We decided we could get used to this life of sleeping in, long beach walks, browsing through used book stores, putting together puzzles, and indulging in clam chowder and marionberry cobbler at Mo's. (Recognize the puzzle, Summer?)

Yesterday we hiked up a hill out at Yaquina Point and climbed the 110 steps to the top of the light house. This morning from our balcony, we spotted a pair of whales spouting off. (We read where the whales normally migrate  but there are a few that stay in the Newport area year round. I'm sure it's because the locals are very friendly to visitors.)

Today on our walk along the beach, we took our kite up on her maiden voyage ...  and then handed her off to a surprised little girl. I hope she got as much pleasure out of it as we did!

Alas ... tomorrow we head back to the real world. But with more memories and pictures than we had a week ago.

We met some really great Cancer Services staff at Legacy Good Sam, Mid-Valley Cancer Care and Willamette Cancer Treatment Center, with invitations to come back and present to groups of survivors.

We slept in this morning, I made Banana Pecan Pancakes for breakfast, and we took a long walk on the beach. Gary—not a "backwards hat" sort-of person—is showing signs of totally relaxing on this vacation!

You’ll never guess where we are. We’re in Long Beach, Washington. The reason that’s so amazing is, we’re 5 miles off the planned route. The reason that’s so amazing is we never deviate 5 miles off the planned route. (Remember I’m married to the man who wants to get there and not necessarily enjoy the trip along the way.)

California has its beaches, I wrote, and Jersey has its shore. But there is absolutely no coastline in the world like the Oregon coast – the perfect blend of sand and surf ... of cliffs and evergreens … and huge rocks jutting out of the ocean floor.

We're now at our destination and planning to enjoy every minute of it.  

As you can guess, I’m doing laundry and packing the essentials – Chocolate Chip Pecan Cookie dough (we’re counting on the vacation rental having cookie sheets, otherwise we’ll have to eat it with spoons), books, our laptop, walking shoes, and a Starbucks gift card that arrived today in a “birthday/ anniversary/ congratulations on the downward PSA count” card (you didn’t know there was such a card, but my sister-in-law found one!).

One step at a time

We’re sore this morning—mostly our knees—but we conquered Mt. Bachelor yesterday, elevation 9,068 feet. What a great feeling!

For us, hiking and snow-shoeing in the Cascade Mountains has come to represent being proactive against the hard things in our lives, such as cancer.

Mt. Bachelor from the trailhead

We don’t think we’ll live forever, but somehow conquering giant mountains one step at a time—and that’s the key—helps us feel as if we can face down anything life throws at us. No guarantee of outcomes, just one step at a time.

We have a dream to take our survivorship message on the road. We're speaking in Portland, Salem and Eugene next week, but we both hold down 40-hour jobs and had to schedule around vacation. One step at a time, though, our vision will happen.

Toward the top of the trail

In all, 21 people from our cancer community reached the summit and 7 hiked to the tree line - people in treatment, those with chemo and radiation behind them, and one young woman newly diagnosed with breast cancer facing surgery and treatment soon. They are all my heroes (especially my hubby).

Why climb mountains? Because as much as it’s in our power, cancer isn’t going to dictate what we can and cannot do.

At the summit with Sparks Lake and the Three Sisters in the background

Gary called me today with the results of his PSA count. After a small bump upward at his last medical appointment, Dr. E ordered another reading in one month. Today Gary learned the count had edged downward again! It’s such a small thing – this tiny bump downward – but it buys us more time. And time is so precious these days.

We’re also celebrating meeting the press deadline with my book. You can’t imagine what a relief it was to get it out the door this week.