Cycling Day

Hello!

 Today, Ben and several of his friends are doing a 100 mile cycling circuit around Jefferson County.  They left early this morning from the riverfront downtown, and made it to a friend's home, having cycled 35 miles.  Several spouses and friends were there to greet them as they climbed a monster hill to get to the house.  We rang the cowbell as they each made it up to the top .  We fed them some nourishing goodies, and they refilled their water bottles and took off to do the rest of the trip-another 65 miles to go!

  One of the cyclists planned to only do the first part.  Luckily for him, that was all, because he is a diabetic, and it was so hot out, that the strain of riding was messing with his blood sugar.  Got that fixed, and he and his wife left for home.

 I left for home soon thereafter.  I don't think Ben will make it home until 4:30 or 5.  I know he will be one tired puppy.  Unfortunately, he is on call tonight too, and has to go to the Church Home where he is a chaplain, to pick up the beeper.  I certainly hope it doesn't go off tonight!

More on the adventures later. I have sewing to catch up on! 

Mary

Travel and Rain and Cancerland

Hello again,

  We took a trip last month to Lynchburg,VA to visit my oldest, and his wife.  It was Mother's Day weekend, and they took us out for a wonderful brunch after church.  The restaurant was in an old turn of the century house, with lots of character.  We then went to a concert later in the day.  We only had a short visit with them, but we got caught up on all that they have been doing, and saw all the improvements  they have made on their home since we last saw it.

 I wish all our kids lived closer to us.  They are spread all around the country from CA to WA to CO, and to VA.  Nice places to visit, but far away!

 This past few weeks, it seems that it has done nothing but rain, rain, rain.  We did manage to get the garden in, and the rain has helped that a lot.  We have had some sunny days, but it got so hot and humid that it was not pleasant to be outside.  We have had two absolutely gorgeous days with mild temperatures and no humidity.

 Tomorrow is Ben's 100 mile ride around Jefferson County with a group of friends.  He is doing the ride for the Lance Armstrong Foundation.  He has raised just short of $2000!  The money will go towards the foundation's research and educational needs.  The foundation has done a wonderful job of providing cancer centers and cancer groups with lots of info regarding the different types of cancer, and how to live a more healthy life. We owe a great deal of gratitude to the foundation and to Gilda's Club for helping us gain strength and support during our latest journey in Cancerland.

 After the cyclists in Ben's group go about 35 miles, they are stopping at one of our friend's homes, and we are providing them with some nutritious food, water and a potty break.  Some will not go the rest of the way, and do all 100 miles, but will get picked up and taken back to their cars at the starting point. The more avid riders will continue on for several hours before completing the full circuit of Jefferson County.

 The ride has taken on added meaning, as in the past few weeks, we have lost several of our Gilda's Club family to cancer.  Cancer is such an insidious disease, and can be so    aggressive at times.  It totally disrupts everyone's life that have a connection to  the person with cancer.  It brings our own mortality into the forefront, and all sorts of feelings that we didn't know we were having, smack us right in the gut, sometimes not at the best of times.  That is one reason that Gilda's Club has been such a significant part of many lives.  They provide much needed support , through groups for both the one with the cancer, and the friends and families of them too.  They also have kid's groups and teen groups too. There, they can sort out their feelings with others that are going through the same thing they are.  The cancer may be a different type, and may be in different stages of progression, but cancer is the common denominator of it all.

Next week, Ben is being interviewed by one of the TV anchors about his cancer. Last month was Melanoma and Skin Cancer Awareness Month.  The TV station aired a piece about clinical trials, and happened to have Ben's oncologist at MD Anderson talking about the trials there, that Ben participated in!  He wrote the TV anchor and told her, and she asked to interview him about his melanoma. They are taping it next week! Enough of cancer talk.

  I have been happily fixing up my office/ sewing room.  It now just needs a new coat of paint, and it will be a totally different place.  I put up new window treatments that let in so much more light.  I also made new curtains  that swag across the top .  The former owners had these horrible dark brown shades that cut out most of the light, and the curtain panels on the sides were very outdated.  Not very inspiring to get me into the mood to sew!

Week after next, my youngest (age 31) and his girlfriend are coming from CA to visit.  They are going to check out our internationally famous cooking school here, and transfer from the school in CA.  I can't wait to see them, and hope and pray they will move back here! My son already has a college degree, but he wants to do something new.  CA has gotten so terribly expensive, and their government is in a total mess. It would certainly be much cheaper to live here.  John grew up here in KY, so it wouldn't exactly be a new place!  Louisville has changed considerably since he last lived here, and it as gotten better!

Not much else is happening in my life right now.  I have added some new things in my shop, and I have more in the works!

Later, Mary