Wow! I loved the Helping One Woman dinner at the Marriott In Visalia. It was for me and there were maybe 60 people there. I knew so many of them from different times I worked. Of my family my grandson Billy Lane (father of my great grandson Conner), Stephanie Jerdin my daughter-in-law and her daughter, my grand-daughter Meghan Jerdin were there. The setting and the food were great. There were great vendors, women sharing their businesses with us. I gave a short talk about what I've learned going through this which ended up being good. One comment many people said to me was that it was fun attaching faces to the names they had read in my blog. There were many pictures and I selected a few of them.
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| Deanna (from Central Valley Life & Style with Deanna) and me |
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| Martha Hense (who was there for me when Paul died and lets me stay at he home when I'm in Visalia) and me |
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| Mike and Marykay Feit (Mike helped me set up blog and Marykay is a longtime friend and top notch artist) and me |
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| Billy Lane (father of Conner) and my very good friend Barbara Long |
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| Susan Ackermann Price (my friend who is so sweet and makes a t errific breakfast) |
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| My daughter-in-law Stephanie Jerdin and her daughter Meghan Jerdin (who have so much going on and still took time to come up for this event - thank you!) |
There was a woman there, Margie Van Veen Smith who puts together books (among other things) from the photos and write-ups you do on your computer. In the end, she puts it on good quality paper in a bound book which you can give to people. I'm thinking about this for family and close friends upon my death. She offers guidance along the way by phone. Her site is www.cmyphotobook.com, her email address is mdutchgirl@hotmail.com or call her at 559-618-0555. Of course, it isn't just for end of life, but that is why I'd be interested.
As a result of talking at the Helping One Woman dinner I got an invitation to speak at a fundraiser on March 7 for Avon's fundraiser regarding breast cancer at the Lamp Liter Inn in Visalia (3300 W. Mineral King) The cost for a lunch ticket is $25. There will also be auctions and drawings for some great items like a homemade quilt and a weekend getaway in the small town of Oakhurst (It is 14 miles south of the entrance to Yosemite National Park in the foothills). If you are interested in a lunch ticket, call Carol Nava at 559-967-0914. My daughter Shelley Schmitt will go with me. Maybe I can talk a couple of girlfriends from Bakersfield to join us.
Several of us went up to my room to continue talking. It was all wonderful. I got a suite so my friend Barbara Long and my grandson Billy Lane could be with me. Nice suite, but really too expensive for me. It didn't used to be so expensive. I would say even a single room almost doubled in price from what I used to be charged.
The next day, we hit Main Street which was lots of fun. I had in mind particular stores I wanted to go to while visiting Visalia. We went to Pacific Treasures and Gourmet - it has kitchen supplies and many other fun things - premium quality. Another place I really enjoyed was p.s. i love you too. What a great little store. Many things would be great gifts for weddings and various showers. But it is broader than that. You'll love it. Say "Hi" to the owner Mary Beth, a lovely woman No time to go to Brown's Shoe Fit Company. What I like about it is that my feet are wide, I have high arch and instep and thick ankles. I have told people I have Platypus feet (not quite though). I'm always looking for shoes that are sensible but also look good. I do well here. It is costly, but they have annual and semiannual sales. We also went to The Discovery Shop for The American Cancer Society. Now here the items are in very good shape and the prices are right. There is also an excellent one in Bakersfield, actually a little larger. Keep in mind that many of these stores are not open on Sunday or have limited hours. Check ahead of time.
My grandson Billy was a sweetheart. When I told him I didn't write a speech, he said "Speak from the heart grandma, speak from the heart," putting his fist to his heart. He works a night shift and took it off so he could go with me for some "bonding time" as he described it and that is what it was.
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So my art class with Carol Bradshaw started up again. Wayne and I are the regulars. While I did no watercolor painting since we last met,Wayne brought a beautiful painting of an old Japanese boat with nets and poles from the dock with mountains in the background. Now he did it from a picture, but I was so impressed with what he did. What talent! I'm still working on my picture, another hot air balloon using different colors for red, blue and yellow..
I went to have chemo and I'm waiting to be called. This man comes up to me and hands me the sheet you give to the nurse. I look down at it and see his name on it. I say "This isn't mine." He snatches it away. On the other side of the end table is his wife and in a very general sort of way, we look alike. That was a good laugh for all of us. When I left after treatment I noted that it was very light in patients that day, which is usually not the case. My nurse said "shhhh!" Yup. Like I've noticed. We've all gotten into magical thinking! If only that really worked!
I read a book recommended by Carol Nava who is a vendor for Avon at the Helping One Woman dinner. Very funny and I identified with a lot of it. It is Bald Sweaty Bitch With One Tit: A Memoir, A Pink Ribbon Journey by Jane Kay Cisneros. I downloaded it to my Kindle. I recommend you read it if you haven't. The more I read about others’ experiences, I'm struck by how universal a lot of our responses and feelings are.
Yesterday I cooked up a pot of pinto beans after rinsing and soaking them for over a day. I thought this would help in cutting down the gas. It is really good that I live alone! The beans are really tasty, so I think I just will spend more time alone on those days after eating.
Today Barbara and I are going to another Bakersfield Community Concert. This one is Alex Depue with Miguel Dehoyes. As I've said, all of the concerts have been great and a good deal for $80 for the season (8 performances). If you bought them individually, they are $40 each. This is the 5th one. If you are interested in getting a season pass, let me know and I will give you the information to do this.
I want to correct an error from last week. I told you about this wonderful Indian Restaurant in town. I had the name wrong. It is called Zaika Indian Cuisine. They really are excellent and whether you eat meat or not, you will love the choices and the dishes they serve. They also have a full bar. Their address is 5123 Ming Avenue in Bakersfield. If you want to make a reservation, call 661-836-0100 If you go to their web site you can see the whole menu. www.zaikaindiancuisine.com.
This is a very good description of the feeling of grief from The Grief Toolbox by Bonnie Borel. I always described it as a roller coaster with the ups and downs. This one is more complete.
Here is something to consider when facing your fears. I did this. I have found the more I deal with fear, the less I'm overwhelmed by it.
CONNER, my great grandson loves standing. He can walk when holding on to something.
This has been a very busy week. I'll be seeing my primary doctor this next week about some medical issues I've been having. I stalled seeing her in case this took some time to deal with. I'll let you know how it goes. Have a good week and I'll see you next Sunday! Rachel
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