Diana's Next Great Adventure

...began officially a couple of minutes ago. May God have mercy on us all.

Would a memorial next Sunday work, or should we push it to the weekend after?

The Eye of the Storm

-- a multi-leveled title.

Partly, it's the constant flow of visitors -- Nancy got here Wednesday (last Wednesday, now -- she left today), Carl left Thursday, Pat and Kerry arrived Friday, and Mom, Dad, Katie, Ellen, Sara, Colleen and Ann were here yesterday. There was mulching and raking and cooking and cleaning and we even managed to get my office at work ready for the new paint and carpet job next week. There are also the visits by Dede, Sam, Seth, Lee, Marcy, Janet and JJ (and I'm sure I've forgotten a couple). I got to chat with everyone, I think, and everybody hung out with dp at one time or another, but it still kind of feels like it all goes on around us.

There's also the weirdness of waiting. Behind us is a little over a year of battling with cancer -- four surgeries, three months of chemo, and forty-one radiation treatments, and ahead, the imminent death of a woman who's meant a lot to all of us. Right now, though, we're in between, hanging out and reading Harry Potter (We're getting close to the end of book 6 now!)

Finally, there's the concept of jumping in the dungpit -- once you're in there, it's not as terrible as it looks from the outside. I remember trying to empathize with what I thought at the time was the horror of others who've been in similar situations, but now that I'm there, I'm reminded of what Sam said when he moved to Cedar Rapids -- "It's not that bad." dp is not in pain -- there was a bad headache on Monday, but that seems to have been a one-day deal. She's also not zonked out on painkillers -- we've learned that aside from being available when you push it, the PCA is also doling out 1 mg/hour as a baseline, but she's pretty used to that now. Some days are better than others, but every day is still worthwhile.

There are a bunch of photos showing the highly-presentable Woods, but for today, all you get is the the chemo-cap models...

Back in DaWoods again

Hello all, it's tonight's guest blogger. I arrived this afternoon after an uneventful trip and apparently brought the first warm day of the season with me. Everyone has commented on how nice the weather is today. (Must be my sunny personality.)

I must say it is good to be here. There is something magical about these woods. People say that about my space in New Mexico, too, but I really feel it here. There are bits of green peeking up through the ground and the birds are singing.

In terms of an update, I don't think there's much new to report. dp gave me her big smile when I arrived and wants to ensure that I am getting enough chocolate. I think Kevin has done a good job of describing her in and out states. Just when you think she is off in her own world, she says something that lets you know she's right here with you.

Rumor has it that we may be seeing some of you this weekend. I'm looking forward to it!
Nancy

A Sunday Sort of Update

Yes, we did finish The Goblet of Fire, and we're now on chapter 12 of The Order of the Phoenix. We spend a fair amount of the day reading.

Food just magically appears. My mom's been cooking and baking, as has Patty, and Cinda stops off every couple of days with various goodies. I fried myself a meatloaf sandwich for lunch, and that's the most I've put toward food preparation or cleanup in a week. Tonight Patty is cooking a Roman something -- she says it's the meal she gets for her birthday. I don't know anything more about it, except that it smells pretty good up there.

We continue to hang out in da Woods -- the weather's still pretty crappy, but Dede noticed Bardo the barred owl over across the ravine, and they say it'll hit 60 by Tuesday. Life, as they say, goes on...

Oh yeah, Nancy provided the photo.

Another Friday in da Woods

Well, what to say? dp looks like she's in better shape today than she was when she came home last week. She's not eating or drinking a whole lot, but as long as we don't move her around or bump the bed much, she's in no pain -- she still has the morphine PCA, but she hasn't hit the button in a couple days now. She does have a harder time distinguishing her dreams from what I'm calling reality, but she's still on top of things most of the time.

Lily flew back to NYC today. Perry heads back to Oregon on Sunday, and Patty is training back to Ann Arbor on Monday. Mom is still here, making food and entertaining visitors and generally holding down the fort.

So, we hang out while we can. We have said all the important stuff, I think. It really comes down to the same three words -- "I love you." Do yerself a favor, and say it to someone today.

Wednesday

I'm pooped, so this is short. Okay day -- Carl, Patty and Lilly not only hung out, but cleaned up the back yard. Perry was here most of the day. Diana slept more than she has the past couple of days, but when she was awake, she was very much here.

Tuesday night in Da Woods

I stopped by on the way to band practice to bring my customary offering of single malt scotch. I sampled some to be sure it was safe. On my way home, it occurred to me that the scotch might have spoiled and that perhaps I should assure Kevin's safety by testing in just one more time. It is fine.

Diana says "thanks for all the visits!" Lilly, Carl, Patty, Drew, Cinda are all guilty of hanging out and spending time. Jeffy Vaughn has used Kevin and Diana as an alibi for a long time and now he's claiming to have been here when the fire started at his previous place of employment. All bets are off.

A social worker from Hospice came and was impressed. This is my interpretation. Damn it, why wouldn't she be?

In our own way we are all thinking about saying goodbye and it's good to think about doing that. I'm not going to say goodbye. I'm very grateful to be local and to have the luxury of spending time, and being whatever passes for "normal" fo us.

As one of those Beatles said, "You say goodbye, I say 'hello.'"

And what's up with Olive? She is just GREAT. Casually hanging out and being integral. I can see how all you Crawleys got reared.

Okay. I'm going to hang out more.

For right now, it's a sleepy evening in Da Woods.

S.