Autumn Bloemen

Look at the lovelies that arrived from the bloemen shop Friday afternoon:

So graceful, joyful and filled with love you can feel it; in closeup you can practically smell it.

And Raj tells me that you also sent a gift certificate for gourmet meals, delivered! Everything from shrimp pasta to beef Bourguignon. You MOTI are the most kind, caring and generous group of people I have ever had the pleasure of being associated with and I feel blessed to know you all.

My oncologist is encouraging regarding my progress to date and I’m currently off one of the chemo drugs but scheduled for the rest of the infusions through December. I will have new scans then and we’ll go from there. So the report is “as good as can be expected” and I hope to stay on that path with your continued prayers. And while I absolutely adore the flowers, you’ve done way, way too much already. All I can do to express my gratitude is a sincere thank you, for both the beautiful arrangements and your continued prayers and good thoughts.

On another note, Raj and I celebrated our 50th anniversary on the 13th, well “celebrate” might be a bit of an overstatement as we spent most of the day at U of M hospital getting an infusion. We’ll celebrate in a day or so as I generally am not at my best for several days after. We did have a little pre-anniversary celebration last weekend but will have another when I feel better. I think 50 years – which went by in a flash – is worthy of at least two celebrations. We were going to take a trip but will defer that part of the celebration until next year.

October remains my favorite month although it can be fickle. When I was young I never thought about how quickly on its heels winter arrived. Now that I’m older I think about that probably too much. I remind myself often that after the leaves fall and the wind blows them about there comes a necessary dormancy that allows  the world, and us, to rest. Perhaps even compost a bit of the detritus cluttering our lives and store it as  energy for a glorious spring renewal. In the meanwhile:

Andrew Wyeth, Cornstalk

Bless you all.   

Autumn Leaves

What autumn leaves, raked, look like just about anywhere in the world:

What raked autumn leaves look like in Japan:

As Gerard would ask: “The Japanese: Nuked Too Much or Not Enough?”

And now for a brief health update:

I won’t lie, it’s been kind of a rough few weeks. Eye, jaw and stomach issues accompanied by - most likely - stress induced migraines for which I can no longer take Imitrex. For what it’s worth, Fioracet, essentially the same med I took 30 years ago before Imitrex existed, works no better now than it did then. These issues are most likely chemo/immuno related and may or may not resolve when the treatment is done. While “Immunotherapies” sound better than “chemo” they both, in fact, list nearly identical side effects. 

But the good news: none of these new afflictions appear to be dangerous. So according to my Doc I’m still doing well. I have another round of oral chemo and an Immuno infusion this week and I’m hoping for no new symptoms. Poor Raj, I’m afraid I’ve become a full time job and yet he never, ever complains.

Anyway, again I thank everyone for the prayers prayed, the notes mailed and emailed and the good wishes sent. Apologies to all, I’ve meant to get back with everyone and hopefully I will eventually.

Only 29 Days Till Halloween

Only 29 days till Halloween. Time to get those decorations up.

Well played big orange house at the end of the block, well played.

and bake those Halloween goodies.

If neither decorating or baking are your thing you might want to consider dying your hair a nice shade of pumpkin pie spice. Shown here: Ginger.

So let’s get going, time’s a wasting.

P.S. I’m doing OK; will provide a more detailed “systems update” later this week.

All The Lives We’ve Ever Lived…

All the lives we’ve ever lived

and all the lives to be

are full of trees and changing leaves.

Virginia Woolf, To The Lighthouse.

 

The Autumn Equinox arrives at 9:04 p.m. EDT today:12 hours of day, 12 hours of night, earth in balance, if only briefly.

 

L'Empire des Lumières - Magritte

 

The greens of summer acquiesce to autumn’s exuberance. Flowers stop blooming, trees drop their leaves and then everything falls into a deep slumber until reawakened come spring.

 

“Notice that Autumn is more the season of the soul than of nature.”
-Friedrich Nietzsche

Autumn is a marker of the inevitable change and loss that are essential for renewal. Indeed:

 

All the lives we’ve ever lived

and all the lives to be

are full of trees and changing leaves.

TGIF

And time to thank the MOTI, again, for your kindness, thoughtfulness and generosity. This unbelievable flower arrangement arrived Tuesday to brighten my week. And it has surely done that.

As you can see it is filled with botanicals that fairly shout “autumn is coming” - leaves of bronze and cordovan, coral and orange tinged roses and dahlias and purple Queen Ann’s lace. I’ve run out of words to describe their beautiful countenance and I thank you all from the bottom of my heart.

This week and next was/is filled with a lot of appointments and procedures that wear me out so they are especially appreciated. I also greatly appreciate all the lovely cards and notes you’ve sent to cheer me on. So please, carry on the conversation in these insane times.

And may God bless and keep you all.

The Last of the Greatest Generation’s Leaders Checks Out

Despite the fact that royalty is an anachronism, Elizabeth was a remarkable Queen for 70 years.

RIP Ma’am. Your work is done and it’s time to head home. Your son’s turn to try to save the world, and good luck with that you Green Weenie. “The Queen is dead, long live The King!” Or not, as the Good Lord sees fit.

Summer’s Last Hurrah

Embrace it and let it sustain you through the winter.

Of course workers aren’t what they used to be… 

Nor is Labor Day. It is now just a holiday that marks the end of summer and back-to-school with parades, picnics, barbecues and fireworks. Big Labor ‘representatives’ hauling down big salaries will still give big speeches tomorrow in support of their Democrat advocates while giving lip service to the working man. But they no longer represent their interests of employees, having managed to exploit the working man to their benefit as effectively as any robber baron ever could.

May you enjoy the rest of your holiday weekend.

A Post-Birthday Bonus Post

"I never see the dawn...that I don't say to myself perhaps...perhaps today." – John Dos Passos, Manhattan Transfer

Thank you, everyone. I am still sorting through all of yesterday’s posted birthday wishes and prayers as well as the stack of birthday cards and gifts that arrived via snail mail. I am overwhelmed but appreciative of such an outpouring of good will and wishes on the occasion of my 73rd anniversary of life.

I enjoyed a quiet, reflective day at home. An early morning physical therapy session left me a bit more drained than usual so I napped and opted to postpone a planned dinner outing in favor of a simpler repast of leftovers on the deck, as the threatened rain failed to make a showing. It was relaxing and comforting and a great way to wrap up a lovely day. Raj made me a confetti birthday cake which we enjoyed while noting that the days have indeed grown shorter and summer, as always, is a fleeting pleasure to be embraced and relished.

I awoke feeling much more energetic this morning. So perhaps we’ll go out for an early bird dinner celebration tonight.

Every sunset promises that everything will be alright when next we wake; every sunrise offers hope that is the case. 

Again, sincere thanks to all for brightening my day yesterday, it is both appreciated and treasured.