May 3, 2006
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A Happy Sigh
Today: oh what a day! I took a day trip, driving alone for two hours and with a friend for two hours in a borrowed car. It was the first time in my life that I’ve driven a Cadillac. A snazzy red Cadillac!! It was the smoothest ride of my life, bar none! I drove along a corridor of snow-capped mountain peaks, the Elkhorns on one side and the Eagle Caps on the other (the picture is the Eagle Caps). As I passed the marsh a Canadian goose flew just above my car. Cattle and antelope were placidly grazing on grass. To say the day was glorious is so woefully inadequate.
I just met my friend at the first of the year. Shortly after we met she was diagnosed with cancer. Today we drove to her daily radiation treatments. We chatted as effortlessly as if we’d know each other for decades. She told me how to roast veggies in the oven on cookie sheets, about a great consignment store in her town, and together, we covered a host of other topics. She is so comfortable in her skin that it’s a pleasure to be with her.
When I was alone I cranked up the stereo and gloried in the rich tones and aching beauty of classical music. Sigh. Offenbach, a Cadillac and the Eagle Caps. All this, and heaven besides?
Comments (3)
I have a friend taking radiation in Walla Walla from Joseph. I don’t know if you’re going that direction or even if you’re at St. Mary’s- but if so, look up Carol, she’s the wife of the pastor at Joseph Baptist. She’s a delight to be around too. We’ve never met officially, but we’ve had hours of “talking shop” on the phone!
Oh, Bonnie, you’ve mentioned her before. No, we went to Fruitland, ID.
I don’t know if it is a case of just being more aware of the cancer business or not, but there have been so many people diagnosed with it lately it seems. There is a “joke” going round in this county that if you want to see someone, go to the cancer center in WA. Makes you wonder why. Better diagnosises(sp!)? Environmental? Age? Are we reaping years of food alterations? ALS is similar here too- 5 cases over 7 years in a county of less than 7,000? Odd, nevertheless.