North To Alaska

And I only have one. We are adjusting to the fact that he has bladder cancer. Now I'm asking questions re the things I know nothing about but need to - how do we reset the sprinkler system, how often do we hand water the flowers, what is the combination to the padlocks on the sheds. We have a division of labor that works for us and these are the things that he takes care of. I handle the spa, finances and we work out the inside stuff.

Daughter will need lots of household items when she gets out of rehab and I have begun going through our things to see how we can help. I have lots of dishes, silverware, cookware, extra towels, linens, etc. We also have an extra refrigerator in the garage if she needs one. We are giving her both twin beds and getting a new queen-sized bed for the grandson that will be staying with us for a while.

While going through things I came across the souvenir husband brought me back from his first trip to Alaska. He bought a billiken necklace, some silver jewelry and this polyester pillow cover.

I never knew what to do with it but couldn't bear to throw it away - he loves it! I'm glad I didn't get ride of it (brings back memories) but still don't know what to do with it so back into the closet it goes.

I said we were adjusting to the bladder cancer. We are. We know that what matters most is that it hasn't spread. There was an article in the LA Times yesterday about a young man that was operated on for cancer. While removing the lymph nodes behind the major organs in the abdomen they think the surgeon accidently splashed cancerous lymphatic fluid in the abdominal cavity which created many more tumors. That is their theory. They think they've taken care of the tumors with chemo and this man who is studying to be a doctor and returning to med school in the fall says "a positive attitude and fighting spirit is a way to improve the odds, but also a way to live in the process."