Starting Chemo in JAN 2007

Oh my. I cannot believe it. Such sad news. I am so sorry.

Amera

Yes Lynn it is a difficult day for all of us.  I guess when you get close to someone by sharing your fears and dreams it makes it hard to say goodbye, but we will see her again.  I believe that.  She suffers no more.  We have to be glad for that. 

Lynn - you and Joni had so much fun together in Vegas. I'm so sad that we've lost her and so happy that we got to meet her.

I remember Joni and Lynn banging on our door (mine and Skye's) in Vegas on Friday morning telling us to basically get our butts out of bed and to come down to the pool and join them for breakfast. She really was full of life.  We will all miss her.

I've been looking through the photos of Vegas again. It took me a while to find them, but I got logged on to the page. Joni seemed to be smiling in nearly all the ones of her. We will always remember her that way, I think.

When I received the notice that my guest book note was accepted, I went and read the ones that many of you submitted.

Yes, Rebecca, we can hold her to the promise to watch over us.

Hi all,

Mel,

It was indeed a precious gift that we could all get together and meet in person. It now holds a more special meaning because we all got to share some precious time with Joni.

Lynn, you had a special bond with Joni- I know you will always have those special memories of both of you rooming together- laughing and sharing- memories that you can cherish forever.

Caya,

Joni was indeed full of life.

Rebecca, I am sure she will be watching over all of us. She is our guardian angel.

Not a minute has gone by since last night that I have not been thinking of our Joni. I am still in shock. This disease is not fair. Joni, we will all miss you so much.

Love,

Paula 

This is photo is the absolute essence of our dear Joni, and I am sure she would want us all to remember her this way.  My DH Allan met her on the Sunday night when the last group of us went to the buffet at Caesar's Palace for dinner, and was very sorry to hear of her passing, said she was a real nice lady. 

The other pictures you posted on our private email are great too Lynn.  I printed out an 8 x 10 version of that group photo of us all when we came home from Vegas and it is posted on my bulletin boad above my desk.  Joni looked great there.

I remain in some state of denial that Joni is gone. That photo of her poolside at the Mirage makes me teary. And yet isn't it just the perfect depiction of the Joni we came to know?

I'm game for a Joni Celebration Gathering. I think a big cabin or two with any family members who want to tag along is a grand idea.

I will bring the Scrabble board. Best played late in the evening after the young ones have gone to bed. Maybe after a glass or two of wine. When you're tired and mellow it all seems to be a bit risque - the words just get funnier and funnier.

Sharon, that is a gorgeous photo of the mountains.

Tina, I like the bouquet. And I like that you 'super-sized' it! Our Joni is worth all that and more.

Ladies, I'm going off to be quiet for awhile more. It feels like some time before the cloud overhead will lift.

waving from Iowa....Cindy

I followed Lynn's lead and put a few pictures on my facebook profile. I tagged a few of us in the group shot, and never could the edit thingy open again to tag everyone. Rebecca came to my rescue and tagged the rest of you for me. Thanks Rebecca.

Oh my, Rebecca, what a story. Speaking of service clubs, my dad has been involved in Rotary for the past almost 40 years. He really enjoys the fellowship with other men and now women as well as the service aspects of the organization. I think he's been to 8  Rotary International conventions in the US and one in Mexico City,

All of you take care this week. Love to you all.

Oh, my, Rebecca that is hilarious!

 It's freezing here in Chicago. i can't wait to get back home.

Hi All,

Jan, your conference / mediation / intervention sounds really interesting. Good luck, let us know what happens.

Rebecca, what a crazy evening that must have been. Good for Matt for his award!  I don't feel like I do much for the community these days; used to be very involved when the kids were younger. And I hope to be again one day. I am not even voting for school board candidates, because I am just not aware enough of the local school issues. That was a huge decision when the kids were in public school, and it used to drive me nuts when people who didn't know the candidates would make uninformed decisions. I want the parents in the know to have that power. But I am sure excited about most of the rest of the election. We have some interesting ballot proposals in Calif this year, and of course the presidential race has been fascinating.  It's hard to believe that in just over a week we will have a new president. Steve is telling me that I should vote against all the incumbents, no matter what, he is so mad about the financial crisis. I handle that by refusing to look at our portfolio.Can't do a thing about it, so no use getting all upset about it. I just have to hope it all comes back.

Yesterday was Steve's bday. We have a rule that the birthday person makes all decisions, and his idea of a perfect day was to get up REALLY early, drive to the top of a mountain a couple of hours away, and drop him off so he could run down, about 15 miles. He loved it. I ambled around a bit at the bottom, read, was just fine. Then he took a long nap and asked me to fix mashed potatoes and gravy and steak for his dinner, rather than going out. Pretty much his perfect day.

Back to work today. The healing is going fine, I think, but the swelling is still so evident that I am wearing a prosthesis on the cancer side, and nothing on the new surgery side. That, along with a loose top, looks acceptable. I am still sore, but not too bad. I saw the surgeon on Friday to have the drain out (yippee) and he wants to see me in three wks to check on the bruising and swelling. I am not a bit worried; I bruise terribly and am sure it will go away. In fact, the hand that had the iv is still really bruised. So I am sorry to have to go back to work, but glad the whole thing is over and I don't have to deal with mammograms, etc, any more. My 2 year anniversary is coming up in November, and I actually am feeling some closure on the whole terrible experience.

Ok, gotta get moving. Stay safe all. Joni is watching over us.

Melia,

Sounds like a perfect "man's"birthday. Happy Birthday Steve. I am glad you are healing nicely. The bruising will go down. I think a lot of us will be celebrating our 2nd anniversary soon. What a sweet celebration. We will have to celebrate over the net. Any ideas my ta ta's?

Rebecca,

 Congratulations on Matt getting an award. I know your whole family is very proud of him. The party sounds like a hoot.

Cindy,

 Lots of hugs. Waving back at you. We are always here for you. 

Lynn,

What a fabulous picture of our Joni. Thanks for posting it. 

Skye,

How is dh? How did today go? 

I spent the day at my sister's. My cousin and I are helping her with some summer to winter chores. Her back has not improved much since the surgery this summer and now the surgeon told her that she needs more surgery. OY!

Yesterday we spent the day at Mystic Seaport with some friends. It was such a perfect beautiful day.

We are moving back home this weekend. It is time.  We enjoy it here, but now all the summer people vacated and it is very quiet here- sometimes too quiet. I need to get back to civilization. Ed could stay here forever, but I need people. I miss my walks with my neighbors. 

Not much else is happening.  I have a yearly physical on Friday and I have been trying to lose 10 lbs before then with no luck. I think that between the effexor and the tamoxifen, it has been an uphill battle. I am also at fault- I seem to be hungry all the time. Rosh Hashanah dinners didn't help-but they were so worth it.

I hope everyone had a great day today.

Love,

Viddie 

Caya,

It is indeed great when our kids are happy and doing well. A friend once told me that mothers are only as happy as our unhappiest child. When all our kids are happy, all is well. I am so glad Amanda and Cassie are having a great year at school.  You and Allen deserve to sit back and enjoy.

Meri has been very busy with papers and exams. She and her bf are throwing a halloween party on Friday night. I was surprised when she told she was inviting her bf's parents. I was even more surprised when his mom told them she would supply the food and a keg. Hmmmmm. She is more generous than I would be. They will probably go to the party around 8:00 and leave at 10:00, when the "real" partying will begin. I do wish I lived closer - or- they lived closer to us. She is happy and that is all that counts.

Jonathan is still looking for himself. He now decided that managing restaurants is not what he wants to do for the rest of his life- he just turned 28. He plans to take the GRE and apply for a Masters of Education. He wants to teach history to Middle school-grades 7-9. I hopes he gets accepted and likes it.

It is raining here today so I decided to stay home and clean the refrigerator and closets and pack more things to bring home. A nice quiet day.

I hope everyone has a great day.

Love,

Viddie 

Skye,

Don't wear yourself out! I am glad your dh is home so you give him that extra tlc.