Category: cancer

2026, Loss and Change

Posted in memoir, neighbors, trees, gardeners, cancer, grocery store, death, August, loss, bowling alleyLeave a comment

So much is changing, my head is spinning. My favorite grocery store of 39 years is now shuttered. The local bowling alley is being torn down today.  My sister and brother-in-law left California for Nevada. They used to be just 90 minutes away. A friend died of cancer last month. My middle daughter’s dog died. … Continue reading 2026, Loss and Change

Just for the Halibut

Posted in back ache, California, cancer, Christmas, Facebook, father, Father's Day, funeral, hospital, Iowa, memoir, punster, Spain, Spanish, student teaching, teaching, VenezuelaLeave a comment

(re-run) Father’s Day has come and gone. I saw many black and white photos of men on Facebook, people my age honoring their deceased dads. I didn’t have a good photo of Dad to post, just silly ones or childhood ones. It never occurred to me 34 years ago that I would someday want a… Continue reading Just for the Halibut

Skin Check

Posted in Alzheimer's, assisted living home, balance, biopsy, cancer, dancing, doctor, dogs, falling, melanoma, memoir, Mohs, mole, skin, skin cancer, surgeon, walker, ZumbaLeave a comment

(re-run) “Good job!” the physician’s assistant said when I complained about my uneven fake tan. “It’s been a lifestyle change for me, staying out of the sun,” I said. “I’m proud of you,” Miss Tan said. She looked at the four spots I was worried about, froze off the two on my back, biopsied one… Continue reading Skin Check

Two Dates, Two Dolls

Posted in babies, best, cancer, dad, dating, daughter, dolls, feet, flirting, high school, humor, love, marriage, memoir, play, polio, relationships, weddingLeave a comment

(in honor of my parents) He was tall and lanky. She was short with a great smile. They were the leads in the school play at Des Moines Tech high school in 1947. They flirted on and off stage. They even had a kissing scene. Joanne knew Bill was the one. Bill asked her out.… Continue reading Two Dates, Two Dolls

It’s a Small World

Posted in Asperger's, Bay Area, California, cancer, COVID, cows, dogs, grief group, hiking, Meet-up, memoir, photographs, pollenLeave a comment

(re-run) Today was a meet-up hike, my third time with Remi as our fearless leader. It was sunny with little to no mud (no rain) and lots of cows.  About twenty of us, plus four small dogs, walked five miles in two and a half hours. The great part is that the meet-up hikers go… Continue reading It’s a Small World

It’s a Small World

Posted in Asperger's, Bay Area, California, cancer, COVID, cows, dogs, grief group, hiking, Meet-up, memoir, photographs, pollen1 Comment

(re-run) Today was a meet-up hike, my third time with Randy as our fearless leader. It was sunny with little to no mud and lots of cows.  About twenty of us, plus four small dogs, walked five miles in two and a half hours. The great part is that the meet-up hikers go to places… Continue reading It’s a Small World

It’s a Small World

Posted in Asperger's, Bay Area, California, cancer, COVID, cows, dogs, grief group, hiking, Meet-up, memoir, photographs, pollenLeave a comment

(re-run) Today was a meet-up hike, my third time with Remi as our fearless leader. It was sunny with little to no mud (no rain) and lots of cows.  About twenty of us, plus four small dogs, walked five miles in two and a half hours. The great part is that the meet-up hikers go… Continue reading It’s a Small World