Peace Arch Park

Son DC's picture of CB, Jan, and MJ
(the post behind CB marks the border between WA and Canada)

Vacation Pictures

Lake Quinault, WA Rain Forest

AA and son DC, MJ and CJS
at Ballard Locks (in Seattle)

Rabbit totem in Pioneer Square, Seattle

DC coming out of fountain in downtown Seattle

View from rented house in Moclips, WA

Beach at Moclips, WA

CB and Jan at Ocean Crest Restaurant our last night in Moclips, WA

MJ, AA, DC, BJ, and CJS at Peace Arch Park (border between USA and Canada)

Happy as a clam?

This makes me think of our time on the Moclips beach in WA. Nine people together for three nights and four days; we were mostly happy. It was a fun time.

I brought back a bag of driftwood I collected there. Today I tried baking them in the oven, and oh, did the house stink! After complaints from CB (and myself, I must admit), I put them outside, where they still are laying on cookie sheets on the deck bench.

Back home!

We got back to hot Corpus Christi, TX last night. Today it was 99 degrees F. That's quite a shock after the lovely weather in WA State.

We had a wonderful time, which I will relate when I download pictures and have washed all the clothes (and completely unpacked).

Thank you for prayers for our sister-in-law Chris. Please keep them coming. There is good news about Dennis--the surgeon removed ALL the cancer when he cut out half of Dennis' liver.

And now I want to recommend these books that I read on our vacation:

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

This takes place in Jackson, Mississippi in the 1960's when the civil rights movement was gaining momentum in the USA and just before women's lib grew into consciousness. The voices of two black "help" and the Junior League ladies they serve, with one new college graduate wondering where she fits in contrast the attitudes prevalent at that time. This is excellent!

How to Be Good by Nick Hornby

This is a silly, but provocative, book about a female physician in London in a strained marriage with two children. Her husband has a spiritual conversion, and she struggles with his pious giving as she wonders what "being good" is. Is one only "good" in comparison to others? Is it necessary to have those "more" good or "less" good to gauge one's worth?

I Am the Messenger by Marcus Zusak

Since I loved reading The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak, I got this book for our vacation. I read it after MJ and devoured it. It is very easy reading, but is thought provoking. After a failed bank robbery, Ed becomes the messenger, recieving messages of his next mission via aces. Through acts of kindness to those around him, Ed is being led by the hand through a journey of self discovery and sometimes is helped with the advice of pie eating hit-men. The ending is unexpected.

The Coroner's Lunch by Colin Cotterill

I gave this book to my son BJ for his birthday in April, but he never wanted to read it. He brought it along on our vacation trip for me. It is the first book in a series of mysteries about a Laotian doctor who is 72 years old in 1970's Laos, after the Communist takeover. It was interesting about the locale and time period, as well as good character development of the various people involved. I am going to read the four other books in this series.

Bellingham, WA in fun and sadness

With recent trips to Seattle, where I am again, and Canada, my blogging has been infrequent, and my visits to other blogs even less. Suddenly I am learning that Fran and Jaliya are taking breaks, and I wonder who else. . . . as I seem to be doing the same.

We had a busy three days in Seattle, doing lots of sightseeing and even saw a play on Capital Hill where the daughter of one of my oldest friends was the star. It was good to see Dennis getting a little more active, though he still gets fatigued easily. My kids had two long, long visits with him on Friday and Saturday, which seemed to energize and tire him at the same time. I'm so glad they love him and Terry.

Now we're at CB's parents' house in Bellingham, WA. Today is the summer family barbecue and reunion of all CB's siblings and their children. One great-grandchild is coming; she's one year old. CB has two sisters and one brother, so this is a large clan gathering. We bring nine, counting MJ's boy friend CS. Approximately 25 will be here.

After a dinner at Chuck's sister's house last night, I was suddenly and unexpectedly struck with grief, having none of my own family around at all. Since I was an only child, my dad was an only child, and my mother had just one sister, I have no family left in Bellingham. (You may recall that I have a distant cousin Margaret in Calgary, Canada.)

I am sad that my children's partners will only know CB's family, hearing stories of their past. Yes, I can tell a few tales of my family, but the children are not seeing the places or anyone else remembering them, like CB's siblings. It's just the way it is. This is reality, which I am re-learning to accept. . . .and am surprised that I have this to do all over again.

Seattle again!

Different airlines are taking my family and me to Seattle this week. Six of us are flying to Seattle on Tuesday (from either Corpus Christi or Austin), and only BJ is flying on Friday (from Houston).

Friends Terry and Dennis and daughters AE and KA are being generously hospitable by opening their homes for us to stay with them. Even after Dennis' major surgery, he and Terry want CB and me to stay with them. AE and KA are inviting four of our young adults to stay with them.

The weather is cooling down in Seattle, so our time there may be more typically rainy and cool. We will see. . . .

Our trip is divided into three parts, oddly going north then southwest. First we'll be in Seattle, then up to Bellingham to visit CB's family, and after that we'll spend a few days in Moclips, which is on the coast north of Aberdeen.

Blogging just stuff

• Not too regularly lately, especially not visiting blogging friends. (sorry)

• It was 94 degrees in Seattle today and 90 here when I checked at 6 pm.

• Dennis is home and is in a lot of pain. He is staying in the basement with his two Samoyeds because it is so hot in Seattle.

• MJ gave a presentation on her chemistry research at Trinity University today. Tomorrow she will come home!

• On Tuesday, CB, MJ, MJ's boy friend CS, and I will fly to Seattle again. This is our family vacation that has been planned for months and months. Son DC and wife AA will fly from Austin also. Son BJ will fly from Houston on Friday night. NINE of us will be traveling together, once BJ joins us.

• During last week's trip to Seattle, I read The Help by Kathryn Stockett, which I highly recommend. It takes place in Mississippi in 1962 and contrasts the society ladies and their black "help."

• On the trip home on Wednesday, I read a book loaned to me by daughter AE--Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris. I kept laughing out loud!

• I am in the midst of a blogging post about a connection I found in lectio divina with Dennis' situation, so that will come up before I leave.
  

CB's Birthday in Seattle

Today is CB's birthday, last one before 60. That will be me in three more months. No wonder I have white hair! We are having dinner with daughters AE and KA tonight, along with Terry, at an Indian restaurant in the U District of Seattle.

This morning we trekked from the University of Washington Medical Center uphill to the UW campus, so we could find where AE works. Eventually, she met us in Red Square. It was a pretty walk, though sweaty since Seattle is having 90 degree F. highs this week.

Dennis is coming along, though the pain is severe. Today he is supposed to walk down the hospital hallway four times, but when we last saw him at noon, he had not done so yet. The surgeon told him that he hoped he had gotten all the cancer from his liver, which sounds hopeful.

Tomorrow morning we fly back to (hot) TX from (hot) WA. We fly to San Antonio, where MJ will meet us at the airport with our car. She kept it at her school, so we didn't have to pay airport parking fees. And exactly one week from this trip, we'll travel back to Seattle for our scheduled family vacation, this time with all our children.

The day before Seattle

Son DC and Sampson

I am in the midst of packing my suitcase to go to Seattle tomorrow, while son DC plays on the Wii (that he brought from home) and his dog Sampson dozes.

It's been a busy day, as all days are before trips. It started out abruptly because Terry tearfully called me from Seattle to say that Dennis was unresponsive. Immediately jumping into her panic, I remembered how my mother went into a coma before she died of pancreatic cancer--so maybe this would also be the case for liver cancer? The medics and firefighters arrived and took his vital signs, reviving him. It was learned that he accidentally took an extra pill the night before. With his liver compromised by the tumor, it could not process the chemicals.

Dennis stayed sleepy all day. Fortunately, he is physically stable and will still have the surgery on Friday, July 24. The surgeon told them today that the plan is to remove 50% of his liver.

DC and Sampson arrived yesterday, so DC's truck dent could be fixed and painted by someone here, who is proficient and very reasonable. The truck will probably be ready sometime tomorrow, so the two boys will return to Austin sometime in the afternoon.

DC and I went to see the new "Harry Potter" movie in the late afternoon. He had already seen it with his wife, but came with his mom today. I'm so glad I got to see it. It was very well done, though I disliked a few changes towards the end. The actors have matured greatly in their acting abilities. Draco really grew tall!

A friend is staying in our house to take care of our dogs and cat while we are in Seattle for the next week. Our pets will be happier once Sampson is gone. I think our cat is jealous, because today she left a pile in front of the chair where I meditate every day. . . .

AND it's hot up there, too--upper 80s for high temperatures, and most places do not have air conditioning. It's near 100 degrees here in Corpus, but we can stay inside with our air conditioner running.

My cousin Margaret

This is my cousin Margaret at her daughter's wedding reception in Banff on July 1. I love this picture, even though she is not smiling. I can see my mother in her. This is precious to me because my mother died in 1992. Margaret's sister-in-law told me that night that she could see the resemblance between Margaret and me, which pleased me greatly.

I had to leave the reception early, because I had to pack and get ready to leave on an early morning shuttle to the Calgary airport. Margaret walked me down to the front door of the hotel. I cried in saying good-by to her; Margaret told me she used to do that when she left her parents (in BC when she returned to Alberta) because she wondered if she would see them again. That was a truth I did not realize until she spoke it.

This is the only picture taken of Margaret and me together.

Pictures of Banff, Canada

The city of Banff

The wedding

In Banff as I walked back to the hotel after the wedding reception.

Jan before the wedding

Today Banff!

Today we'll be going to Banff from Calgary. We're borrowing my cousin's son's van, and I am driving three others to Banff this afternoon. Right now, they are rushing around packing as I sit at the dining room table looking out on the lush green leaves of poplar aspen trees.

As a recap, I am visiting my cousin Margaret, who is 20 years older than I am. She was a cousin of my mother, who was also named "Margaret." Margaret has five grown children. Her eldest daughter Beth tragically died about four years ago in Pittsburgh, leaving her young daughter (also named "Margaret") Meg. Meg got to Calgary yesterday with her mother's best friend, so she could be here for the wedding of her aunt (cousin Margaret's daughter). These are the three people I will be driving to Banff.

The wedding is at a meadow at 4:30 on Wednesday afternoon. The big question seems to be: What type of shoes to wear to the wedding? The reception is in a big hotel at 6 pm. So there will probably be time to change one's shoes!

My "wedding shoes" are the ones I bought three years ago for my son DC's wedding to AA. They are only worn for weddings, as they have rhinestones and little heels. But they wouldn't be good in a meadow.

I'm in Calgary!

I made it here and even have my cousin's new computer in my bedroom. I'll stay here for three nights, before moving to someone else's house. Then a computer will not be as easily accessible.

We'll be going to Banff on Tuesday as the wedding will be on Wednesday.

My sweet cousins are asking me what I want to do this weekend; they feel like they should entertain me. I don't need that and just came to visit.

Hot, hotter, hottest

Corpus Christi, TX has had the last 15 days with temperatures above 95 degrees F. That is unusual for June. My son DC in Austin says that the high temperature there for the past two days has been 105 degrees F. BJ in Houston said it was 104 degrees F. yesterday. TOO HOT!

So I am glad I'll have a week respite in Canada, especially in Banff. My cousin's wedding is in Banff on Wednesday, July 1. I fly back to the heat the next day.

June 24

June 24 was/is my dad's birthday. If he had not died in 2002, he would be 87 today. I always remember my parents' birthdays, even though they both have died.

In contrast, a vigorous Thomas Keating spoke at the conference at the age of 86. He flew in from London the day before he spoke and today flew to speak in Washington, DC.

Today is also the Feast of John the Baptist. I learned that this day is observed as John of the Cross' birthday, though Fr. Kelly Nemeck said it was either his birthday or his baptismal date (in 1542), because it is known that John's mother named him after John the Baptist.

Also, today was my son DC's last day of work. We hope he'll find a new job soon as a construction supervisor or assistant supervisor. At least his wife AA has a good job. They live in Austin.

And I am back from the conference "Demystifying Mysticism" in San Antonio. I left before the last talk that was given by Ron Rolheiser (which is currently going on), because I had to drive for 2 1/2 hours. All the way home the car thermometer registered at 102 degrees F. (The conference was excellent.)