Abatement Date

Brain cancer is...

 ...back at the cabin.

Every summer is abatement time here in Big Bear.  We are mandated to clear growth to decrease fire potential. 

On the way up the mountain, we had the good fortune of being treated to lunch by Alex.  The meal, at Caprice, was delicious and the company outstanding.

Birthday Month Celebration Day 6:  Check!

More pie! More pie! More pie!

Brain cancer is...

 ...rethinking the DCP (Daily Celebration Plan).

We enjoyed one of Darrell's beloved two-hour breakfasts with Beth and Geoff at our traditional place, the Mill, then we headed home.

What comes after breakfast?  Lunch!  Above you see that Karen brought us another piece of  Kona pie today, Birthday Month Celebration Day 5. More pie!  More pie! More pie!

We notice a theme to our Birthday Month Celebration posts:  food.  We maybe need to rethink that for future Birthday Month Celebration days.

Denise, don't read this post until after you attempt your own Kona pie challenge.  Worth it!

Bonus Content:  Darrell's Words of Wisdom

"Always drive like you have a dead body in the trunk."  Enough said.

Temecula Fun

Brain cancer is...

...spending Birthday Month Day 4 with Beth and Geoff.  

The DCP (Daily Celebration Plan) started with doughnuts and Alex and Tiana.  After we waved goodbye to the Dalton Guillaumes, we headed south.

Wine tasting was at Wiens with the Szabos.  (Pic above.) Yay!

Now we are tucked into our room, which has a fireplace, imperative in this summer heat (ha ha).

Good night, Team D, on Birthday Month Day 4.

Bonus Birthday Month Fun

Today's Leo Representative from Chris is this guy:

She photographed him at South Africa’s oldest reserve, Hluhluwe Game Reserve.  Roooarrr!!

Party On, Team D!

56: So Far, So Good.

Brain cancer is...

...married to a happy 56-year old.

To start the run early, my birthday began at 4:45.  I opened my eyes to Darrell singing Happy Birthday.  Then, with that famously animated Darrell face, he asked, "Aren't you excited?"  

My response:  "Um.  No."  [Pause.]  "Are you?"  

"Yes!  It's an adventure!"

Sigh.  To myself:  "He's right.  Attitude adjustment time."

Above you see us at the finish line of the 10-mile adventure.  It was great and, more importantly, it's over. 

Alex and Tiana are coming for the next round of Birthday Hijinks on this, Day Three of Birthday Month Celebrations.  Hurrah! 

Updated 8/4/18:  Some Video Moments of the Day

Alternate YouTube Link

Thanks, everyone, for your birthday texts, emails, and cards.  Yay!

And now, just a brief pause for some serious birthday stuff. 

[Reader's advisory:  Stop reading here if you'd rather keep things light for birthdays.  You know me; I can  find things to cry about even while running, trying to put one foot in front of the other for 10 miles.]

Grandma, This Run Is for You.

My maternal grandmother, Eva Burghardt, was an incredibly strong, tenacious woman.  She was a credentialed educator who taught in a one-room school house in Iowa.  Then, after marrying my grandfather Alfred, she was a farmer.  When she was 56, she lay down on her bed and died of a massive stroke.  

Today I turned 56.  Grandma, this run is for you.

Grandma, as I ran today I thought about some things that I wanted you to know:

• I am sorry that your children and grandchildren had so little time with you.  I have watched the  profound effect of your absence on my mother throughout my life. 
• I am grateful for every one of the days I've had with my mother that she didn't have with you.
• I am thankful to you for the legacy you left behind.  Your strength and tenacity ripple forward in so many people, in several generations.
• I am grateful for the gift of health and for every step I can take.
• I promise you I will never take my health for granted and I will work to protect it.
• I promise I won't do another ridiculously long run for no reason. Until next year.

  

P is for Plan

Brain cancer is...

...not going to be caught without a Birthday Month celebration plan again.

Thank goodness Kim got us rolling with our month of celebration days yesterday.  We learned that we need to have a DCP (Daily Celebration Plan).  

Today my plan was:  Pancake.  Nothing says "celebrate" like pancake.  Gordon joined in the fun.  P is for pancake.

We were in LA for an appointment with LuAnn, so it was French dips for lunch.

P is for Phillipe.

We love it when a plan unfolds. Clearly dinner needed to be at Round Table, because P is for...

...pizza.  Though bit short on vegetables, we call Birthday Month Day 2 a success.

Party on, Team D!

Team D Ushers in Birthday Month

Brain cancer is...

...welcoming a month of birthday celebrations. 

Team D, in the guise of Kim N., appeared at the door moments after Darrell and Andi were asking each other, "What will we do to celebrate the first day of Birthday Month?"

That's a true story.  Longtime readers will recall that Team D always seems to anticipate our needs, sense from a distance when we might be dragging, and show up.   Today Kim was the face of the team.

Last year y'all approved Meridyth's idea of not a day, not a week, but a month of birthday celebrations.  We just didn't know where to begin today.  In came Kim.   She and Andi had a work meeting scheduled, but first...flowers, a card, and a song.  Wish we had the video running!

Thanks, Kim.  And thanks for your stamina, Team D.  Happy Birthday Month to all Leos.  Roar.

Balboa Island Adventure

Brain cancer is...
...continuing to learn about living life like we're on vacation.

Here are today's lessons.

• Hang out with the people you love.  Today was our "date day" with Melanie and Gail.

• Go some place new, close to home.  (This was Lesson #7, learned by Brady and Linda Guillaume last weekend.)  Melanie and Gail took us to Balboa Island today.  They know it well, but it was new to us as a couple.

• Learn a fun new thing.    Melanie sprung for a Sister Adventure and took Andi paddle boarding, Andi's first paddling trip.  Thanks, Sis!

• Important sub-lesson:  Learn that fun new thing from a really good teacher.  There's a reason Melanie is an Educator.  I stayed upright, so you know she's a good teacher.

• Do what the locals do.  Gail and Melanie taught us the pleasure of Balboa Bars and Frozen Bananas.  Living life like you're on vacation requires tasty treats, or more specifically, according to Gail, Balboa Bars and Frozen Bananas.  

• When possible, take a ferry.  Today:  Possible.

We are still smiling.  Thanks so much, Gail and Melanie, for these important life lessons!