It has been quiet around here these last couple of weeks and it might be time to catch up a little.
David and I embarked on a flying visit up north to the Bay Area just before Christmas, where David had some business to attend to. Before Adrienne’s funeral in early October we had not been back up there for several years and while staying with good friends and visiting old stomping grounds we realized how much we actually miss it. There is just a certain vibe , an energy that you don’t find anywhere else. As luck would have it we had another opportunity to go back up there and we took it. While David had to take care of business we also had plenty of time to have fun with our friends,
explore new neighborhoods – who would have thought that downtown Campbell could be this nice AND have a Farmer’s Market on Sunday? – and run the lovely Los Gatos Creek Trail.
We also visited Adrienne’s grave which looked so different grassed over and without the funeral set up. I could not help but think that we were standing there a week from the day she was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma 13 years ago. That Christmas 1996 we took the kids to Lake Tahoe, where we had rented a condo with friends. What promised to be a fun ski vacation in a wintry mountain resort turned into the worst trip of my life. The powdery snowfall of the first two spectacular days turned into record rain and Adrienne seemed to display more and more symptoms of her illness as the days wore on. Maybe it was the fact that we now knew what ailed her, that we had to face the seriousness of her illness, that we could no longer escape the fact that our family had been touched by childhood cancer. She had not been well for quite some time but before she was diagnosed we could brush it off to childhood growth spurts, allergies, a bad cold. Now every ache, every untouched meal,the endless fatigue, just reminded us of the unforgiving reality we were facing. Even Adrienne, who was only 9 at the time had lost her innocence and one night asked me if she was going to die. I assured her that although we were all going to pass on one day chances were very high that she would beat her lymphoma and live a long and prosperous life. And it was not lie told by a concerned parent who does not want to tell the brutal truth to a child. Back then we truly believed she would beat this, after all, her young age and access to one of the best medical facilities and the leading expert in childhood lymphoma were all in her favor. We were so hopeful then and had no idea what lay ahead!
I thought about that fateful Tahoe “vacation”, the one we had to eventually cut short (thank goodness!!!) as the record rainfall turned into record flooding (I could not wait to get home!), and that it was really an omen of things to come, the 13 years that followed, the struggles, the hopefulness, the set backs, the suffering, and that our family was never going to be the same.
From the Bay Area we went to Santa Barbara for a couple of days and attended Susan’s funeral. A service as beautiful as it can be. A lot of my former colleagues were present and a few of them spoke. While they were remembering Susan’s spirit I felt myself nodding in agreement countless times. We all knew what the world had lost and how much we would miss our friend. She was truly one of a kind and I cherish every memory. It is not often you can find a person who really enjoys working side by side with his or her supervisor and I realize how lucky I was and I am glad I realized it while it was happening. I always treasured the days I could work in direct contact with Susan, whether it was a problem that needed to be solved, covering the registration desk at National Sessions, attending meetings, or just catching up on tasks and completed projects, I looked forward to seeing her every single day.
After almost a week on the road I was happy to be home again. I always enjoy road trips, especially road trips that can be combined with visiting good friends, but there is nothing more delicious than sleeping in your own bed again after so many days away from your duvet (although Greta’s bed is pretty heavenly, I must say!). And the comforts of home can not be forgotten as well. As much as I love my friends, I also love being home!
Christmas Eve David, a friend of mine, Barbara’s friend, and I went to our local Rescue Mission and helped out serving Holiday meals to the less fortunate. It was a stark reminder of how blessed we really are and that we have absolutely nothing to complain about. Even with all of our struggles this past year we have yet to miss a hot meal! There at the Mission we met the most gracious and grateful people you could meet, people who have nothing, people who live in tents and don’t know where their next meal comes from, families with children of all ages, children that had a sparkle in their eyes when they each got a present from the toy drive. We have so much! A roof over our heads, clean sheets to crawl under, freshly laundered clothes to wear, a full fridge, the ability to buy more food when we run out (as if!), really, what else do we really need? And in that spirit David and I changed our plans for Christmas Night, lit a fire, had egg bagels and Pecan Pie and just enjoyed being cozy at home.
Happy Holidays!
Today’s Running Tip: Running while traveling!
Since running is a fairly low maintenance exercise you don’t have to stop your routine while on the road. Just pack your running shoes, enough clothing for the days you are traveling (pack warm if you will be in cold climates!). It is a great way to explore the neighborhood and find new running routes. If you are staying with friends ask them about a near by trail that is frequented by walkers and runners. If you are staying in a hotel ask the concierge who usually has maps of local running routes that are save!
