The day was January 5th 2003. 19 weeks after Pa died, 10 weeks after I was diagnosed, 12 days after Christmas, a day before Chuck's birthday, 12 days before your birthday, 5 years and 18 days after Kelley died. It was 6 years ago today but it hurts and feels like it was yesterday.
Chuck and I were actually up this year to ring in the New Year not once but twice!
Thanks Barb, you've forced me to post due to your "tag" http://www.halfpastkissintime.com/2008/12/theres-one-way-to-feel-warm-again.htm
Non the less, here I go because I'm competitive and don't want to seem like I'm a poor sport.
This picture was taken in the summer of 2007, on the left is my son Nick who was 17 at the time standing next to his "little cousin Taylor age 14.
The picture was taken on our annual NY vacation back to our cottage on Cayuga Lake (one of the Finger lakes).
I took the picture to see just how long before Taylor catches up to Nick's height. As you can see, it won't be long! Now I have to tag someone else in blog land so here I go (my apologies in advance).
Mike at http://unravelingmysteries.com/
Corrine at http://mommahasmonkeytoes.blogspot.com/. Lets see if they take the bait.
When we moved to Cali, we basically just packed up and moved. We slapped a for sale sign in the front yard our NY home, rented a Cali house on the internet packed our vehicles and drove.
The house we rented happened to be in a "gated community" and although that was new for us, it seemed a nice idea. Our kids would be safe and the traffic would be kept mostly to the people who lived here. Also, this appeared to be a kid friendly neighborhood as we are 5/10ths of a mile to the elementary school, 2/10ths of a mile to the middle school and 7/10ths of a mile to the high school.
We bought the following year in the same neighborhood (gated community) and proceeded to enjoy our new house and our Cali lifestyle. This was our first home where there is a “Homeowner Association”. An okay idea, either way it did not make a difference to me. The dues are not much, only $85/month. I personally don’t think they do much other than plant new flower varieties each season but hey, it was our choice to buy here knowing of the Association.
When we put in our request to have a pool installed, they (the Association) said we would hear something back in 30 days at the latest. Well, 30 days came and went with no word so the pool was installed. (You know, no news is good news theory). After another 30 days, we sent in our application for solar panels for our “new pool”. That was approved right away, I guess they are still waiting to let us know if we are approved for a pool (duh).
Other than that, we have very little contact with the Association but we did recently receive a questionnaire for the Ivey Glenn Homeowners to fill out. Here are their questions.
Then the Association proceed to state that “Your names and responses will not be shared with anyone other than the Board and Management Company Representative.
Oh, I’m sharing- I’m sharing to everyone that will listen…..
Fuck you ....
P.S. My response will be in your mailbox within in the next 30 days at the latest.
Sunday was a pretty intense day; my friends Stacey and Lisa had invited me to go down to the San Diego 3-Day Breast Cancer walk. As a breast cancer participant, I’ve done a few walks with my friend, Wacko Jude, in Rochester, NY, but never the "3 Day". If you are not familiar with the "3-Day," Susan B Komen sponsors a walk.... not a stroll, but a 60-mile, 3-day walk. Its not a walk in the park; its a huge commitment, and I believe each walker has to raise a minimum of $2000.00 to be able to walk and participate.
After our arrival, we set up “shop” and waited for the walkers. We had left Oceanside at 7:30, so we were a bit ahead of the pack.
While waiting, I noticed a young bald woman standing with her husband and two small adorable boys. I’d like to say that she did not stand out, but she did. She was young, beautiful and bald - she was me 6 years ago. I walked over to her and told her that I had the same “haircut” 6 years ago and not to worry, as it grows back. I gave her a high five and congratulated her on her future success, and then I proceeded back to our “group.” When I got back to our girls, my friend Stacey said “Kandee, you made her cry.” I said, "Stacey, I did not make her cry; cancer did." Cancer sucks, anyway you stack it, slice it, or present it……...it sucks.
For 95% of the time we were there, cheering on walkers, I was so happy; the experience made me smile and feel so grateful that I was alive. I thanked the walkers, and they thanked us for supporting them.
There were numerous signs, slogans and t-shirts that were so uplifting. Some of my favorites were:
“Fight like a girl”
Surf City Titties”
"Barb’s Bonkers have gone bye – bye”
“Save 2nd Base”
"Teachers for Ta – Ta’s"
"I hope you dance…."
One College Boy had a sign stating – "Show me your boobies – we are all here for one thing!" (a hopeful lad, I thought.)
Stacey’s young daughter had a sign stating “Find a cure before I grow boobies”.
One of my favorites was a shirt stating, “Of course they are fake! My real one’s tried to kill me.”
There were many “in honor” shirts, but sadly, there were also many “in memory shirts.”
I’ve never walked the 3-day, but the ladies who were with me had previously done so. They pointed out the “official badges” and the official signs. Some walkers were able to carry signs stating:
"Hope "
"Faith "
"Love "
"Power "
"For my Mother"
"For my Father"
"For my Daughters"
Monday morning, I went to work, and my boss called me in. I figured I f&cked up, was going to get my butt spanked for something, but that was not the case. She handed me an envelope containing a salon gift card and said "This is for you." Carefully, I opened the envelope, just in case it was loaded with arsenic and looked at her, quite puzzled. She had given me a $200.00 gift certificate to get my hair done.
See, I'm the cheapest person around. I mean, I will spend a million dollars on other people, but with myself, I'm cheap - I almost feel "unworthy."
On Tuesday, I entered the local TV station's contest to win a $50.00 gas card. Thursday, I get a call on my cell from an unknown person, who proceeds to tell me I won the contest, and my gas card would be arriving in the mail.
Yesterday, I went to help my friend, Debi, out. She had volunteered to run the Harvest Carnival at her daughter's elementary school. Even though Carly was way too, very, very busy on VMK, she and I decided we would go just to show our support, even though it was a rival elementary school. When we arrived, it was clear that Debi needed no help, as there were over 250 people there! I thought this would be a good time for Carly and I to "bond." Carly's plan was to - quick ditch Mom and go hang out with her friends.
There I stood, knowing pretty much no one, so I prepared to take one for the friendship team.
I stood around a bit, looked at crafts, and bought some tickets for a root beer float (yum). Then, even though I wanted to slit my wrists, because for the 5th time, I heard "Monster Mash," I decided it was up to me; I could sit there watching everyone in the world pass me by, or I could amuse myself. Looking around, I planned my strategy. One game unknown to me was the "Cake Walk." Interesting, I thought, but what’s the deal?
In NY, we have different ideas of amusement but one I had never participated in was a "Cake Walk." I'm not sure if its a "West Coast" thing or what, but never have I walked the cake walk, cat walk, or even the Boardwalk. I quickly found out the rules are simple; pay 2 tickets $.50/each and walk inside a circle with 20 chairs with other willing participants. When the music stops, sit down and then they call your chair number out of a bucket. This is my kind of game; I suck at jeopardy, my ADD kicks in for Monopoly. I could handle walking in a circle. Music starts, walk ----- Music stops, sit. Easy enough. Needless to say, I won... I was granted a "golden" ticket and I was able to pick out any cake I wanted to from the gallery.. Sweet (no pun intended). Of course, I picked the biggest cake available; it was a pumpkin/cream cheese coffee cake, at least 8" tall!
My next thought was.. that was to easy... I have to try again..
Back to the Cake Walk and yup, I won again.
Figuring that my hips did not need two cakes strapped to my ass, I gave one away.. It's all about the thrill of the hunt.
Not a bad week, not a bad week.
