Happy 4th Anniversay, Nancy!!!

May 23rd, 2005 was the day that Nancy awoke at Maine Medical Center to hear that she had stage 3 ovarian cancer...it's a day none of us will every forget. One of the first things the doctor told Nancy was to stay away from the internet...the sites about ovarian cancer are pretty scary to read....especially for cancer in the advanced stages. But Nancy has done it...she has beaten the cancer twice and today, on the 4th anniversay of the day that changed her life, she is in remission. All of us who are close to Nancy know how hard this has been for her, physically and emotionally. She has fought through two major abdominal surgeries, two rounds of chemo, two heart attacks, a pulmonary embolism, the loss of her hair, and the reality that she will not be able to teach again. She has walked miles for three years at Relay for Life to raise money for the American Cancer Society and taught so many of us what it means to be brave. And...as only Nancy could do...she inspires us every day by laughing her way through it as she always has. Nancy, we know that sometimes your jokes and laughter are your way of whistling in the dark and we love you all the more for it. You light up all of our lives and always will...Happy Anniversay..You Go, Girl!!!

Memorial Day

Hope everyone is enjoying the long Memorial Day weekend...after such a long, snowy winter, the unofficial start of summer is finally here. It was 91 degress in Portland on Thursday and high 80's yesterday...a little cooler today but still nice whether for being outside. Like everyone else, we've been doing a lot of gardening. Last weekend, we had fun helping Kristen and her housemates plant a vegetable garden at their home. Needless to say, for Kristen, who loves spicy food, we planted jalpeno peppers, banana peppers, and cayenne peppers as well as tomatoes. peas, bean,s cucumbers and...Kristen's choice...watermelon! Here is a photo of the finished garden at the "29 house".

Uncle Ed and Aunt Barbara were in Maine on Monday and took Mom out to DiMillo's for lunch. Reports are that they all had a nice time. On Wednesday, Ed and Barb were going to meet Roger and Rosemary in Haverhill and put flowers on the graves of all of our grandparents there.

Nancy went over to Cavalry Cemetary this week and planted Daddy's grave for Memorial Day. Uncle Ed had put in three beautiful geraniums and Nancy and I added the rest of the flowers for the family this year. As much fun as gardening and cook-outs are, Memorial Day means a lot to us. We're really proud of Daddy and all the WWII vets who left right out of high school to fight overseas to protect the freedom we all enjoy here in America. We'll never forget them.

Joanne & Mark are camping at Recompence Shores in Freeport this weekend in their red "Patriot" t@b camper. Tomorrow we all plan to go up to see them and relax for the afternoon by Casco Bay.

Thought I'd post one more photo - of one of the Jack in the Pulpits that are growing in the woods behind our house. I remember as a kid being really excited to discover of these...brings back memories.

Happy Memorial Day...hope it finds you, like us, remembering the past while creating happy new early summer memories with your own families.

A Tractor Just Like Grampy's

I scored on Craigslist! Found this great little John Deere tractor and trailer for Taka and Toshi to have fun with this summer. Now they will be able to help "Grampy" on the farm. Can't wait to post photos of them having fun with this:-)

Toshi celebrated his 2nd birthday on Monday and Taka is 5 so they are just the right size!

Oh the Places You'll Go!

It was the annual Clean-up at our favorite campground, Searsport Shores, this past weekend and we couldn't wait to get the t@b on the road again! In exchange for helping out on Saturday morning, you get to camp right on the edge of Penobscot Bay, eat homemade food all weekend, and be with great people. What could be better? And did I mention it's all free? Astrig and Steve, who run the campground, have developed a loyal following of friends who join them for this weekend every year and we're happy to count ourselves among them. It's a beautiful spot.

On Saturday morning, Astrig makes homemade donuts for all of us in a big kettle outdoors on the deck. Delicious!

Then Steve gets us organized..or tries! Everyone chooses a job from the big whiteboard to help with on Saturday morning. In his "other life", Steve is a middle school teacher so keeping a bunch of middle-aged campers in line is right up his alley:-)

Hank and "the guys" built two decks overlooking the bay...one on site 14 and the other on site 15.

Homemade marshmallows and hot chocolate for a mid-morning snack!

Not many people wanted to organize the green shed but it was my dream job...did some one ask me to organize something???

One of the "jobs" was painting an old out house on the property (yes, there is a nice modern bath house as well). Since creativity is honored at Searsport Shores. two of the ladies decided to decorate the outhouse with a little play on words from Dr. Suess.

Astrig loves to spin, knit and do fiber crafts so of course there are goats at Searsport Shores.

Lunch on Saturday was a cook-out on the beach with a big kettle of homemade french fries. In case anyone was still hungry, we were treated to a pot luck buffet on Saturday night...pork tenderloins on the grill and every kind of salad and side dish imaginable.

What a great weekend...and a wonderful way to kick off the 2009 camping season. Thanks Astrig and Steve!

Something Fishy

Well, we've had book reviews on the blog but not a restaurant review yet so here goes:
Hank's sister, Lillian, has been trying to get us to try a restaurant that she loves so yesterday we decided to check it out. It's a simple seafood place in Cornish, Maine called Bay Haven. The food was delicious...huge portions of seafood at very reasonable prices. In fact, the luncheon portions were so big that we each took a "doggie box" home for another meal. The fish is all haddock and they have clams, scallops, shrimp...fried or baked. Most of the entrees were about $10.99 for a full meal. And for dessert...homemade pies. The ride to Cornish was pretty and there are a lot of little antique shops in the village itself so it made for a nice afternoon. If you decide to try it out, just follow route 25 through Gorham and Standish to Cornish. Bay Haven is on the right about a half mile past Cornish center. No need to dress up...just a plain family-style place...but definitely one we'll return to. Who would have thought we would leave the coast and drive to Cornish for fish?

Cagney Gang in AZ with Great Aunt and Uncle

Back to Reality

Nancy and Aaron are heading home from Aruba today...can't wait to hear all about their trip. Hasn't seemed the same around blogland without Nancy here!

Rob has been building a family tree on Facebook...already 31 people on it. If you are on Facebook, log in and check it out!

Beautiful day today...heading outside to paint the lawn furniture and get the t@b ready for another camping season. Our first trip of the year will be to Searsport Shores on May 8-10 for their annual clean-up weekend...always a good time. http://www.campocean.com/

Above: our campsite At Searsport Shores

Below: Pawtuckaway State Park, NH

Rob posted this photo of Toshinori...can't believe how much he looks like Taka did at that age. Toshi will be 2 in May and Taka just turned 5.

Have a good Sunday, everybody...

Watch this and try not to cry!!!

47 Year old Susan Boyle wows the judges with her performance in the auditions for Britain's Got Talent, singing I Dreamed a Dream from Les Miserables. You have to watch this video if you have not seen it already- just click here:
http://www.truveo.com/Susan-Boyle-Audition-1-Britains-Got-Talent-2009/id/2197875336
Bravo, Susan Boyle!!!

Facebook

Well, if you haven't joined Facebook, the time to try it is now. I thought it was just for "kids" but my son, Rob, encouraged me to join and I'm lovin' it...like a fast-paced blog. Took me a little while to figure out all of the features but I'm having fun now!
Since I joined Facebook I have use the "friend finder" and located: 1. the boy who took me to the "King Bruin Dance" - my first semi-formal - in 9th grade 2. a best friend from high school, 3. former college classmates 4. long-lost relatives (Hi Brian, Lynn, Kathy...) and 5. lots of teachers I have worked with at various school over the years.
I've also taken some of the hundreds of silly quizzes on Facebook revealing all sorts of strange information about myself like : 1. the Wizard of Oz character I am most like is...Dorothy! 2. the Beatle I am most like is Yoko Ono (?) 3. my personality type is EFSJ (look it up...Carl Jung), 4. if I were a vegetable, I would be a carrot, and 5. if I were a Krispy Kreme donut I would be Original Frosted. Where else can you get information like that about yourself for free???
As if that's not all, I can send virtual gifts to my friends like 1. an Amato's Italian sandwich from Maine to my cousins 2. sushi to Rob 3. yarn to my fibre-college friend, Astrig 4. crazy cat photos to my sisters 5. a bedpan to an OT I work with, and 6. a Margarita to Nancy to drink on the beach in Aruba...again, all for free:-)
I was feeling pretty cool about all this until I read an article on line entitled, "What Would You Do If You Found Out Your Mother Was On Facebook?" All I can say is...to grown kids everywhere: "Deal with it! Sometimes...Mom's just gotta have fun!"
p.s. In case you'd like to join Facebook, here's the link...hope you'll be my "friend" if you do!
http://www.facebook.com/

from Nancy in Aruba

Nancy has been sending an e-mail from Aruba each day and I finally have time to post them. No one deserves this time in the sun more than Nancy. As most of you know, her cancer returned in May and she spent the summer recovering from a second major surgery...too sick all summer to even get off the couch and then, once the incision fianlly healed, six more months of chemo. So...here are clips from Nancy's much happier, healthier week in Aruba so far:

Sunday, April 12th

Just wanted you all to know we arrived safe and sound--a great flight and we even got in an hour early--in the water by 1:30--it's warm and - tropical--had pizza in an open air restaurant tonight for Easter dinner-hope all is well there-will be in touch Love Nancy

Monday, April 13th

I promise I won't e-mail every day and rub salt in the wound, but,,,,it was in the high 80's today--it's 81 now at almost 11pm-beautiful breeze--we spent from 10-4 on the beach-all that tanning and I still got burned--you just don't realize that even with 30 sunblock the sun is so powerful-we went to the casino the past to nights it's right across the street--Aaron and I aren't big spenders--found the penny and nickel machines and blew about five bucks--Betsy won $107.00 last night-she's very lucky--last year she won $1,000. in nickels! Ate dinner tonight at Iguana Joe's --I had a "Cheeseburger in Paradise" and it was and we are in paradise--see you all soon! Love you!

Tuesday, April 14th

Hi! It actually rained here today-lasted less than 5 minutes-at about 8am-it's about 9:30-we just watched most of American Idol-we missed the first few coming back from dinner-Betsy and Sted decided to walk across to the casino-we were just too tired-doing nothing is exhausting! Today we did the beach 'til about noon then took the bus down to the high rise district and took a submarine tour of the coral reefs and a sunken destroyer from WW2-it was alot of fun-tonight we had dinner with Tom and Shirley Bradbury-this is their last week of three here-tomorrow we're renting a car and zipping around the island-so far it's been a book a day--love it! Nancy

Wednesday, April 15th

Another busy day-we rented a car today and went all over the island taking the "road less traveled"-we started with a breakfast buffet at the Hyatt Regency up in the high rise section of the island-it was huge-we really had to pace ourselves and eat first fresh fruits, then cereal, pastries, and croissants then meat and eggs then pancakes or french toast for those who could squeeze it in! We then followed some tour busses in the car so we wouldn't get lost finding tourist sights--the tour busses hate when people with rental cars do that because they get the tour for free! But we went to California lighthouse, then Alto Vista chapel the oldest little (like the size of my great room) church here on the island-then took back roads to baby beach-which is a little cove like beach where you can walk out practically forever and only be up to your knees--lots of locals and families (hence the name)-after drying in the sun we went in search of a famous little hole in the wall bar called Charlie's for a beer (Balachi the locally made Aruba made beer--oh yeah we passed their bottling plant and stopped in for a cold one too on the way to baby beach). Charlie's by the way is not the bar where Natalie Holloway disappeared from-that was Carlos and Charlies in a different town. (Carlos has since closed). Our Charlie's is in a little town called San Nicholas and was hard to find due to many one way streets and street signs-when they have them in Dutch--and since we don't read Dutch, Sted started up a one way street--thankfully though there were two rasta guys on the corner who waved us down to let us know we were going the wrong way--we thanked them and they asked if we needed some weed while we were there-Bets said no I think we're all set and we drove on to Charlie's--there are licence plates from all over hanging everywhere--we found a Maine one! Then we came home and went to watch the sunset while drinking an island sunset (a frozen rasperry,southern comfort marguerita drink) on the beach then drove downtown for casinos and a vegas style show called Havana--now home to bed--it's 11:30 and still 81 degrees out--I love it here and may come home with a purchase of some time here so I can bring you all here with me next time--miss you all hope everyone is ok Love, Nancy

Alto Vista Chapel, Aruba

Thursday, April 16th

Hi all-today was a quieter day than yesterday--we beach and pooled it from 10am to about 4-then showered and changed and went on a sunset catamaran sail from 5:30-7:30--it was beautiful-they have very impressive sunsets here-then we walked across the street for dinner and ate outside while listening to jazz from another restaurant and watching an adancing lights water show in the center of this out side mall coreographed to Elvis music--it was neat-it's 10:30 and still around 80-we might go try our luck at the slot machines at the casino across the street-Bets and Sted are already there-the week is flying by way too fast--take care-wish everyone was here XXOO Nancy

Happy Easter Early!

It's been much too quiet here in blogland-everyone has been too busy to write and for me, there hasn't been much going on. Until last week that is...I found out that I had been approved for an early retirement due to disability and retired officially last week. It had been a tough decision to make. My oncologist had suggested I should apply in January. Although things have been going well, as she put it."there is a good possibility that we'll be walking down this road of recurrence again." Given the side effects I endured this summer and the continued treatment and blood clot, I decided I needed to follow her advice. It took 3 months, but I finally got the official ok (along with the medical documentation of 287 pages!) When I received the verdict I had mixed emotions. When you're working probably once a day (if not more!) you think I can't wait to retire-then when it happens-it's difficult. I resent the way it has happened--this cancer has had too much power in my life. But, I am going to look forward-this is just the start of the next part of my journey.
The other exciting news is that to help me start my next chapter, my best friend, Betsy, and her husband, Sted Seavey, have invited us to join them on their annual trip to Aruba! They have been going there for over 20 years now and this will be our second trip. We joined them in 2006 to celebrate the end of my first round of treatments and now we'll have something else to celebrate. They'll be staying 3 weeks, but we'll join them for one. We leave Easter Sunday and return the following Sunday. It's the perfect vacation--good friends, SUN (!!!) and a pile of books to read on the beach--after all this chemo, I'm ready for a little vitamin D therapy! Maybe I'll write an entry from the beach! If not, I'll be sure to include some pictures when we return.
Last week I also completed my second month on the drug trial I'm participating in. It's a double blind study of a new drug for ovarian cancer. So far so good--as part of the study I will have bimonthly Ca125 tests and CAT scans. My first were last week. My Ca125 was 7.2 (below 35 is considered "normal" yipee!) and my CT scan showed NO changes and was totally normal-with the exception of evidence that the blood clot in my lung is still there (the Dr. expected this). So it's all good! The only side effect I am experiencing is that I have totally lost of my sense of taste. It's really annoying and bizarre--everything I eat taste like a matzo cracker-you'd think I'd be skinny-but no such luck--I keep trying things to see if they taste! The doctors think this is probably an indication that I am receiving the drug-not the placebo since there haven't been any other changes in my treatment or medications-we'll have to wait and see-but if it works, I'll go without taste!
Because we aren't going to be here on Easter, yesterday we had an early Easter dinner at our house. Mom, Cheryl and Hank, and Andi and Dave joined us-Joanne and Mark had just returned from the Southwest on Saturday night, and Kit and Erin were in Aroostock county visiting Erin's grandmothers. Everyone is well and we all had a great time and a lot to eat! Maybe Cheryl will add some pictures--she took my camera home with her by mistake, so I can't. It was great for all of us to be together.

Well, that's all that's new in my world--hope everything is going well for all of you--think Spring! There are little green sprouts all over the front yard-daffodils and tulips! Maybe when we get home the flowers will be in full bloom! Take care! Nancy

Letters from My Father: Who's Mickey?

From: Base Weather Sta.
Sept 28, 1942

Dear Folks

I just got the letters from Ma, Dad, & Art. I was quite surprised to find you seeming to worry about how I'm making out. I thought I had made it clear. Evidently from what you saw of Roger you got a bad idea of the army. As I've told you the ten fellows in my group are treated swell. Our barracks are as good as one would find in any college and the food is excellent. Don't think I'm so terribly tired for although we are studying hard and long hours you must remember that when it comes to 9:00 I get to a comfortable bed and sleep to seven. I never got 10 hours sleep a night back home. These three weeks I'm studying hard but after that I'll only work 8 hours a day with 1 or 2 days a week off and still be able to come and go anytime. There are dances at the U.S.O. 2 or three time a week and always the theatres. So you can see I'm living on top of the world. I'll never have K.P., guard duty or details and have never held a gun so don't worry. I've gained weight and never felt better in my life. Good living is swell. When I do go I'll be in a non combat unit and not in the trenches or marching but still have good conditions. I have honestly hit the best branch of the army. As soon as I've been in 90 days, I'm going to head for officers training and then it will be Lt. Smith.

Aunt Helen sent me $5.00 and it was appreciated. I'm going to write and thank her.

Let Art take my suit and the skates for it is foolish to let them do nothing.

I hope mickey got his insigneas. I mailed them last week. I get the papers and mail allways now but there is about 2 weeks still missing from Altantic City.

Tell Dad I'm about 400 miles from St. Joseph and I'll take a run out some weekend after I get thru school.

We are learning to observe and record weather and its quite interesting. I really like it.

It's getting late so I'll write later.

Love, Fred

From Pvt. F. J. Smith 9/29/1942

On the inside flap of a letter envelope addressed to his parents, Dad printed:

Pity the poor civilian

Here I have Meat 3 times a day

All the sugar I want

Don't turn in tubes for

Toothepaste So you keep Em Flying

I'm O.K.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

It was great to read all of the comments on last week's blog entry and to know that the blog is being read. Nancy and I both check the Comments frequently and really enjoy the feedback...hope you will all continue to join the conversation.

Roger Snelling just e-mailed me this photo of him, my Dad, and Johnny Clark when they returned from overseas in 1945. Thought I would share it here. What handsome guys...now we all know where we got our good looks!

Spring seems to finally be arriving in Maine...this is the first Monday we haven't had snow in five weeks so we're hopeful. I wonder if the snow is all gone for those of you reading this in Connecticut...we always seem to be a few weeks behind here.

March is also a month of birthdays so here goes...Happy Birthday to...

Carolyn Lambert - March 13th - Carolyn was my "little sister" at Russell Sage College and then became my sister-in-law. She is now the Pastor at Woodford's Congregational Church in Portland. I'll leave out her age as that would make it easy to figure mine out....

Sean Caufield - March 15th - Sean was one of my favorite students at Gorham High School and now lives with Kristen. He is one of the funniest and happiest people I know. Hank and I had a great time at Sean's party yesterday. Sean is 31!

JoAnne Sizemore - March 17th - Born JoAnne Del'Olio, I don't know how Jo ended up with an Irish birthday! JoAnne and I have been friends since 1979 when we first taught together. A member of our infamous "Gourmet Group", she is now the Principal of Scarborough Middle School. (Jo will also be ageless on this blog.)

And last but not least...
Brian Lawson - March 17th - Our 2nd grandson turns 13 today, and...

Robert Lawson - March 19th - Our oldest grandson turns 15 ...hard to believe!

Happy Brithday, Happy St. Patrick's Day and Happy Spring to all!

p.s. Check out cousin Brian's latest Comment on the previous blog entry...looks like we're going to finally have a family reunion!!!

Is Anybody Out There???

Nancy and I are wondering if anyone is reading this blog...no comments in a long time. Should we keep it going? Are people reading it or are Nancy and I just entertaining each other (wouldn't be the first time!) We'd love some feedback if you'd like to leave a Comment. Anybody???