Busy Day....

Mario headed to Jacksonville ISD to translate for a prospective new student, actually for the parents. I did my hospital Tea Room volunteer cashier job today. I sold lots of gifts--there was a steady stream of customers all afternoon. The register was cleared with almost $1000!

We are saddened by the death of our friend Dan the Builder, my affectionate name for the guy who built our duplex. He'd struggled with health problems for awhile. He had recovered from heart surgery, but recently had 2 small strokes. His wife came home from lunch this week and found him in his recliner. He used to come by all the time and visit us. He loved Mario and all his stories and card tricks and magic. Just about 2 weeks ago, while Mario was gone on the mission trip, Dan called and talked to me for about half an hour. He was serene and happy. He told me about going to places over the past couple of years, and if he found out the waitress was a QND student, he would ask if they knew Mario. He talked about how the kids all love Mario. I told him that I would have Mario call him when he returned, but unfortunately, Mario never made the call back. So while I feel I got a good last turn with Dan, Mario is sad. So once again we learn how precious and unpredictable life is, and if there is something you want to say to somebody, don't wait.

We have a wedding tomorrow of a former QU player Mario used to coach. We also have Dan the Builder's funeral. And Blake has 2 soccer games. It will be a busy day.

Sobbing like a baby!

Well who knows when those emotions that get buried through the course of everyday living will come exploding out!

This morning I got the stitches removed from my chest where I carried the port around for most of the past year. It was painless and quick, and I got the doc's blessing that I can do whatever I want. Now it doesn't get any better than that. So I came home and finished off the dogs and potato salad from the 4th of July, then went to the bedroom, and down the tears came. I think I had tears only once during the whole cancer battle--when some well-meaning cancer society member/survivor called me before my surgery back in September to tell me what I was going to experience. She set me off for some reason, and I figured out I didn't really need anyone telling me their horror stories to prepare me for my own. So I tried to laugh my way through my experience, and for the most part, I did, with the support and listening ears of some angel family members and friends. But I think the tears today were tears of relief that it is all over. This evening I have been invited to join a small group of cancer survivors at Madison Park Christian Church for prayer and fellowship. Sherry is the 3rd person who has asked me to join this group, so this time I said yes. I will see if they laugh a lot.

The Teenagers are here!

Now this is a first.
Blake and two of his buddies are spending the night, and two of our neighbor girls who happen to be friends of the boys are visiting. Cute and nice kids, they played cards with Mario; he was of course delighted. Now they are all downstairs watching TV and throwing the nerf balls around. Sometimes our place is so quiet, and I enjoy some noise besides the TV. Oh and I forgot, Hannah is spending the night too.

Today I took Hannah and 2 of her friends to see the Kit Kittridge movie, based on the American Doll character. It was a very good movie, and I recommend it.

Tomorrow the stitches come out, and the deal is done. YEH!

More Photos from May '08

Cora and Hannah's dance recital, Cassie's graduation party, and prom. Lots of pretty girls!

And a great day at the ballpark.

Today began with a trip to the Quincy Country Club pool with my friend Judy, her granddaughter Katie, and I took Hannah and Nolan. The temperature rose to 97 by 12:30, so we headed home. Hannah is swimming like a fish, and Nolan is getting a little more brave, but he wants to hang on when the water gets to his chest. Not a daredevil in the water! Judy treated the kids to ice cream sandwiches before we left, and after Nolan scarfed his, he asked, "Where can I get a hot dog?" So I called Carrie, and she had two steaming dogs ready and waiting for him when I took them home.

Cora is gone visiting her great-grandma, so tomorrow I am going to take Hannah and her friend to see Kit Kittridge, the movie based on the American doll series. Hannah has struggled a bit with Cora getting to go on this trip, but Hannah is beginning to understand the family heritage a little better. After Carrie offered the explanation again about Cora's mother, etc., Hannah was quick to think about Great Grandma Dotty and if she is REALLY Cora's great-grandma. Carrie assured her that since she married Tony, and Cora is her daughter too, that Great-Grandma Dotty is also Cora's great-grandma. But Hannah did offer to Carrie the explanation that HER (Hannah's) Great-Grandma Dotty hands out money, and she has never seen Cora's great-grandma do that. Actually, I don't even know if Hannah has ever seen Cora's great-grandma! Kids are funny, how they try to even things out for their peace of mind.

I think I have included all the back photos now. I can't figure out how to retrieve exactly what I want when I want it, but I know they are all in there somewhere!

On Vacation in Vegas

Well most of my pictures are of people rather than scenery or activities! Blake and Mario had a good basketball competition at the ESPN Restaurant at New York New York. We saw the Rat Pack is Back, a very amazing take-off of the real deal from the 60's. The big event was the 6-yr. old losing the front tooth. I am grateful for the time we had together.

4th of July fun

I never seem to remember to load the last picture first! Well, our 4th of July celebration was a great day--mild upper 70s, good food, swimming, an interesting game of croquette, (sp?), and finish with fireworks.

I am working on our vacation photos. I downloaded them but can't find them! I will keep looking for them. May need some help from the family computer expert.

May and June, '08

I am getting back to the blog after a couple of months hiatus. For those who like following what's happening through this blog, and I glad to be back in the chair. A famous writer once said that step one for any writer is "sitting the ass in the chair." So I am back in the chair.

Since I last wrote in early May, I've had some great fun, as well as some challenge and loss. My favorite news is I got the port out of my chest this week. It was literally popping out of me, like the pop-up thermometer on the butterball turkey does when it is done. I guess I am done! So my terrific surgeon shot me with some local anesthetic, Mario looking on, and popped the port right out. Mario was totally impressed with the stitching technique, and he now has some new material for his storytelling. I am out of the pool for a week til I get the stiches out, well, not underwater anyway, until next Wednesday. I feel like I am finished now. It's all over except the 3 month visits with my favorite Pakistani, Dr. Ali. They will take my blood for a long time to come, I am told, just to make sure there are no nasty cells running around in it.

A highlight of May was watching niece Paige graduate from Routt High School. What a delightful child! I also attended a lovely party for niece Cassie who celebrated graduation from Sacred Heart-Griffin. Paige will study occupational therapy at Augustana College in Rock Island, and Cassie will attend Wake Forest.

Granddaughter Cora celebrated her 10th birthday on May 23. Tony and Carrie had a great little party for her, and she was delighted with her presents. She has now moved to a new downstairs bedroom across the hall from Blake, and the pre-teen evidence is there!

In June the Camacho clan headed to Vegas. We have a time-share at the new Marriott Chateau just off the Strip between Planet Hollywood and MGM Grand. Both Carrie and Chris and their families joined us. We were quietly celebrating our 35th wedding anniversary. We saw great shows, went to some fun restaurants, met up with our friends Al and Bart, and stayed with Eddie and Connie for a couple of days. We had never taken a 2-week vacation before, and I must say, I LIKED IT! It was slow paced and relaxing. Mario learned some new magic tricks for his magic club that he supervises at his high school. We saw some great comedians that are still making us laugh. We went to the Rat Pack is Back show, also very entertaining. The Phantom of the Opera was not Mario's favorite, but the tickets were free from Marriott, so he went with me. It was just a great couple of weeks. And of course, I did stop in for a prayer at St. Joseph's. The statue still stands--St. Francis is doing very well greeting people in the narthex. But it is not the same there and never will be without Fr. Joe.

That's an update on May and June. Sadly, we lost Uncle Jimmy. But what we have decided to do since that time is plan a Johnson family reunion for Nov. 1--for the descendants of Everett and Marge Johnson. A group of us cousins have already met and put some ideas together that we will soon get out to everyone. Eternal rest with Jesus, Uncle Jimmy.

Oh one other good memory....got to see my first Cardinal game in the "new" stadium after all these years.

Will post some photos from our vacation tomorrow.