reflection

Monday, October 31, 2011

My orthidontical twin

I was scheduled for a mammogram and ran into this poor girl in the waiting room.

She looked vaguely familiar. I’ve seen that face before.

Wait a minute … that’s my face! (304 days ’til my braces come off.)

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Saturday, October 29, 2011

Last wilderness hike of the season?

Snow usually comes early to our backyard playground. In fact, I can’t remember the last time we’ve hiked in the Cascades so late in the month of October.

Our car was the only one at the trailhead. (Which I think means we were the only smart people in our tri-county area enjoying a last wilderness hike of the season.)

Iron Mountain beckons us

The trail to the top of Iron Mountain is short and steep. Or short and sweet. Either would be appropriate.

Fall colors and a stone bench halfway up the mountain

Layered up against the wind, we ate our lunch with the world at our feet. I must say that egg salad sandwiches never tasted better.

Hubby with Mt. Jefferson in the background

My three favorite sisters - North, Middle and South (l to r)

We hear the wildflowers along this trail are pretty ridiculous in the summertime. We were too late in the year to catch wildflower splendor, but we’ve already penciled in a date with the Iron Mountain trail for next summer.

And in the meantime, we’re dusting off our snowshoes in anticipation of snow falling. Very soon.

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Sunday, October 23, 2011

The view from 7800 feet

Daughter Summer has left her Pacific Northwest roots behind, which means we never miss an opportunity to remind her of what she’s missing.

I text New Jersey from the top of Tam McArthur Rim: “7800 feet. 3 Sisters right across a deep ravine. Wish you were here.” 

To which daughter promptly texts back: “Can you breathe up there?” (Sarcasm is her strong suit.)

Yesterday afternoon, hubby and I set off into the Three Sisters Wilderness with members of our cancer posse, organized by Fearless Trail Leader (FTL) Mike Gibson.

On our way up to 7800 feet

After a couple hours of slow but steady uphill hiking, we reach the top of the Rim.

Looking west across a gigantic chasm that separates us from the Three Sisters and Broken Top, someone in the group wants to know our altitude. Which prompts FTL Mike Gibson to pull out his GPS unit.

“According to my GPS, there’s a cliff nearby,” he says.

Middle and North Sisters across a chasm (photo by Mike Gibson)

Really? Our Fearless Trail Leader needs a GPS to determine a hazardous chasm right at our feet? Within plain sight? Should this concern us?

South Sister from the top of the Rim

Word of caution when choosing an FTL – be careful who you entrust your life to.

Mike Gibson (tiny speck in photo) is the FTL of our choice

Here’s what I think:  It’s probably a good idea to change our elevation from time to time, if for no other reason than to gain a completely different perspective.

The view from 7800’ yesterday reminded me of how insignificant hubby and I are in the overall scheme of things.

And yet.

Yet there is this dream. And no matter how large and improbable, if it is God’s vision for our lives, it will happen.

Here’s to pursuing all your large and improbable dreams!

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Friday, October 21, 2011

Colonoscopies and Oregon fall colors

I’m not sure what colonoscopies and fall colors have in common other than it’s my day off, I just got home from having my first colonoscopy, and hubby is fixing a lovely lunch of tilapia and baked potatoes. (I’m planning to milk this for all it’s worth.) Oh, and the fall colors are absolutely gorgeous.

It is said that our hometown of Bend, Oregon, set at the foot of the Cascade Range, has only two seasons – winter and August.

But I would beg to differ. We do have fall here. Usually for a full week. And this is that week – with lows in the 30s/40s overnight, and highs in the 70s at mid-day.

Hubby and I spent some time in the Pennsylvania Poconos a little over a week ago. Yes, Pennsylvania boasts some gorgeous autumn colors … but I’d like to show off some of central Oregon’s foliage. 

There is this along the grassy path that I take from the hospital parking lot to the cancer center where I work.

And this is the color right outside my office window.

The Poconos ain’t got nothing on central Oregon is what I’m sayin’ ... well, except maybe 10 times the trees that drop their leaves (vs. our evergreens).

Oh, and by the way, if you’re 50 or over and have never had a screening colonoscopy, schedule one. Now.

Speaking of the Poconos, last week when we were there in our little vacation rental cabin with its two boats – but no life vests for the munchkins – we took our older grandkids, who know how to swim, out on the lake one at a time.

The three-year-old was relegated to dry land. And honestly, this sweet baby girl couldn’t have been happier since she was captain of her own ship.

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Monday, October 17, 2011

Welcome back

With a lovely donation from one of our patients, we implemented a new food assistance program – Harvest of HOPE – for qualifying patients while in treatment. Non-perishable food items and real-time shopping for fresh produce, eggs and dairy.

Before leaving on a 2-week vacation, there was last minute shopping. Picking up donations from collection sites. Stuffing grocery bags. Canned goods coming out my ears.

So, the appropriate and heart-warming “welcome back” gesture from Kattaryna and Lizzi, my office roomies: A pile of canned goods on my desk, my telephone stashed inside an ice chest, sweet potatoes in the oddest places, cans of food in my desk drawers.

I was missed

Rumor has it that Kattaryna was the master mind behind this plot. Lizzi claims innocence, but she is guilty by association.

You see how much I was missed.

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Thursday, October 13, 2011

To make a life count

When it comes to recharging––and re-evaluating what’s important in life and what’s not––there’s nothing like fishing off a small dock or gazing at a lake from a tree-house perch.

Son Jeremy and DIL Denise joined us this week in a cabin in the beautiful Pennsylvania woods (grandkidlets are home safe with The Parents). The fall colors are everything any Poconos web site has ever claimed they would be.

Cabin in the Poconos – photo by Denise Johnson

Hubby and I have some rather large, improbable things we’d like to accomplish with the remainder of our lives. And this week has afforded us a good deal of time to think, and write and take a fresh look at those goals.

Tree house perch – photo by Denise Johnson

What would it look like, for example, if we could host retreats for cancer survivors and their caregivers? What if we could take them on gentle hikes and cook nutritional foods? And what if they helped slice and dice and stir ... and then if we handed them recipes to take home, wouldn’t they be more likely to shift to healthful choices?

We would absolutely love to do all this at no cost to our guests. As I said, a rather large dream.

It’s easy to lose sight of a vision when there isn’t a whole lot of day-to-day change. When you still have to show up for a job that takes the best hours of every week.

But this I know: We will not set aside our dreams. With God, nothing is impossible and impossible is nothing.

Side note: Good thing son and DIL joined us this week; they were quite useful when it came to digging for fishing worms.

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Saturday, October 8, 2011

On our way to the Poconos

For us, living large includes visiting new places and trying new things. And if there are kids and grands involved, then all the better.

So yesterday we kidnapped the grandkidlets and headed across the border – from Jersey into the Pennsylvania Poconos, crossing the Delaware as we went.

Which involved a couple of side trips, of course, because you can’t travel with grandkids without side trips (in this case, lunch in the township of Doylestown ...

... and a big climbing castle with swings in its front yard).

This is not what it looks like; the Kids Castle stop  was for the grandkids ... not the grandma

Arriving at the cabin in the Pennsylvania woods: fishing lessons off a private dock ...

... making friends with some of the locals ...

... and a boat built for two.

Golden autumn days. Living intentionally. Tucking away memories. So much fun when west coast grandparents visit east coast grandkids (at least for the grandparents).

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Tuesday, October 4, 2011

The Parents

Hubby and I are the responsible adults in charge of the grandkidlets this week while The Parents are away at a conference.

Day #1 without The Parents:

1) Story hour at Barnes & Noble (maybe we had a vanilla steamer; maybe we didn’t).

2) Walking the dog in style (maybe we raided mom’s stash of sunglasses; maybe we didn’t).

3) Pumpkin carving activity (maybe we used mom’s best knives; maybe we didn’t).

4) A visit to the local ice cream shop (maybe we had Chocolate Banana Swirl with Peanut Butter; maybe we didn’t).

The Parents are six states away. What they don’t know, won’t hurt them.

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Sunday, October 2, 2011

Autumn day in the city
Up at 5:30am (2:30am for those of us just arrived from the west coast) and in Central Park in time to pick up race numbers and T’s.

Our kids moved to the east coast and took up distance running. Distance, as in marathons and half-marathons. They didn’t get it from their mother, but I’d have to say that we’re rather proud of them for choosing a more healthful lifestyle.

Which brings us back to yesterday’s Norwegian Festival in Central Park. Son-in-law did the half marathon as part of his training for the upcoming Marine Corps Marathon, and the three grandkidlets all ran in their age group in the kids’ races.

It just doesn’t get much cuter than this:

	Three-year-old Lydia, middle of photo (her mommy at far right)
	Eight-year-old Titus, left
	Ten-year-old Lilly, right

Up at 2:30am or 5:30am … either way you look at it, a perfect autumn day in the city with the fam. And a full week ahead.

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Saturday, October 1, 2011

A few numbers

Because numbers usually mean something, thought I’d throw a few at you. Seven years ago today, Gary gets a call from his doc: “You have cancer.”

I remember exactly where I was when hubby called me with the news. I was stopped at the Powers Road stoplight on the Bend Parkway, running my mom on errands. I remember the stunned feeling. This sort of thing happens to other people, not us.

As with everyone touched by cancer, it has changed our lives. And in many ways, for the better.

Before cancer, hubby and I never did any public speaking together (this is a man who would pay to not have to stand up in front of people and talk). We had never hiked a mountain trail; never written a book.

With that in mind, here are a few numbers that have tallied up since cancer:

• Number of states where we’ve presented = 13

• Number of presentations = 61

• Number of books written = 1 (I know that’s a staggering number, but just for the record, I am working on a second book)

• Number of miles hiked = 650 (a conservative estimate that doesn’t factor in all the Pilot Butte trails hubby has done at 5:30am while the smarter of the two of us was still in bed)

Racking up the miles

And here’s the most important number:

• Number of years hubby has lived well with cancer = 7 and still counting

Way to go, Gary.

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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 can’t get much better

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 very 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 before you die

Anticipation

Summer past and random thoughts

Running to win

August 2009

Far cry from 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

One of the 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 medical 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

Christmas via webcam

A merry little Christmas

Somewhere on purpose

Adventure and romance

Celebrate life

Imagine

Men and menopause

November 2008

My Thanksgiving list

Thanksgiving Eve

Roundabouts

How Starbucks saved my life

Training for Switzerland

Radio interview

Super colon

Thoughts on being invisible

The speed of a turtle

October 2008

Obligation of the cured

Cancer Adventures – the book

Blue and orange town

Hope Couture

First snow

Simple pleasures are the best

128 quilts

September 2008

Whale watching and kite flying

The new and relaxed Gary

The scenic route
Packing the essentials

One step at a time

PSA count celebration

August 2008

Frost in August

Reading list

Soaring Spirits

Checking in

9:30am rock band

Lingering

July 2008

Grand for a reason

Mickey Mouse pancakes

Survivorship is all the rage

Follow your dreams

Birthday weekend

Only in America

Unrelated goose incident

June 2008

Geese

Road trip

Friday night date

Tough day on the job

Best dad

Confession

Light bulb moment

Homesick

Amazing volunteers

May 2008

Countdown

Extended family

Testing the limits

Trailblazers

The last lecture

Mother’s Day thoughts

Welcome to our world, Lydia

Personal touch

April 2008

Dispensing goodness

Cancer community – Part II

Cancer community

Barn door analogies

Homemade soup day

Mice and tumors

Waiting room magazines

Weekend date

First entry