Sunday May 10 2015 DAY 64 WHAT A MIRACLE!
The first miracle is that I actually attempted to write a blog last night. I did not proof read it until now and I am embarrassed. If you read yesterday’s blog you might want to re-read it. I just hope I found all the mistakes.
Today was another one of those wonderful, full of new surprises and wonders. Just life alone is a new surprise to me every day. What a miracle each day is when I arise and know I am still here. There is nothing quite as beautiful as an undisturbed day, yet to be lived.
I attended my second Calvary Chapel Church on my trip. The last one was in Modesto two weeks ago. This morning’s service was quite a bit different that the previous Calvary Chapel. Different presentation of teaching. The message was very interesting and simply stated. It is always a fresh new experience to visit the churches where my friends attend. I love being able to picture in my mind where my friends live and worship.
After the church service we visited awhile with Rebecca’s friends, enjoyed some refreshments and then walked to her house. Yes, we walked. The church is actually two short blocks from where they live. Rebecca lives in an industrial park area. She and her husband manage a 660 unit storage area. The facility is enclosed with tall wrought iron fencing. There is a beautiful building inside the iron fencing which is the office area for the business. Above the office is a full 1600 square house. A beautiful dwelling place. It has large rooms with lots of windows all around it. The windows overlook the APPLE COMPUTER facility next door. There is around the clock surveillance at the Apple computer headquarters right next door. Being in a house, on the second floor, behind a locked gate, within the “compound” storage units makes me feel like we are protected. Protected from what I do not know. ‘
We both went to the gym where Rebecca is a member and worked out for over an hour. It felt so good. Please look below and note that I have posted a new picture. It is off Rebecca and Eddie and his son’s family (the only one of their five children that made it home for Mother’s Day. We had a feast around the table. Rebecca is such a good cook and seems to do it so effortlessly.
It was a really delightful time around the dinner table with Rebecca’s son and family.
Before the company arrived Eddie and Rebecca told me the story of their last 14 years. Here is the story of Eddie’s MIRACLE. It is a story with many lessons.
In 2001 Eddie developed a rash that was all over his body. It itched with an intensity of pain. He was treated by several doctors with creams and prescriptions. Nothing seemed to help. He went to several doctors only to be prescribed more salves and topical creams and medications. The suffering was intense. In 2006 Eddie was in the room with several doctors and each one had different ideas. Eddie raised his hands and exclaimed in a loud voice that that was it! To stop all the talk about prescriptions and creams and to find out what was wrong with him. He told them he would not take another pill or cream until they found out what was wrong no matter how long it took and how many tests it took. THAT WAS IT! So they did a blood test and said not to be concerned and they would call him with the results. No one called on the first day. No one called on the second day. On the third day he received a call and was told that he had to come in immediately.
Rebecca and Eddie went together. He was told he had T-Cell Lymphoma and that there were some treatments for it. His was in stage 4. The doctors talked to them for awhile and they left. As they walked out Rebecca said to Eddie, “I think they just told you that you have cancer”. Eddie said he didn’t hear the word cancer. All Rebecca knew was that lymphoma is cancer.
Again Eddie was put through many different treatments. After many “treatments” there were 4 more options since the previous 6 options had not helped. His T-Cell count was up to 30,000 when it should have been in the 250 count range. There were many situations that came up that led Eddie to being chosen to do trials at Stanford hospital. He knew someone who knew the leading Doctor at Stanford whose specialty was working with T-Cell lymphoma patients. When he saw this doctor she told him that anyone in his condition will be dead within one year. He was chosen (the 10th patient) to do a trial medication procedure to lower his T-Cell count. The telling of his story was horrendous as to what he went through. When the white blood cells were almost extinct (as he lived in isolation) he had a window of time when he would be able to have a bone marrow transplant. The bone marrow implant was also being done on trial. He was one of the first few to receive the transfusion in the manner I describe below.
Three live donors were found. The best match was a man in the armed service serving overseas at the time. The U.S. government actually flew him to the states so he could be the donor for Eddie’s transplant. There were so many grueling situations that Eddie had to go through to get to this point. Multiple biopsies in the flesh and in the pelvic bone. Several different procedures were done while he was awake due to certain situations. Unbelievably painful according to Eddie’s description.
The bone transfusion was actually not painful at all. It was just getting to that point where his body would be suppressed enough to not reject the new morrow that was grueling. In the not too distant past the bone marrow transplant procedure was much more complicated as the while bone cells were harvested from the donor’s bone marrow and then through surgery deposited into the recipients bone. Now, however, the donor has blood drawn and the lab extracts what is need out of the blood and the patient then receives it intravenously. The T-Cells deposited in the blood stream make their way into the bone and set up taking over if not rejected. Well, Eddie’s body did not reject them. He was hospitalized until is was safe for him to be with people again. The doctors told him if it worked it would take two and one half years before he felt back to normal. After the transfusion Eddie was unable to eat anything that was not cooked, drink no water that was not boiled for many months.
They waited. Once the food restrictions were removed Rebecca started him on a regime of healthy eating, no sugars, and additives that increased his healthy. Eddie said it was exactly two and one half years before his body felt like it was back to normal.
Eddie sat across from me today as he and Rebecca told the story, each adding a bit of their own feelings and facts to complete the story. I wish it had been recorded because I have left out more than half of the experiences they went through. The greatest lesson I learned while listening to this is that we must be our own best advocate. Four years he went from doctor to doctor before putting his foot down and saying NO MORE! Only then was he taken seriously and in two days he had a diagnosis. The second thing I learned was that you need a recorder with you so you can look up all the words the doctors tell you, especially when they skirt the issue of saying the word CANCER. Eddie walked out of that consultation not realizing he had just been given a cancer diagnosis. And the third thing is that you need to take someone with you to receive any news that comes from a telephone message telling you to come in immediately.
Eddie told so many other stories related to the hospital personnel that were so attentive and caring. Had it not been for diligent nurses willing to stay past their line of duty to get him over near death experiences he wouldn’t be here today. The doctors may have the education to diagnose (sometime), it is the hospital staff and nurses that do most of the work in the hours between the appointments. Eddie went through hundreds of hours of treatments, some with very serious results.
Today Eddie is alive and strong and leading a life with his family, his wife, 5 children and their mates, and all his grandchildren, (of which I have lost count) with more on the way. I remember all those years he was struggling for his life as I read the email messages sent out.
Even the doctors know that Eddie is a walking miracle. A miracle that he was diagnosed because this disease does not usually get diagnosed for up to 10 years after the first symptoms. A miracle that he was connected to the doctor in Stanford. Another miracle that his chart was perused by a doctor with the clinical trials in mind and saw that Eddie fit the criteria for the trials. Eddie went in for more blood work in March 2015 and was old that 29 patients have now had this treatment with a survival rate of about 50%. So it is working for some.
It worked for Eddie.
I am celebrating this time of life with Rebecca and Eddie. I told him I am so glad to see him alive. They are dear dear friends to us who we have know for 41 years. I thank God for this miracle!
I asked Eddie what his wisdom for the world would be. Here is his response:
“If I had one book to give you I would give you the Bible and tell you to read it for it is the map of life. Everything you need to know about living your life is in those pages.”
Rebecca’s wisdom is”
“When you choose your life mate for life remember you are TEAM MATES FOR LIFE — NOT ADVERSARIES!”
Please read the article below taken from a website regarding the SEZARY SYNDROME which interpreted means T-Cell Lymphome”
What is Sézary syndrome?
Sézary syndrome is an aggressive form of a type of cancer called cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. Cutaneous T-cell lymphomas occur when certain immune cells, called T cells, become cancerous; these cancers characteristically affect the skin, causing different types of skin lesions. In Sézary syndrome, the cancerous T cells are called Sézary cells and are found in the skin, lymph nodes, and blood. A characteristic of Sézary cells is an abnormally shaped nucleus, described as cerebriform.
People with Sézary syndrome develop a red, severely itchy rash (erythroderma) that covers large portions of their body. Sézary cells are found in the rash. However, the skin cells themselves are not cancerous; the skin problems result when Sézary cells move from the blood into the skin. People with Sézary syndrome also have enlarged lymph nodes (lymphadenopathy). Other common signs and symptoms of this condition include hair loss (alopecia), thickened skin on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet (palmoplantar keratoderma), abnormalities of the fingernails and toenails, and lower eyelids that turn outward (ectropion). Some people with Sézary syndrome are less able to control their body temperature than people without the condition.
The cancerous T cells can spread to other organs in the body, including the lymph nodes, liver, spleen, and bone marrow. In addition, affected individuals have an increased risk of developing another lymphoma or other type of cancer.
Sézary syndrome occurs in adults over age 60 and progresses rapidly; historically, affected individuals survived an average of 2 to 4 years after development of the condition, although survival has improved with newer treatments.
Although Sézary syndrome is sometimes referred to as a variant of another cutaneous T-cell lymphoma called mycosis fungoides, these two cancers are generally considered separate conditions.
Goodnight. It is 1:40 a.m. on the 11th. This is my May 10th blog documentation.
May 9, 2015 Day 63 THE TOWER CAFE
I am quite good at not remembering to take photos on my IPHONE. I wanted to put a photo up of the Tower Cafe in Sacramento California. What a sight. Tower Theater was built in 1938 and is impressive in height and style. Adjacent to the The Tower Theater is the Tower Cafe, both indoor and outdoor dining. Well, that is where I met my two nieces for lunch. One problem. I was very hungry and there was an 90 minute wait. We waited.
I left Jeanette’s home with a farewell and headed north for the city of the State Capitol Building. I’ve been there many times while growing up but if I have a chance I would again like to tour the capitol. It is truly a beautiful building, much like our own state capitol building in Madison. But today was family day.
The nieces I met up with were children of my sisters. Scarlett’s daughter, River and Faith’s daughter, Ericka and Ericka’s daughter, Lilly, who is 5. And we all waited until our table was called up. It was worth the wait. The food was good as was the outdoor atmosphere with a shade umbrella over our tables. It was a pretty sight to behold. The food was delicious, the talk was interesting, the decor a chaotic scene of amazing clutter and color. I took a picture inside but it was only on my camera and not my cell phone. When we finished eating we left and all drove back to Ericka’s home. Later in the day Ericka’s husband came home bearing gifts. Bags and bags of fresh produce bought from the farmers market. He made a pot of beet soup. It was tasty and delicious.
There is so much I would like to relay to you but I am extremely sleepy and must get up early for church in the morning. Just wanted you to know I was hanging out with the “fam” . In Wisconsin I had to grow my own extended family through one son and one daughter. But only our son stayed in the area. I can’t tell you how good it feels to know that you have family close even if they are over 20 miles away. Remember when your kids move away and stay within driving distance you have another place to go for dinner. And it is really nice.
While driving today I notice lots of farm fields and orchards and even some wineries. I loved these farm fields even as a young child. I was surprised at how slowly the area has grown between San Francisco area and Sacramento I think I am falling asleep in my chair so I must go.
River’s words of wisdom today are “Forgive and make amends quickly.”
Ericka said something profound but I didn’t write it down. I will find out what she said and post later. My brain is on overtime right now and ready to shut down.
Do want you to know however, that I arrived at my next destination all in one piece. I am in a town right next to Sacramento called Elk Grove visiting with Rebecca and Fred Edward (whom I always knew as Eddie). He is a walking miracle of life. I’ll find out exactly why and tell you tomorrow or some other day. It is an amazing story. We have known Rebecca and Eddie since we married and have lots of fun memories of those days long ago. They have 5 children and it is good to get caught up on all that is happening in their lives.
I am going to bed now at 11:29.
Good night.
s
May 8, 2015 DAY 62 SAN FRANCISCO FOR A PURPOSE
I imagine there are hundreds of people who flock into San Francisco daily just for the delight of visiting and exploring all the city has to offer. Well, today Jeanette and I took BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) under the bay to visit with a different purpose. As a child I was fortunate enough to live in the San Francisco Bay area (Rodeo) an my mother made certain that we, as children, were exposed to as much opportunity and variety as possible on her limited budget. Her best friend Merle lived in the apartment below us (mother of my best and closest friend Albert) and owned a station wagon! What a luxury. In 1954 we had the grand experience of becoming a car owner of a new 1954 Chevrolet. But it wasn’t a STATION WAGON! Merel’s three kids and mama’s two youngest (which included me, as my older sisters wouldn’t be caught dead doing things with their younger siblings) would go on an adventure to San Francisco. We all sat in the back of the expansive wagon and played imaginary piano keyboards on the wheel hubs that stuck up through the floor. We waved at all the truck drivers and felt triumphant when they would honk their loud truck horns at us. We would be mesmerized as we traveled close to the edge of the bay bridge and peered out across the bay at Alcatraz. Many of the museums, exploratoreums and aquariums were free at that time. We always packed a picnic because I don’t even know if fast food places existed back then. If they did we didn’t have the money to go. We would also go to the Palace of Fine Arts which was like a fairy tail wonderland to me. High columns of magical doors and lakes that reflected the clouds skuttling by on a clear day. We often lived at the zoo for an entire and never tired of our adventures to San Francisco.
And now, back to San Francisco. I think over the years I have been to every garden, museum, tourist attraction, the different “towns” like China towns and eaten some delicious meals. Most of the meals were after I was grown, not as a kid. But today, San Francisco was for a different purpose. Jeanette and I were visiting a very special friend. Her name Kay and I have know her since we were teenagers. I saw her parents one evening in the basement of the J.C. Penney’s department store in San Leandro California and was bold enough (imagine that) to go up and and introduce myself (now remember I was a teenager) and to tell them how much I loved going to hear their daughter sing. They were always with her at concerts when she performed with two other teens. Their singing was so beautiful and had the unique harmonizing capability that caused the voices to sound like velvet. Kay’s voice still sounds like velvet. Her mom and dad were so impressed that I would come up to them and speak with them that they asked where I attended church. They showed up the next week and attended there after because they wanted their daughter to know me. Well, Kay and I hit is off from the beginning. She was a couple years younger but it seems I always attracted the younger crowds because I willing to talk to everyone. Sounds like I am patting myself on the back but I don’t mean for it to sound that way. It’s just the facts and I never thought anything about it.
This entire family had a great influence on my life in future years. They gave me a glimpse of what it was like to live in a beautiful home. At one time I actually ended up living with them before I married so I could save for the wedding.
Well, today Jeanette and I were privileged to once again meet up with Kay. We took the BART over and walked to a local cafe where Kay had taken a taxi to arrive. We sat in the middle of a very old San Francisco building, in a quaint cafe that served the most fattening, greasy, butter soaked San Francisco Sour Dough French bread, grilled to perfection! It was heavenly. It is a good thing I couldn’t find any to buy and bring back with me. That grilled sandwich was such a delicious fancy. I just watched (almost in horror) as I saw the renditions of foods that came from that kitchen and covertly watch as those around me actually ate the entire plateful of food. It was an amazing and interesting experience.
We three talked and talked and remembered and laughed and cried and just enjoyed the presence of friendship that only the old can really enjoy. I am smiling just sitting here writing and thinking of those precious moments. I so lived in the moment of those moments and soaked up everything I could. I told Kay I wished she would would sing me a song. Never in a million years did I think she would sing to me at the center table of a public restaurant, but she surprised me by singing the famous song about “San Francisco”. I think the title is “I Left My Heart in San Francisco”. She sang the entire song in her beautiful alto/tenor voice. Her voice was a bit older and not as practiced as it was years ago when she sang on stage but it was so beautiful and throaty and heart searing, especially with the words she sang. Then we sang together (quite low) but it sounded so good together. All three of sang. I think I was the only one that knew all the words to the song that started out with these words…”Oh what a wonderful, wonderful day. Day I will never forget”… When Kay sang her solo tears were streaming down my face.
So soon it was time to leave. Kay said she needed to use the Lady’s room and asked if I would take her. The aisles were very narrow and we had to maneuver through a narrow galley kitchen. I asked her to put her hands on the back of my waste as I walked slowly and guided her to the Lady’s room. Kay has been blind since birth but never once has it caused a blindness in our friendship. I truly believe our friendship was a divine appointment of God. It is not just everyone who was privileged to have a friendship such as ours. That night I met her parents in the basement of J.C. Penney’s fabric department was meant to be. I am a better person for having Kay as my friend. As we left the restaurant a man came us to us and told us how beautiful our singing was. He said he kept looking around to find the source of the radio or player but couldn’t find it and then realized it was coming from our table. He gave Kay high honor when saying he especially loved the way she sang “I Left My Heart in San Francisco”. And when I walked away from the cab that would carry Kay back to her apartment I felt like I was leaving a bit of my heart in San Francisco too.
I asked Kay what her wisdom would be. Here it is: “Make every minute count and cherish the friends and family that you have because you never know when your circumstances might change or when you might lose your friends and family.”
The Bart ride back under the bay to the east bay side was such an amazing ride. I have ridden BART many times when living in this area but it has been about 30 years. In the past 30 years the traffic and freeways have increased exponentially and it makes riding Bart that much more enjoyable. About halfway home I had the opportunity to speak with a young man traveling from San Francisco International Airport to a city close by where Jeanette lives. He was here on business from India. We had an enlightening conversation and I asked him for his wisdom. His name is Vikas. Here is his wisdom: “Give back to the word in some way. Help preserve the environment, help by giving food to those who need it and look around and see the many different ways you can help.” Thank you Vikas. If you read this blog please let me know by going to “contacts” and send me an email! I wish you the best on your travels here in the States. Thank you too for your conversation.
Well, I am hitting the road again tomorrow. The end of my respite is over. It has been a tremendous help to have a place where I could feel so comfortable and stay for a bit of an extended time. I need to regroup myself every few weeks. I thank Jeanette and Denny for this opportunity.
Lots more to say but I will use my wisdom and go to bed as early as possible as I must drive tomorrow. I have a feeling it is going to be a jam packed day! Seeing more family! My special nieces!
Good night 10:14 p.m.
May 7 2015 DAY 61 LOOKING BACK
Looking back for some is not always easy. I think that was the way it was for one of my sisters today.
My days are always so full and I always think I can just squeeze one more thing into this minute or that minuet. At least I’m optimistic. It seemed as if all day long I was always a little behind. Ever have days like that? Get up late…talk too much…try to accomplish more than earthly possible, drive long distances only to be bogged down in CALIFORNIA TRAFFIC, miscommunication, too far to go in too little time, get lost on the freeway system, forget to use the cell phone for pictures so you can put them on the blog??? You know, that sort of thing. Well, it was one of those days.
I met my sisters Velma and Faith again today at Velma’s house. We had lunch, had a late start for our adventure and I don’t think we really had time to finish it like we intended. Velma drove us over to Rodeo, the place where I spent my years from kindergarten through 7th grade. My younger sister was born while we lived “there”. “There” was at that time a little bay side town of about 3,000 population. My older sisters were in Junior high and High school when we moved there so we were pretty strung out in age and interests. We lived in a government subsidized housing project that had been built for the war workers during World War II. The apartments were located next to an oil refinery. I remember huge black plumes of smoke that rose up into the air and when the wind was blowing a certain direction it would bring all that toxic oil waste across and int0 our apartments and into the grammar school which set on a terraced hill facing the refinery. My younger sister Faith wanted to go back there because she had so many lost memories and broken memories. I was the one that remembered the apartment and school locations and where to go to find what we needed. So off we went. All the land that the apartments occupied is now fenced in with no admittance signs everywhere. The school land is enclosed with high fencing and is also not accessible. All buildings on both sites are totally gone and the land is considered toxic. It was found later that the people who lived in the buildings and attended Hillcrest School were victims of lung disorders and diseases. I was six when I moved there so I guess I was fortunate that I did not breathe that air as a baby. My younger sister was born there and breathed that air from birth until she was six years old. When she saw the toxic wasteland and I told her the facts that had surfaced in later years she turned to me and asked, “I wonder if that is why my lungs have been so bad all these years”. So many sad stories linger in our memories from that time. Faith stood there and cried. I told her tears could be healing but she wasn’t crying for herself. She quietly told me she hurt and was crying for all the years our mother lived there and how hard it was for our mother. I look back and I remember the tears my mother cried and the sobbing I would hear in the night. Poverty is real. Poverty is hard. Especially with a mother who more than anything wanted to do the best she could for the 5 children still at home. Our brother was grown and married by the time my younger sister was born. Our father was an illiterate laborer but worked steady and hard. The refinery is still on the hill, larger than it was even back then. The smoke is still belching but it isn’t black anymore. I’m certain by now there have been a lot of restrictions put on the amount and kinds of toxins that are excreted by the huge smokestacks. I couldn’t even bring myself to take a picture of it.
My family may have been poor but my mother was never poor in her spirit. As a kid I didn’t know what “slovenly” was but as I look back I remember some pretty grim families that lived in those cramped quarters. We were a family of seven in an estimated space of about 800 to 900 square feet with one bathroom and shower. Later we were given an apartment about twice that size in the same building. Some families were even larger than ours. One of the things my mother did not allow was a messy dwelling. Not just picking up things (of which we did not have much) but I mean we had to scrub the walls and ceilings and floors. I was 12 when we moved from the apartments so it was the next place we lived where I was the ceiling scrubber, and that was living with a wood stove for both cooking and heating. Same stove did both. More black belching smoke to inhabit our lives.
My mom kept her girls spit polished. Our hair was either in ringlets, which was like murder to sleep on the rag curl wraps, or hair was so tightly french braided that I used to cry because I could’t bend my neck down because it would painfully tug the hair on the back of my neck. One time the school teacher actually had to undo my braids and allow the hair to loosed because I wouldn’t stop crying. These are some of the memories that came flooding back as I looked over the hills with cement slabs still in large pieces where the foundations were. No trees lived among those hills. However the acres and acres of former school property was planted with all kinds of trees. Beautiful trees like a new forest. At first I thought that perhaps the birds had planted them with seed in their waste but when I now remember the stark contract between no trees and a new forest growing I realize they must have been planted for a purpose. There were no trees on the school grounds when we were attending there.
Not only did my mother have the absolute cleanest apartment she also had the cleanest kids when we walked out the door to go to school. She made all our clothing including our underwear. And it was clean. I know, because when it was hung out on the line I had to guard it until it was dry and then bring it in. If it wasn’t watched it sometimes disappeared, especially diapers. I took my job seriously. To be truthful, I sort of like…bossed the neighborhood! I was a nice boss though, organizing all the kids to play games and draw on sidewalks with sheet rock chalk scarfed out of the garbage cans when apartments had to be repaired because of holes in the walls (of course there were no holes in our apartment). There were so many memories that came flooding in when I stood there but these are the ones safe to repeat.
My sister stood there and cried. I stood there and patted her back. The pain for me is all gone. I have been healed of anything and everything that happened there in the past. I hope someday all my sisters can be healed from any memory that may hold them captive. For me it was good to go there and realize just how free I am from that place. I hope it ultimately will be the same for Faith.
After we left the hills we drove down into the little town that is’t so little anymore. My favorite place as a child was the library. It was a little building that looked like a little house made over into a charming story book library. It was so awesome as a child to walk through those doors and be in a room full of books that I could take home. I had permission to bring home as many as I could carry. We had no bags or containers so it was usually a stack of 10 or 12 children’s hard backs. We didn’t know what a paper back book was. When I walked into the library today I could feel a great big smile come alive from the inside out. Then the tears came. I couldn’t even talk (I tried) for a few minutes. I was in a place that held such awesome memories. When I was about eight, nine and ten years old I could not walk far, run, play recess or do things which required strenuous activity with my knees due to a condition I had. The “disease” is called Ozgood-Schlatter Disease. (Actually I just looked it up to see what the information on the internet actually described it as). All I knew at the time was that I wasn’t allowed to do much (except some work) and had to rest. During the summers my mom would drive me to the library and it was such a privilege to be able to go there, check out books, and have enough to read for about three or four days and then beg to go back. Usually I just read them over. Henry and Ribsy and Ramona became my good friends as did Anne of Green Gables and all her stories. Well, when I was in there today I was talking to the librarian and told him that Henry and Ribsy had been some of my favorite books and pointed to the place where they were kept. The librarian said that was exactly where they still were. I took one out, sat at the little table (which was not the same scarred wooden table of yesteryear) and held the book in my hand remembering. The librarian took a picture of me and then I asked him to take one on my IPhone so I could share it with you. This was a big moment for me! I hope you don’t quit reading my blog for an older woman’s reminiscing but this was almost 60 years ago and that little gingerbread library is still standing and servicing little kids just at it did me. I can now see why people donate and will money to libraries. Books may someday become obsolete in the electronic age but just to know that this little library still exist gives me a little hope that there will be those in the future who value the actual book.
And at this point my day is only half over!
We left the library went to Velma’s and I headed out on my next saga. And what a wonderful evening it was. My cousin Steve Robinson and his wife Lucy live in Antioch about 30 or 40 miles from Velma. But…and this is a big BUT…it was 90 minutes away driving. I hit the traffic jam hour. I did get there eventually.
Steve has a busy happy house. His son and his son’s girlfriend live with them AND their two little twin babies. Baby boy Adrian and Baby girl Aria. These babies are healthy and alert 8 month olds who were born almost 4 months early. Both weighed over one pound and were in the hospital for the first four months of their lives. They are now alert and smiling and “talking”. Such a joy to see them so normal and healthy after all they contended with at birth. Steve and Lucy’s other son Ryan and his wife Jo live across town from Steve and we stopped by so I could see his son all grown up. Both sons are fine young men. Beautiful and loving. Ryan and Jo have 3 children and a fourth on the way. I have a picture of them on my cell so it is on the blog. Carrie’s family is only on my camera so I put some single shots of the babies on the blog.
Though my visits were short I so enjoyed seeing Steve and Lucy’s family. I didn’t have a chance to see their daughter Mae, and her three children. Maybe next time.
Steve and Lucy treated me to a wonderful dinner and we had a quiet time visiting and getting caught up. There is so much more I could say but due to time must close. Before I close however I would also like to tell my family I had a chance to again meet my cousin Paul Michael’s son, Michael. He didn’t remember me but that is okay because I remember him. Again, I didn’t get a photo of him on the cell phone either. I’m trying to remember!
If you read through this I want to thank you. This blog has turned into a bit more than just my outward journey. It has replaced some of my writing that I normally do in my journal. I don’t have time for both so I just add a little of my heart to the blog and share what I usually just keep to myself.
Goodnight
7 May, 2015 00:46
Steve and Lucy’s son Ryan and wife Jo and children and a new boy expected I October.
May 6 2015 DAY 60 A FAMILY DAY
I think there is a conspiracy against me. Every time I am ready to write my blog and get it done early so I can get to bed on time my cell phone rings. Both by husband and my daughter know just when it is quiet time for me. My son is probably too busy with work, the house, two boys, law school, and trying to find time to sleep than to call often. We usually connect only about once a week or so. Otherwise I might not even get the blog written.
Today was a family day. First I drove into Oakland to visit with my aunt Lois. She lives in a care facility due to her health. This part of Oakland is close to where the riots have been. I had to park a way from the building and walk up a hill to where my aunt lives. I walked in the middle of the residential road as I felt safer than being on the sidewalk. Too many bushes and people about. If somebody was going to see me I wanted everyone to see me. I made it to and from my car safely and my car was intact when I returned from the visit.
Aunt Lois did not recognize me. She said if she hadn’t been expecting me she would not have known me. She looked different to me also. It has probably been 15 years since I have seen her. I do look different and OLDER! I had a haircut yesterday (short) and she definitely pointed out that she did not like my hair. She kept asking me what happened to my hair. Oh well…I like my hair and that is all that really matters. It was good to visit with my mom’s sister after all these years. I know it must be difficult to be so confined when your mind is sharp, as hers is. We had a 75 minute visit and then I had to leave to meet my sisters for lunch. Before leaving I prayed with her and gave her my farewells. I am very glad I had a chance to see her for awhile. I love all my aunts and my one uncle who is still living. Please take time to visit those you love who may not have the opportunity to come visit you. You never know when your last window of opportunity is still open.
Met my two sisters, Velma and Faith at Velma’s home in Walnut Creek. We drove over a bridge on the bay and went to “Captain Jack’s” for lunch. Captain Jacks sits right on the shoreline overlooking the waterway. It has a commanding view and a peaceful surrounding. It is in some sort of old building that looks authentic to its surroundings. It is in the town of Benicia, a quaint, well kept, seaside town that attracts artisans from around the world. There is an old World War II arsenal that is on the waters edge that has been converted to art studios and galleries and resale shops as well as other businesses. Very quaint, rustic and authentic buildings that show their age, their durability, and are now living a new life to a new generation. These business face the water’s edge where the ships used to come in and load up with ammunition to send to Hawaii after the bombing there, as well as to other parts of the world.
While on the bluffs overlooking the water we happened upon two very interesting buildings, both huge and impressive. The first is described below in this excerpt from the internet. I will post a photo of it.
- The Clock Tower Fortress, 1189 Washington Street: Built in 1859, this sandstone military bastion was strategically built atop Army Point to control the key passageway of Carquinez Strait to the gold mines of the interior and was designed to protect the post from Indian attacks, although the “Old Fort” never fired a shot in anger, even during the alarms of Civil War days. It is located in the Arsenal and is available for the public to rent for special events through the City’s Parks and Community Services Department.
The second building:
- Commanding Officer’s Quarters Mansion, 1 Commandant’s Lane: Built in 1860 by Col. Julian McAllister, the two-story, 20-room Greek Revival mansion was used as a residence for the Commander of the Benicia Arsenal. Now owned by the City of Benicia, it is listed on the National Register of Historical Buildings. The Quarters was recently restored by the City of Benicia and is located in the Arsenal across the parking lot from the Clock Tower Fortress.
I walked into the Commanding Officer’s Quarters Mansion and left Velma and Faith to rest in the car. The mansion was beautiful! Huge, open and OCCUPIED! After I walked in without knocking two men came from a room adjacent to the grand entry hall. These men were William and Carter. Carter has had a dream to open up what he calls “Carter Biz Cafe” a place where travelers can congregate and share experiences and gain knowledge from other travelers. I don’ t have information on this concept so can’t pass it on at a deeper level. Carter envisions opening Carter’s Biz Cafe’s all over the country and forming a networking of people working personally with other people in large rooms sharing travel experiences and sharing the wisdoms of the travelers. I took some photos of their endeavor and will include a photo of Carter and I. I guess he makes friends quickly because he reached out and hugged me for the picture. I think he was just excited that I stopped by, being that I am a traveler, on a journey, and had actually stopped by this beautiful mansion to garner knowledge and just to have the experience of my exploration.
Benicia is like an undiscovered jewel. It is tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the East Bay traffic and noise along side the Carquinez Straights. It has interesting views, cool ocean breezes and well kept old graceful neighborhoods. I imagine it is an expensive place to buy a house. There are a lot of beautiful places in the Bay Area that would make wonderful retirement experiences if it were not for the exorbitant cost of homes. I think I would enjoy living in Benicia.
While in Benicia we also stopped at the second state capitol of California. The first state capitol was in Monterey CA, the second in Benicia (for 14 months) and the final one in Sacramento. I’ll include some photos from the exterior of the capital and its out buildings. The main building was closed and we could not enter.
It was finally time for me to leave so I returned a call to my friend Albert to let him know I would be stopping by (as we had previously discussed). I have had only one short visit with him since coming to the area and since he lives a few short blocks from Jeanette in the same neighborhood I wanted to stop over, say farewell and get one last hug. We strolled around his garden, talked a bit, hugged and again it was time to say goodbye to another beloved friend. I don’t think of it as a sad thing however. It seems to be a happy thought for me because it signifies the fact that I was spending time with him for all those moments I was there. My wisdom for this day: “Remember it is only the moment of NOW in which we have to live. Do not look back with regrets or allow the future concerns of your tomorrows rob you of even one moment of today’s joy”.
I came “home” to Jeanette’s with plans to begin my blog at 7:00 p.m. and be in bed by 9:00 a.m. because I have another busy day of Family events. It is now 10:00 p.m. I will include some photos with this blog taken at Benicia.
P.S. After proofreading it is now 10:44 p.m.
Good night!
Visions of Poetry 