This is just to say:
Today was a good day. Today there was hiking, and waterfalls, and dogs running joyfully up and down the trail, and wild irises. We switchbacked and scrambled and climbed with a posse of friends and dogs up to Angel’s Rest, a rocky spine overlooking the Columbia Gorge. There we perched on boulders, ate almond-butter-banana sandwiches, and gazed across the ribbon of the Columbia to the last of the snow on the Washington hills.
And now our living room is filled with people, some of whom made us dinner, sang us songs they wrote themselves, and brought us rosemary and flowers from their yards.
We are soaking up the sunshine of the end of Before, and getting ready for Next, surrounded by steadying hands.
D
Val, thinking of you and Deborah today and all days, and especially tomorrow, the Big Next, the start of Afterward, and the success of Operation Cancer Interruptus. Can’t wait to play ball again with you when you have healed up. But for now, go get ’em.
It’s not going to be easy, but you’ll both get through it. And after tomorrow there will be one less treatment. Knock ’em off one-by-one, one step at a time.
Hey:
You are a couple of tough ladies (I know that I certainly would not want to mess with either of you!), so I know you will fight through this.
Please know that the Kiwi and I are thinking of you.
Sending all my love and energy to you today.
Your chemo outfit is sexy. I’m staring at the picture message on my cell phone right now saying “Rawr!” I’m so proud of you both. This is so hard. You are doing this so very, very well.