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.