Fortunately, there are cell phones and jet planes and Web options that our forefathers and mothers didn’t have.

For example, our almost-two-year-old granddaughter—born in Jersey after her family emigrated there—finds her big sister’s orange nail polish and gives herself a pedicure.

Toddler-designed pedicure

And then, not too long afterward, same almost-two-year-old masters the fine art of tattooing and gives herself a full arm sleeve.

Thanks to amazing technology, our daughter snaps a digital photo, probably using—get  this—not a camera, but a phone … and posts it to Facebook.

Technology. How else would we keep up with the antics of a toddler halfway around the world?!

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Full arm sleeve tattoo

Where the deer and the antelope play

This time we took the 4-wheelers. I laughed out loud more than once from the joy of being alive and being outdoors, flying along with the wind, hanging on to Gary for dear life – snow on the distant mountains, wildflowers poking up through the green grasses, deer running in packs, getting splattered by mud and enjoying every minute of it.

Ridin’ the range

We stopped at a spot where Gary’s brother had been trying to find a leak in one of the lines that waters the cattle. He dug several holes along where the line was buried.

My job—because I accidentally mentioned that I have good hearing—was to stick my head down into each of the holes and listen for the sound of water running through the pipe.

Ranchland plumbers

I’m pleased to announce that through the combined genius of the four of us, we were able to pinpoint the general location of the leak, which means Gary’s brother will fire up the heavy equipment and dig even bigger holes.

My sister-in-law, at right holding up the shovel (I’m thinking she may have worked for CalTrans in a former life), had put a turkey in the oven to roast slowly, so you can imagine the aroma that greeted us after a hard day riding the trails and working the ranch.

 Quite possibly a former CalTrans employee

Quality time with family (including dinner at the ranch of Gary’s younger brother) ... good conversation and much laughter ... delicious food ... time outdoors in the natural beauty and fresh air ... an opportunity to present to a group of people dealing with cancer and the healthcare professionals who serve them – it just doesn’t get much better than this.

Backyard views from the log cabin

designed by my sister-in-law

We usually do our grocery shopping tag-team style. Three items is about the most Gary can handle – “Honey, can you get eggs, tortillas and juice … and meet me in produce?“

We get home and no juice, but enough milk to last us quite some time. “You said, eggs, tortillas and milk, right?“

Come to think of it, two items is about the most he can handle.  ;)

Enough milk to last some time

Kelly Harroun - pretty in pink

Riders for the Cure is this fun ski and snowboard event—participants are encouraged to wear pink, in case you hadn’t already figured that out—hosted by Mt. Bachelor to raise awareness and dollars for Sara’s Project, one of our Cancer Care funds.

Kelly Harroun, young adult survivor, braved the trick hill and the “fun box” at this year’s event. The fun box is 6 feet in length without snow covering. The idea is to head downhill to gain momentum, load onto the box and ride its length – jumping off the end.

I don’t make these things up.

Lizzi Katz, my partner in crime in St. Charles Cancer Care, a survivor and snowboarder herself, says Kelly is her hero: “She’s so brave and positive in how she lives her life.”

Lizzi is my hero. I’ve heard her say that “once you’ve faced cancer, there’s little you can’t do.”

As for healthy movement, we’ve been conducting monthly hikes for our survivors and caregivers since 2007. Today for the first time, though, we provided two trail options: the Badlands hike led by fearless leaders Mike Gibson and Jeff Scott ... and, for those not yet ready to take on the wilderness, an in-town hike facilitated by Gary and his trusty sidekick (that would be me).

A total of 19 people participated in today’s two options, followed by lunch at a local restaurant.

Gary and 7 lovely ladies on the Larkspur Trail

Denise running a 10K in Central Park

Our daughter-in-law, Denise, is running for TEAM LIVESTRONG in the 2010 New York City Marathon. She’s never run a marathon before.

LIVESTRONG team members will ride, run, walk and swim in 21 different athletic events around the globe to raise awareness and funds to fight cancer.

“We are the cyclist facing a long uphill climb in honor of his mother,” their Web page declares.

“We are the runner finishing a first marathon in memory of her brother” … or, in Denise’s case, in honor of her father-in-law.

“We are the cancer survivor crossing a 5K finish line after completing treatment.”

We’ve only been a short time in Florida, and have already come to the conclusion that Floridians are gracious people.

We’re also impressed that the three cancer communities we visited are on the cutting edge of survivorship as they offer education, support and services that enable people to live well with and beyond cancer.

Palm Beach view from the Sari Asher Center

Waterside lunch in Tampa

Before leaving Tampa, Gary and I wandered along the River Walk, enjoying the warm sunshine and admiring the yachts. We stopped to have lunch at one of the waterfront restaurants – blackened salmon with veggies and a chicken Caesar salad. Funny how food tastes better outdoors ... especially if there’s a body of water nearby.

On the drive back to West Palm, I was thinking about all that is being offered in this cross-section of Florida cancer communities, as well as the good work being done by people like Bob Samuels on behalf of cancer survivors and their loved ones.

 West Palm Beach neighbors

We’re now on Juno Beach near the beautiful aqua waters of the Atlantic. Gary’s never seen the Atlantic before. I’m thinking I need to get him out more.

We brought a picnic lunch, spread out our towels and rolled up our pant legs – our feet bare in the warm sand. As much as I love the snow—and I heard it snowed in our hometown on Easter Sunday—I’d have to admit we’re enjoying the balmy temperatures of Florida in April.

Juno Beach blog-writing opportunity

We’re in heaven, and it looks a little like Jersey and Pennsylvania and New York. Gary and I arrived on the East Coast Wednesday evening, and we haven’t stopped since.

Bike-riding and playing at the park with the grandkids; burgers and sweet potato fries at Bobby Flay’s Burger Palace (yum!), and a day trip into the beautiful farmland that makes up Amish country.

Happy grandkids

Yesterday, we made an early morning trek into the city to cheer on all four of our kids as they ran a 10K in Central Park. Our son, son-in-law and daughter-in-law all did cross country and/or track in high school, and our son-in-law ran in the New York Marathon last November.

And then there’s our daughter, the girl who has been known to call runners psycho as she passes them in her car.

 Pre-race photo op in Central Park

Call it peer pressure, or maybe just an opportunity to do something healthy – but our daughter ran the furthest she’s ever run in her life.

Spring is making her entrance to this part of the country. Temps have been in the high 60s/ low 70s, and Central Park is starting to bud in pinks and yellows and spring greens. Amazing metro beauty.

 At mile 5, the girl who used to call runners psycho