WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR APRIL 2024

Margaret – Love that picture of you, you look so relaxed and happy. The work inspired by the invitation is really lovely.

Annie – Don’t sweat the pharmacy tech thing, you’re making the right decisions for yourself and for your dad right now. Trust your instincts.

Vicki – Woke up thinking about you. I have a nephew in Nebraska, and he’s fine, but showed some of the devastation. Hope you and yours are doing OK.

Lanette – I talk to my friend once a week or so, and they have made no plans while they’re here but to enjoy the time with us and the place. I pretty much plan to hand them the key to my car and tell them to go explore the Ozarks on the days when Corey’s at work. They’re pulling a 5th-wheel with a massive truck that gets 10-12 miles to the gallon, and my little zippy car will be fun for them. The Ozark National Forest 🌳 begins about five miles north of my house, and there are some beautiful spots within an hour of us. 🏞️ Should be a nice change for them after the last five months in Arizona. 🌵😁 They’ll be headed back home to Montana🏔️after me, with visits for a week in Kansas with another friend and a week in Oregon with their daughter. This is their maiden year as snowbirds, and they’re learning a lot… like April is mating season for rattlesnakes in Arizona , and they’ve found half a dozen under their camper so far! 🐍 She says they’ll be leaving in late March next year… 😁🙃

Rori – Sorry about Mars’ kidney woes! 🐈 During my very truncated time working for a veterinarian, it was probably what we saw the most with older animals, kidney issues. There is a lot of very good treatment to help them live long and healthy lives after diagnosis. Sorry about your hip issues as well, standing on concrete for any length of time can get painful, take care of yourself… glad to hear you’ll be seeing your friend soon, as well. 🥰

Kylia – I ended up taking a nap yesterday myself, and it was honestly kinda wonderful. 🛌🏻Really clears your mind and restarts your energy levels for a wonderful afternoon.

Tracy – Sounds like you’re learning as much or more than the kids are—keep the updates coming! 🥰

Rita – Looking forward to the culmination of the story, it’s been fascinating so far. 👍🏻🧚🏻‍♀️

Rebecca – Poor babies! Athena doesn’t seem to be in terrible pain, it’s a beautiful smile… Hope it’s quite simple and easy healing. And poor Eli! That is not a happy face. The last time I heard a little one pitching a fit in Walmart, I said out loud, “Man, they never let ME do that!” and a woman behind me started laughing, and said “Me neither, and I wish I could sometimes!” 😁

More in a minute...

Lisa in AR

Max arrived at 10.30 this morning , and we had a bit of a hat discussion and a try on of John's hats. So, off they went on the bus.
I got a text to say that they were in Fatto and a photo.

I think it looks great!
So I'm having a quiet morning. No luck with cleaning my sofa arm. I will have to have another go at it. But my old bag polished up well and looks a lot better.
I've ordered a pair of drawstring, linen mix, wide legged pants in navy, for the summer. I have two new navy t shirts, so that will be useful.

Can't decide what to have for dinner. Fish? With spinach?

Love Heather UK xxxxxx

Rori when DrewB went through her anemia a year and a half ago. I started looking for other answers when the vet wanted to give her steroids. I now give her a diet 80% non processed food- liver, organic chicken or beef, a few veggies, goats mild or home made broth. The other 20% is freezed- dried Kibble. Because of our weather here I can't always walk her enough so we have a game where I throw the dry food and she has to go find it. Her favorite game! I also quit giving her flea and tick meds (they are pesticides) and put a scarf around her neck with an essential oil repellent. (Bug OFF). She is different dog from a year ago. I also joined an online group called Pet Summit. This group also has online videos and Summits. When I register for a Summit I only watch the videos that I have interest. Otherwise it takes up too make time. It is tough when our fur babies are not at their best!

On the bus home. Two mad hatters!

Apparently, Max couldn't choose between two styles, this one, and a newsboy style cap. So John bought both and asked his parents if they would reimburse him as part of Max's birthday present from them. They were happy to. The shop are getting it for him in his size by next week.
The shop in North Laines is actually called 'Mad Hatters'.

I've been trying on some old clothes in my wardrobe. I've put on a bit of weight with my enforced inertia. Amazingly, I can still squeeze into most. Summer is coming!

Love you all, Heather UK xxxxxx

.

Hey all! Woke up to a warm rainy Spring Sunday! I slept in until 8am, which felt wonderful. I got dressed, drank a half a cup of coffee and the rain began to let up. So my shoes went on my feet, my spring jacket over my hoodie and out the door I went to see what I could see.
The Mayapples are up, as are ramps, lily of the valley, trilliium leaves (no blooms yet), the Strawberry plants are up and have their flowers and buds, as a matter of fact, everything is in bud around here. I found three morel mushrooms! I found evidence of more; but something or someone beat me to them. I am guessing probably the deer. The neighbors that own the corner lot in the neighborhood across the street from me have torn out ALL of the raspberry bushes. This makes me sad. It is in a wild and wooded part of the lot, quite far from the house. Not only do the kids and I enjoy stopping to pick and eat while we are on our walk; but it was also a popular snack area for deer and we liked watching them. Oh well, plenty of other spots in the area that we can walk to and find raspberries.
My son in law flew in from Texas, last night. He is here for a job interview and decided to come up early so he can take a look at some of the other neighborhoods in the area. He is not upset with the rainy forecast. He said he is looking forward to some quiet and "rest". I get that. But I also warned him that Monday and Tuesday are my busiest days of work and there will be 10 and 12 kids here on those days. In all honesty, though, my three grandsons make more noise than all of my childcare kids when they are all here and awake. In the meantime; my daughter is back at home with the boys, keeping them on schedule, packing things, selling things, organizing window cleaners, house painters, carpentry work, yard work, and doggie daycare while these things are happening! Their house goes up for sale on May 3. Fingers crossed they sell quickly and get their asking price.
Other matters of the heart I am grappling with: I think I mentioned last summer, that my older sister was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma (lung cancer) that metastasized and put tumors in other areas in her abdomen. She had all of the masses removed, went through chemo, radiation, and now is on immunotherapy to build up her immune system. All of that and her survival rate is still 3-5 years. Last month my brother's wife was diagnosed with colon cancer. She has had a colectomy and is now beginning chemo. One of my longtime friends, who has battled breast cancer and survived is now dealing with chronic leukemia and has a 3-5 year survival rate. Finally, my 16 year old grand niece is in a hospital in Dallas for an eating disorder. This is her third hospitalization in two years. She is/was a competitive gymnast. She is 5'7 and entered the hospital at 87 pounds. This week her weight is down to 80 pounds. We are all just heartsick. She is skin and bones and when she is in therapy, she still admits that she sees herself as fat. "I can't get enough height in my tumbling routines because I am too heavy. I have to figure out how to make myself lighter." I think of all of the above illnesses that family/friends are dealing with; this last one is just heartbreaking to me. Not looking for any "I am so sorrys" or other words of condolence; just writing it down so I can mentally "put it down" for a while. It is added stress and my brain feels fried.
Rita and other story contributors- What a fun whodunnit! I can't wait to see who the bad guy is!
Allie- Hugs to Tracey and family. I think Miles will be the best "balm" for mama's hurting heart.
Tracey- I really enjoy hearing about your studies and the class work you are doing. I get a LOT of my science activities for kids from Google and Youtube. What age are you working with?
Heather- Max has a head for hats! Two good looking guys!
Rori- Healing thoughts to Mars! I am sure being such a fit and active cat helps with his health and longevity (just like a human).
Rebecca- I love your new haircut!
Machka- Moving is so much work; but I can't wait to see your new place! So exciting! Is Rowan excited about the move?
More of you I am thinking of but it is lost in the mush that is my brain, right now. Sending the hugs and love out anyway! ttfn xoxoxo KJ (Kelly)

KJ (Kelly), let us help you carry the mental burden. Hopefully we all use this place to "put" our grief, and stress. I am really sorry Kelly, that there is illnesses you're having to be witness to. Just be the amazing person you are, lending an ear to them when they think its all too much. I try to not be that person that avoids people that are dealing with illness. Sometimes its hard to know what to say. But sometimes just saying I am here for you, is enough.💖
Rebecca
Whidbey
Wa

Did Joyce Vidral’s Complete Workout DVD then went for a walk around the neighborhood then to Aldi

Rori – Lexi had kidney issues which is why we used to Royal Canin. The worst part was that you needed a prescription.

KJ – I’m so sorry to hear about all the illnesses in your family

Spread the rest of the topsoil. Boy, am I glad that’s over with! I did NOT relish the possibility of having to cut down weeds in 90 degree weather like I had to before.

After dinner went to Lowe’s Hardware to get grass seed and more straw to put down where we put the topsoil. Will probably do that Tues since we have bowling tomorrow. Plus it’s supposed to be a nice day. Supposedly there should be showers in the afternoon so we won’t even have to water! Of course, that really depends. We all know how very accurate the weatherman is!

Sharing sorrow: heard from my friend in Switzerland, the one who has cancer. I wasn’t at liberty to say anything before. She now has a Urostoma (a bag attached to her leg that you pee in). It’s not reversable. She was VERY down, questioning assisted suicide (which is legal in Switzerland). She can’t live independently, her other kidney is working so she also uses the bathroom, was questioning if she should live, what kind of life would she have. She has no appetite and her bowels only work with medication, sometimes needing an enima which her husband has to give her. BUT she has decided to forgo the chemo and be on palliative care until the end. I’m very very sad. She’s my age (older then me by one day). I hate to say this, but I can’t help wondering if this socialized medical care had something to do with it. Had they not waited so long, perhaps this could have been avoided. Perhaps I’m just feeling really down because she’s one of my best friends and it’s so hard to think of something like this happening to someone I care so much about. Maybe I’m wanting someone to blame.

Have a box of assorted teas and some knick-knacks to send to her. Boy, is postage to Switzerland expensive! But in the end, I think it’s worth it – just to let her know that she’s in my heart.

Jess should be here Thurs. She said she has a vet appt and a few other appts. I'm going to borrow a dog crate from a neighbor so she can bring her dog tomorrow. I'm thinking that she'll have to sedate him for the trip. But I also want her to feel that he's welcome. Unfortunately, they recently lost their dog to cancer so I know that they aren't using the crate right now.

Michele NC

What a busy day today. I don't know where I found the energy, but I have been housecleaning, planting, sorting through pictures, more cleaning, plus, I got caught up on the church services I've missed (3!), so I'm caught up on the sermon series (I don't go in person because of my immune status), made a gf lasagna, (which was amazing) and made a fresh strawberry pie. Seriously. Some days I can barely walk (I have been using a walking stick at work when I'm feeling unstable), and today I was a dynamo!

I've been having fun going through pictures again. One of my best friends' father died, and his memorial service was Friday afternoon. Watching the slide show reminded me that I don't want my family to do my slide show for me, so I'm going through all of my pictures, and I've started a shoe box called "Flea's memorial service slide show pictures." My husband will freak out when he finds out what I'm doing, but he is used to me puttering around, so he hasn't bothered to ask why I keep sliding photos into a shoe box under my jewelry table. Even funnier! Hopefully this is still a long time out, but I figure once I am on hospice, we will need to get serious. The playlist for my slide show are what I call "my chemo songs." The songs I listened two after getting done with each infusion. I would listen to them in my kitchen and dance around in my socks. I'll make a separate post with links, if you're curious what gets me going.

For those of you who are new and don't know, I was diagnosed with oligometastatic breast cancer in June 2021. We threw everything at it (chemo, surgery, radiation, more surgery), and I currently have no progression of disease, but I am on some pretty nasty medications. Anyway, for those of you who have been following along, my latest CA-15 test was completely stable. I forgot if I told you that the last time I saw the PA, in March, I think, she told me that I am a very boring patient. Saw my oncologist last week, and we talked more about the Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, Oregon than we did about my health, so maybe I am really that boring. We can only hope.

I've been reading along -- finals week coming up, then I switch to a lower gear for May and June, and then I will be idling in July -- that's when we are going to Ashland to watch plays: MacBeth, Jane Eyre, and Born with Teeth. Then we are heading up to Crater Lake for a couple days then heading out to Utah to see my husband's children and grandchildren. Our youngest will be in Germany beginning at the end of June and for most of July, so we are taking advantage.

Weather here is cold and rainy. I am so much ready for some 80 degrees day, but we probably won't see those for another month.

So good to get your update Rori.

Allie -- I'm sorry for the sad news in your family.

Love to all.

Flea
Willamette Valley, OR