpart. (This may or may not be a slight exaggeration.)

Oregon may have won in the category of quantity of impossibly-tall-trees (we did find two at a nice park on the tip of a peninsula here in Maine) ...

... but there are a couple features here that the Oregon Portland can’t boast of. For starters, there’s a nearby lighthouse.

Portland’s Head Light

And then there’s the Berlin Wall. To my knowledge, Portland, Oregon, does not have a large chunk of the Berlin Wall on public display.

Very cool poem on this piece of the Berlin Wall

But most unforgettable was a generous alligator in downtown Portland, Maine, who willingly shared his ice cream. Such hospitality.

Welcoming committee

So there you have it. My official report on two fabulous towns that share the same name, but on opposite ends of this great country.

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Monday, April 15, 2013

We are in Boston to watch son Jeremy run the marathon. It’s the perfect day. Cool breezes and occasional sunshine peeking out from under cloud cover.

Greeting his wife Denise at the 13-mile marker

Jeremy says he didn’t get the time he wanted, but it was the most fun he’s had of the marathons he’s run.

The route took the runners past Wellesley and Boston College. Crazy fans, faces painted, decked out in marathon blue and gold, cheering on the runners as if they were the home team.

We caught Jeremy at the 13-mile and 21-mile markers, and then waited for him as close to the finish line as we could get.

A few minutes after this happy photo is snapped, we wander down Boyleston Street. Daughter-in-law Denise takes a couple of photos, we turn to walk away and a sound like a cannon shot goes off. It stops us in our tracks.

And then a second explosion, just across the street from where we stood a minute earlier. People screaming and running toward us, away from the race route. Hearts pounding, looking for smoke or tumbling buildings, we hurry toward our car, praying for people nearer the explosions, not sure what is happening.

We’re now back at the rented beach condo, the muted roar of the waves just beyond the windows, a fire burning in the fireplace.

We were here yesterday. Safe. With no indication that today would be anything but a fun celebration of a challenging event completed by our son.

Being so close to this incident serves as a fresh reminder of what we already know – to cherish the priceless people we call family. To gather together with them as often as possible.

It’s a reminder that we live in a crazy world, that life is precious.

And short.

And that it ought to be lived well.

Which gives me pause. What is it I want to do that would be living my life well? There’s the dream, of course. To speak full-time, to write, to host cancer retreats or be host parents in a cancer wellness house.

And there’s today. A vacation on the east coast that takes in kids and grands, along with a couple of speaking opportunities. And a rewarding job in the cancer center is waiting for me back at home.

Counting my blessings this unforgettable Boston Marathon day.

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Saturday, April 13, 2013

I won’t tell you what ungodly hour hubby rolled me out of bed this morning (hint: begins with 3) ...

Arrived earlier than the TSA

... but suffice it to say that we beat the TSA personnel here.

On the bright side, we’re on our way east toward kids and grandkidlets. For that, I’ll continue to put up with hubby’s irrational fears of not making it through security on time.

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Friday, April 5, 2013

What husband says, “If you buy a new outfit, you get a Chai tea”?

Apparently mine.

It’s not that I don’t like new clothes (or new thrift store clothes); it’s that I dread shopping. Really dread shopping.

“How much do you think a personal shopper would cost?” I ask hubby. Someone who could buy say, ten outfits ... and then she could return the eight I don’t want.

Seems like a reasonable proposition.

Hubby says probably not appropriate for the office

Speaking of returning clothes, hubby gets frustrated with me when I do this (probably fifty percent of the time).

Which means he threatened me with no Chai tea for a long time to come if I returned anything I bought today.

Score!

OK, so maybe I didn’t find a whole outfit, but I did find a cute yellow top. And I did score a Chai.

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April 2013

Swimming lessons

Getting off the ground

Chunk of asphalt

Stress-free zone

Two Portlands - part 2

This Boston Marathon

Earlier than the TSA

Shopping woes

March 2013

Half birthday ... again

Last trek

With each passing year

Keep the old

Tech nerd

Not the hardest thing

How hard can it be?

Just what the doc ordered

Two Portlands

Mini family reunion

February 2013

Shout out

Marvelous

There is today

Doing it up right

Happy Valentine's Day

Speaking of beans

Snow angel

Simple winter fare

Moving west

January 2013

Flat Stanley on snow-shoes

Water colors

Happy chatter

Flat Stanley visits again

Extended hope

Take that, cancer

Compromise

The commonplace

Bringing in the New Year

December 2012

Making investments

Winter wonderland

Random acts of kindness

Gift giving

The good, bad and ugly

Peace on earth

Cancer Club

Mission accomplished

Culture

Fantasy football

November 2012

Those darn numbers

White Christmas

Back to reality

Favorite things, part IV

Complaint department

Even more favorite things

More favorite things

Favorite things

October 2012

Happy Halloween

Baking weather

Graduation day

First snow

Swans in pairs

A great fall

Date night(s)

DEFEAT Cancer

Country girl

’Tis the season

September 2012

Back in the groove

Last hurrah

Teton hiking

Wow, Yellowstone

Reconnaissance in Jackson

Barn sightings

The power of tenacity

Winnie the Pooh wisdom

Long-time survivor

Perfect marriage

August 2012

Five dollar bill

Out in public

Guest blogger, Steffany

Think outside

Survivor camp

Camp this weekend

Living in a wonderland

Sacred space

High country

July 2012

High country

Simple cooking

Locks of Love

Attitude

Average, ordinary weekend

Close of birthday week

Day before

Get outdoors

Human beans

Mission accomplished

Night sky display

Journey with a mission

June 2012

Ain’t no sunshine

Favorite thing

In our possession

Over the hills

Camp Sherman

In search of wildflowers

Building a cancer center

Southwestern surprises

Irrational fears

Reason to celebrate

Intention

The Space Noodle

May 2012

Reunions

Hiking posse

Powered by oimism

Mother’s Day weekend

Heart tug moment

Vermont hospitality

Happiest place on earth

Supermoon

Unlikely source

Baby geese season

April 2012

Not found out west

The rules

Guess what state we’re in

New Englanders

Jersey weekend

Beantown

Easter blessings

Milestones

Bean soup day

March 2012

Fashion statement

Sharing the experience

Second day of spring

Half-broke horses

Simple pleasures are best

Best to live your own life

Words With Friends

February 2012

Got your back

The entire snow-shoe team

Grand Canyon

Perfect day

Arizona in February

Springtime?

Super Bowl Sunday

Favorite audience

January 2012

Something in common

Some system

In such a community

Coming home

Headed for OHSU

Checklist for the coast

Welcoming 2012

December 2011

Snow in town

Filling Christmas weekend

Socks

Coolest date night ever

Dressed in pink

Butternut squash day

Making connections

Painted hills

November 2011

Beauty from junk

Taking nothing for granted

Gratitude - part 4

Gratitude - part 3

The child in all of us

Shepherd's House

Gratitude - part 2

Marathon epidemic

Unconquered

Gratitude - part 1

October 2011

My orthidontical twin

Last wilderness hike?

The view from 7,800 feet

Colonoscopies and fall colors

Welcome back

To make a life count

On our way to the Poconos

The Parents

Autumn day in the city

A few numbers

September 2011

Country girl signing off

Off the grid

What are sisters for?!

Try something new

For a limited time only

On the NCI web site

August 2011

I don’t make this stuff up

Brothers

Addictions

A lifetime

Club membership

Detours

Date night

July 2011

Misguided group

Neighborly times

Choosing life

Not as it appears

On my list of heroes

The more you have

Choices

Happy birthday, America

June 2011

Have a nice trip

Easily entertained

Turtle and Maple Nut

Celebrating Father’s Day (week)

Walking the butte

Notorious list maker

The happiness project

Well played

Airport lessons

May 2011

Rain or shine

Pink tennis shoes

I am an orphan

Playing it safe is risky

Skid marks on the runway

Nothing could be finer

If it’s Mother’s Day

Idaho wedding

April 2011

Wicked

Quintuplets!

Busted

Tough day at the office

McKay Cottage

Snowy April day

Thai food and amazing grace

March 2011

Silk stockings

Cabin in the woods

Entertainment committee

Any excuse to celebrate

Ultimate cheerleader

Drum roll, please

Ordinary blessed weekend

What’s stopping you?

Nuh-uh

Texas hospitality

Mean guys like Mike

February 2011

Texas = What a country

Just to be on the safe side

Mudpies and lullabies

Christmas Valley

Getting plugged in

Blurring the lines

What goes around

January 2011

Might as well dance

Mexican-Peruvian marriage

Some attitude

For the birds

Glass castle

Small town America

Family seasonings

Dad’s coat

Off to a great start

December 2010

Sharing your story

The night before Christmas

Christmas movies

Happiness studies

A year’s span

Stormy detours

Another black eye

Snooded

Winter play

November 2010

Adventuring

Feeling healthier already

Heart wide open

More fun

Private marathon tour guide

Choosing quality of life

Geese and GPS units

Thanksgiving month

October 2010

Knitting up a snow storm

Third time’s not a charm

The verdict is in

Resourceful assignment

High school audience

Accidental tart

Pepsi ... or not

Custom cakes

September 2010

Hundreds of quilts later

Wedded bliss

Teach a girl to fish

Rainy day chili

Living fully

Photography 101

No drop in the bucket

Family of elk

Scenic route

Red rocks and blue falcons

Alpine hiking

August 2010

Outdoor town

Perfect weekend

A big little life

Once in a lifetime

Summer weekend

Take five

Twenty years from now

July 2010

Beauty in the high desert

Another shot at life

Happy Hour

Almost perfect

Enjoying the journey

Birthday week kick-off

I’ve become my mother

Bobby McFerrin + OBF

50 things to do – Part II

June 2010

Like what you do

Colorado wildlife

“Life is good” wisdom

Sad day

Rocky Mountain high

Cowboy sing-along

My kind of town

Please don’t feed the bears

Naming buildings

Low expectations

Heaven Can Wait

Because nice matters

May 2010

Don’t get to pick your family

It’s in the bag

Only in Hawaii

Japanese-Hawaiian wedding

Meeting Yoshi

Happy campers

Gearing up for Hawaii

Hitting a rock wall

Love story

Oversized check

Extraordinary ordinary life

April 2010

Technology and pedicures

Idaho ranch hands

Blonde moments

Being in community

Live strong

Cutting edge

Florida in April

Easter blessings

March 2010

Heading east

March Madness

Welcome to spring

Half birthdays

Destinations

Most romantic bridge

Stellar team

Talent

Upgrading into the 21st Century

February 2010

Uncles and nieces

Blue skies in Portland

The subject of heroes

Caliber of our friends

Courage walking

Only in Southern California

Well trained

Diversity

Cream of the crop

January 2010

End of the tunnel

Disturbing the snow

Good things come to an end

American mobile family

Get moving

Any excuse for a date

Much more than a sports flick

December 2009

All the facts are true

No-el, No-whale

Mountain snob

Going to Hawaii

Finding our own way

It's just a number

Seasons of Christmas

Civil War in the CTC

My life in France

November 2009

Empty cafeteria trays

A few of my favorite things

Counting eagles

America’s best and brightest

Thinking about

Large amounts of hope

Memories, milestones

Married to a patient man

October 2009

Healing reins

Trail to nowhere

Above the fray

Knitting connections

Touching everything

Modern technology

Hot date spot

Red sock day

I got all my sisters with me

September 2009

Tenacious like a bulldog

Best years of my life

Now we should live

Across the high desert

50 things to do

Anticipation

Summer past

Running to win

August 2009

Canned chili & peas

Knight in shining armor

Berry-Peach Cobbler

Roller coaster rides

Celebrating life

Dan in Real Life

Ridiculous

Gift of life

Grant-writing retreat

July 2009

Heartsore

In the moment

Extended birthday present

River traffic

Munch & Music

Dealing with the paparazzi

Midnight cruise

Behind red doors

June 2009

Happy kind of exhausted

4:30am blog

Fat checkmarks

Benefits of cancer

Calm before the storm

Big picture thinking

May 2009

Back to the real world

Quick trip to the EC

Audacious living

Connecticut adventure

April 2009

Flat Stanley in Ory-gun

Baby steps

Four-day weekend

Soaring on wings

Sunbathing C.O. style

Real men wear pink

Fun in the CTC

March 2009

Live like you were dying

Day jobs

Connected

CAN Cancer

The power of one

February 2009

It's official

Fun with the professionals

To my valentine

Moments in Jersey

January 2009

Leaving on a jet plane

Scans ordered

Welcome to life

Insane residents

Back in high school

Engaged crowd

Out of the mouths of babes

Divine intervention

December 2008

November 2008

October 2008

September 2008

August 2008

July 2008

June 2008

May 2008

April 2008