Dear Kids,
I hope you all set your clocks behind for today, so you didn’t have to get up any earlier than you needed to. It’s nice to not have it so dark in the morning, but from now on evening is terrible. It gets dark so early that 6pm seems like bedtime.
My radiation went just fine. I’ve been coughing a lot (I can just feel that tumor rattling around in my chest) and I’ve been really sleepy, but those are the worst side effects I’ve had. Thank you for all your prayers. I know they’ve made a difference. I won’t know how effective the radiation was for at least a month, when I have my next scan. I’ll let you know how that goes.
Book club is a week from today at 5 pm. I hope you’re enjoying My Side of the Mountain. I’ve read it three or four times, and it always makes me want to go live by myself in the wilderness. I don’t think I could have a peregrine falcon for a pet, though. They’re terrible birds! In the book, Sam paints a very complimentary picture of them. They’re killers, though.
Our family Thanksgiving dinner will be two weeks from today, at John’s house. Will 4:00 work out? I haven’t talked to Sharon about a time yet. She and her family are coming on the 16th or the 17th, I forget which day. Her plans are so complicated that I couldn’t very well follow them, but like always, she’ll pack as much fun into their vacation as possible. They’re having dinner at the Thackers in Upalco on Thanksgiving day, when we’ll be having our second dinner, this time at the cabin. It will be a very relaxed affair, and Donna is in charge.
I guess you all know that Tom and Kim hiked the Grand Canyon on Friday. That hike must be really addictive! I called Tom Friday night, after they had finished, and he said he’d had a much easier time than two years ago. He was really in good shape. Of course Kim is always in good shape, and she finished 10 minutes before he did. Now I’m wondering, are these Grand Canyon hikes going to be an annual thing? I sure wish Dad and I could participate, but I can’t even hike around the block these days. Yesterday afternoon I felt so shut in that we drove up the Mirror Lake highway. It’s pretty brown and bleak now, except for the spruces and pines, but still really beautiful. I forget that we live so close to nature up here.
Winter is closing in! Sonia’s spending a lot more time inside, sleeping on the white bench in our bedroom. I’m always glad to have her safely inside, away from the hawks and coyotes and foxes. She’s five years old already, and we’re hoping she lives many more years. Like me. I’m not worried about foxes and coyotes, but I do appreciate all your prayers for me.
With love, Mom
