Tuesday, November 9, 2010

November 9 First Snow


Today we had our first snow in Wenatchee. The flakes were very wet and melted the moment they hit the ground. Just above us about 300 feet in elevation, the snow did stay and is providing a light blanket over the dry brown hills. The first snow always seems too early as we now need to be thinking about long trips across the passes and when we need to start digging out the driveway. Close to 20 years ago, I remember a good snow for Halloween. It was about six inches deep and stayed on the ground for a week. I have been told the snow blower works fine and is ready for this season. I hope this is the case as now the repair shops will be swamped with snow blowers with bad spark plugs and fouled fuel. We do have our winter tires on the car. Plus having a Subaru with all wheel drive makes driving on snowy road much easier.

Today is also my Mother’s birthday. She has out lived almost anyone else in the family. Only an aunt who passed away a few years back at 93 so far has lived longer. My mother’s condition is frail, though she remains comfortable and seems content. Due to my low immune protection, unfortunately I have limited my visits with her. Hopefully in the next few months, there may be an opportunity to say hello to her. This is something I will need to clear with my oncologist first. The photo here is from 1960 when the family would ski at Steven's Pass. My brother, Mom and I were enjoying some spring skiing. Happy Birthday Mom.

I currently am into week 2 of my “2 weeks on 1 week off” schedule for chemotherapy. I have had an increase in the dose of the medication. I was going to say that I am not seeing any more symptoms from the drug than earlier with a reduced dosage. But last night I got up to walk to the bathroom and I was very close to blacking out. Today I have taken it easy. While I have not had the degree of light headedness, I have lacked motivation to do just about anything. So today has been a down day. I have done a little research on the internet, checked emails for home and at work, and took a short walk outside. Tomorrow as a part of the chemotherapy schedule I will take a handful of Dexamethasone, a steroid that makes the Revlimid a little more effective in fighting off the bad cells still in the bone marrow.

4 comments:

  1. rick that picture is AMAZING! that is really good enough to frame. what a great picture of family fun and great sweaters from a bygone era of stevens' pass! your mother sounds like an amazing gal, just like her son! hi to rose and to the wenatchee crew! :) big hugs, -ali wick

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  2. Rick, what year was that where we had Halloween snow? I swear to people I remeber Trick-or-Treating in the snow one year, but nobody seems to believe me . . . do we have a year for this and some proof on the web somewhere? Thanks!!

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  3. For the person wondering about the snow on Halloween in Wenatchee, the year was either 1991 or 1992. :-)

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  4. Rick,

    Regarding the family photo of us skiing at Steven Pass, Mom was an outdoor convert. Born and raised in LA, I think really the first time she saw snow was in Seattle. Married to a mountain climber who had climbed Mt Rainier, Mt Baker, Mt St Helens, Mt Adams and Mt Hood..hope I didn't miss anyother mountains. Dad truly loved the outdoors and his camera. All the photos he took over the year are really incredible. He wanted to share his joy with everyone through the camera lense. We have terrific parents...who loved us and always will...there isn't a day that goes by that I don't think of them both.

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