West Coast Tour

I just returned from a month away visiting my kids who live up and down the west coast of the USA. (Literally-they are spread out from the Pacific Northwest to Southern California 1,350 miles/2170km apart!) 

This trip's timing was in honor of Isabel's 21st Birthday!

Zack surprised Isabel by joining me for her big day

 (along with Griffin, of course!).

It was so fun to spend a week with her....

witnessing her life in San Diego.

I even spent a day on campus (SDSU) 

and was able to sit in on one of her classes.

From San Diego, I flew to Seattle. 

It's always a bit complex to fly home to Seattle. 

I miss mom so much when I'm there--and there is never enough time.

 I'm thinking next time, I will spend a whole month

 so I'll have time to see everybody.

This visit, I stayed most of my time 

between Aunt Dodo's house in Renton

 and up in Bellingham with Eli.

How can she be 92?!

Bear looking out Erin and Mark's front window, So many different kinds of beauty.

Eli in Bellingham

I saw as many loved ones (humans and pets!) 

as I could but it was still just a teaser, really.

Sheila's cat: Beau

Lunch at the Beck's with Charlotte & Alan

From Seattle, I returned to San Francisco to spend some time with Zack and Aidan before returning home.

In front of their apartment in the Lower Haight.

I love the perks of city living when I visit them. One night we took the bus to see the Broadway show "Chicago".  Everything is so nearby and they are both pros getting around.

A highlight this trip was joining Zack to adopt another cat at the local animal shelter. He's had Chika for 3 years now and she's really needed a friend. 

We told them what we were looking for and they said they had one cat available that sounded like a good match. We couldn't believe it when they said his name was "CHICO"! It felt meant to be.

Chika checking out "Topo Chico". They quickly made fast friends!

(Zack cleverly added Topo as a first name ;)

The SF SPCA is so incredibly well run!

With a full heart, it was time to head home.

Recharged until next time.

@zackgraves

Click here to see more photos from my

West Coast Tour!

Stay tuned for future tour dates, to be announced...

;)

Six Month Check

A quick update to share that I had my six month post chemo follow up today and everything continues to look great. Words can't express my sense of relief. I've been reflecting on the fact that it was almost a year ago exactly that I was first diagnosed. Incredible!

What an intense month it has been: with my mom going on hospice and this appointment looming. Hearing this good news today helps so much...as does the fact that Mom's pain is currently under control (thanks to her radiation treatment and finding the right balance with her medications). 

A couple weeks ago, I took a lil' time away to return to Vashon Island. 

The hope of Spring's arrival also did my spirit good!

My hair continues to grow in. It's amazing that it takes six months to grow to this point when starting from scratch. It feels like it's starting to speed up lately. I never thought I'd feel so grateful for HAIR. 

I have a ticket to fly to Han at the end of the month. Mom is my biggest cheerleader to stick with these plans. I can't wait AND it's hard to think of leaving, all at the same time. But we all feel it's important to keep making plans. I know when I do go, it will be a good opportunity for Mom & Eric (and his family) to spend special time together, too. It's nice that we can be flexible and continue to take things as they come.

Till next time...

❤️

A Great Start to the New Year

We started the year off right with a visit from Isabel.

 I can't believe she is going to be 17 this weekend!

Aidan and Eli have continued to join us for Sunday dinners as they have all year. 

We really treasure this time together.

Han arrived soon after. 

Both visits added so much sunshine to life around here.

It was so nice for him to be able to spend a few weeks here....really getting a feeling for life in this area and for this side of his (new) family, friends, and pets!

We took a couple mini-trips while he was here. The first was to Vashon Island, only an hour from home, including the ferry ride. We stayed in a tiny lil' cabin that was so "gezellig"!

 

The cabin was in the woods but just a short drive to the beach. We really lucked out with the weather.

Our second trip was up to Bellingham (about 90 minutes north of us). We stayed in a very tiny house (only 121 square feet) but it was like being in a nest up in the trees with the birds.

And it had a hot tub! Since we were so close to Eli, he was able to come over and enjoy it with us.

We had a beautiful time and on the way home, 

we saw dozens of eagles!

Between trips, Han even fit in some American style golf. He loved it!

The three weeks went by so fast, 

as we knew they would.

Now he is safely home. 

He came home to neighbors ice skating next to his Mill!

The day after he left,  I drove Mom to the first of her five radiation treatments. I also had a follow up X-ray on my arm, with reassuring results. I'm hoping to travel his way for the month of April but at this point, we're just taking things as they come. In these crazy times, it continues to be impossible to see too far ahead. As I've shared with many, sometimes, it feels like driving on a foggy night and all we can see is what the headlights show directly in front of us. This whole last year has felt that way. 

The fog is especially thick right now.

But, I know bit by bit, the road will continue to light up as we go. And I'm thankful for this special time we shared, starting 2021 off in such a beautiful way.❤️