This comes a day late, but Patty tasked me with sending out a few specific thanks, as we have been feeling a gratitude deficit. We have been showered with so much love and support and help over the past month, and are all so truly grateful.
We have been blessed with many delicious and amazing meals, and every single one has been a treat. Special visits from friends far away have provided support that made all the difference at just the right time, including Bonnie Stanke (New Jersey) for the original hospital drama and Sarah Rowley (Sedona) as treatments began last week. Shelley just rocked an incredibly kick-a$$ stirfry that we are still talking about.
Another special shout-out goes to Uncle Dan and Uncle Steve for those first few days at the hospital, and again to Rev. Stephen Schneider (spelled correctly this time) for his ongoing support. Stephen's Grace Episcopal Church has generally been a real beam of light in this house over the past month. We have gorgeous collages created from the many cards and letters Dad has received that now adorn our living room, thanks to Julie Romberg. Sue Jensen brought beautiful flowers and carried forward a card signed by many others that still sits centered on the mantelpiece. Such a wonderful fellowship and family at that place.
Dad is handling the radiation/chemo treatment combo very well so far, with some fatigue and treatable yeasty throat yucky stuff from the steroids but otherwise all is good. He has been enjoying cat naps and excellent organic healthy food and smoothies every day. Patty administers a posh daily essential oil suite of treatments that keep it groovy, including citrus essential oil with soda water at happy hour, nightly tummy rubs with a digestion-support potion, and daily frankincense under the tongue to help the chemo work better. Dad has this hippie-ish lavender-filled floral print cotton eye sack thing that he uses for the cat naps (and fake-out cat naps where he's still listening/laughing/etc) that I covet.
We are well along in planning an awesome June family road trip to California. Last night we made several reservations on airbnb, including an off-grid hillside home in Big Sur near the Esalen Institute, a sweet little cottage in downtown Santa Barbara, a 1920's craftsman bungalow in San Diego (with detached casita and retro trailer), and an over-the-top midcentury modern in Rancho Mirage with the classic kidney-shaped pool. Bam!
OK, guess that pretty much
covers it for now, except Patty wanted to remind people of the Dale Blog, where you can still sign up for dates and food bringing and stuff: http://dale411.blogspot.com/
All our thanks and love as always, every day is the greatest blessing. m
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