Right now, my battle is simply eating and getting out of bed. Food is not at all appetizing, in fact, it's nauseating. Yesterday I managed a bagel and a bowl of soup. I've had 5 treatments and I've lost 5 lbs. If I can't eat, and I can't get out of bed, I will become weak and it will be harder to fight. I feel a bit better today and I managed a bowl of cream of wheat. I did the dishes and I'm sitting at the kitchen table. These are big victories, for now. Casey is going to the store to get me some liquid meals - smoothies and Carnation Instant Breakfast, for example. I'm going to have to not worry about sugar for a little while, in favor of keeping my strength up. The Carnation Instant Breakfast has sugar in it, but it's also got a lot of nutrients. It's basically the same thing as Ensure at half the price. If I keep going the way I have been, I'll weigh 110 at the end and I'll look like a skeleton. I got down to 125 during my first battle and I looked pretty bad. So, cream of wheat, smoothies, CIB, maybe even ice cream. I'll worry about sugar being "cancer fertilizer" later.
Every day I read posts from women on the Ovarian Cancer Alliance. Yesterday I read one by a 22 year old girl who will never have babies. Another woman was venting that she can't talk to her husband, and that he was complaining that when she had long, blond hair everyone told him how pretty his wife was, but now that her hair is short and gray they don't. I have always been grateful for Casey and his support, but that made me even more so! He takes such good care of me, and he's always there for me.
I confess I'm having more trouble than usual remaining positive. I cried for awhile last night, and believe it or not that's the first time I've cried because of the cancer. The battle is going on for so long this time, and I feel so weak and so sick. Being unable to eat is very dispiriting. I feel weak and hungry, but then I take a bite and I can't swallow. There have always been breaks in the chemo where I felt pretty normal. It looks like I am going to be sick until after this radiation ends. While I am better today, I am nauseated and I doubt I'll be up for long.
OK, enough whining. It poured last night and was apparently windy. The umbrella was in our outdoor table, and this morning the glass is in shattered pieces all over the ground. A big mess for poor Casey to deal with, and he'll have to do it soon to keep Ben and Bella safe. His mountain bike is in the shop and he really needs a ride for the physical, emotional and spiritual benefits. He is my rock, but he also has to be his own rock.
I've been up for an hour or so and it's long enough. Thank goodness for my Google TV, or I would be going out of my mind!
Namaste,
Jill
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Radiation Sucks
My doctors and the women on the Ovarian Cancer Alliance all told me that radiation is not as bad as chemo. In my case, they were wrong. I started feeling sick on the way home from my first treatment and have felt nauseous since. I have already, after 3 treatments, puked more than I did the entire time I was doing chemo. To manage it, I'll have to stay on the anti-nausea meds 24/7 until this is over. They make me sleep. Except for going to treatment yesterday, I slept around the clock. I'm back in the tunnel again and it isn't fun. I forced myself to get up and eat some breakfast, but it was tough. Food is pretty revolting to me right now. They tell me it will get worse and time and treatments go on. I see too much weight loss in my future.
I will probably not be writing every day through this. This is hard, after the relatively easy chemo with breaks where I felt good. As a matter of fact, I'm going back to bed now because my breakfast made me nauseous.
Radiation. Ugh.
Namaste,
Jill
I will probably not be writing every day through this. This is hard, after the relatively easy chemo with breaks where I felt good. As a matter of fact, I'm going back to bed now because my breakfast made me nauseous.
Radiation. Ugh.
Namaste,
Jill
Monday, May 9, 2011
Gayle Price Pentoney
My beautiful mother was born a Texan in 1928. She was in high school during World War II, and she was a very modern woman. She attended SMU (Southern Methodist University) for awhile, but ended up working as the secretary for a rich oil man. She shared an apartment in Dallas with her friend Irene and didn't marry my dad until she was 26. She was engaged to someone else when she met him. His movie star good looks and California lifestyle swept her off her feet and they married not long after they met. She went from Dallas to living at the beach in San Diego in a heartbeat. They eloped, and she had to go back to Dallas to break up with her fiance after she was married!
Mom should have finished college and had a career. She was fiercely intelligent, had a quick wit and a wickedly funny sense of humor. She made friends easily and quickly and her heart was infinite. Growing up, our friends always wanted to hang out at our house because mom was so cool. Mom and dad took our friends into their home and hearts and unofficially adopted some of them, especially those who lost a parent. Mom's daddy died when she was little, and she always reached out to anyone who suffered a similar fate. Jennie, Chris, and Tommy are our unofficial siblings. My friends Carrie and Pam both lived with us at different times, and so did Tommy. Many of our friends would show up at Dolbeer St when we weren't home, to spend time with mom. When she moved to San Clemente, she joined the Women's Club and the Friends of the library. Soon she knew everyone in town, had scores of friends, and was running the used bookstore that was helping to fund the library. She started the hugely successful buck-a-bag sale on Sundays during the Farmer's Market. After dad had the stroke, she ran his office for about a year. She was his main secretary already, and there were lawyer friends of theirs who helped when something involved an appearance. Dad was a workman's comp lawyer so much of the work involved getting people into see doctors and into retraining programs. Anyway, dad was always more interested in fly-fishing than anything else, and he never pressed clients for payment. The year mom took over she made a lot more money than he ever had.
The heat was in pipes of hot water than ran underneath the floor on Dolbeer St. At night when mom would cook dinner, I would lie on the warm kitchen floor and talk to her. She would have to step over me as she moved from the sink to the stove. It must have been annoying, but she never told me to get lost or complained. She patiently talked to me as she cooked around me. Now I feel rather guilty that I didn't get off my backside and help her. The kitchen floor and early mornings at the ranch are my favorite memories of her. Mom and I always got up earlier than David and Joyce and usually dad, or else he would be gone fishing. When we were at the ranch we would walk out onto the bridge, mom with a steaming cup of coffee. We'd stand while, looking down into the crystal clear water at the fish swimming below. Then we'd walk across the bridge and sit on the rocks above the river on the other side, still watching the fish and talking quietly. I loved having her to myself, before the day began and everyone else was up.
She gave me my love of reading, and it was something we always shared. She introduced me to Shakespeare long before I encountered him in School. She took me to plays at College of the Redwoods often. She loved poetry and wrote her own as well as reading it. Many of her favorite things became mine and shaped my life. I never rebelled against her or went through a period when I thought I knew more than she did like most teenage girls do. I always knew she was special, she was wise, and she was wonderful. When I looked around I realized that everyone loved her. She kept friends for life and she was constantly making new ones.
When mom was still living in California, I called her every day. If I had a question about something, I tended to go to her first. I went to her first to celebrate my accomplishments and to read her my poetry. I went to see her monthly and we spent every Mother's Day together from the time she moved to San Clemente until she moved to Hawaii, and later Tahiti, with Joyce. Joyce was even in town one Mother's Day and all three of us went to brunch at the Country Club in San Clemente.
By the end of her life mom was tiny. She was shorter than me and I could wrap my arms around her almost twice. I was able to go see her three times during her last year. David, Cate and I went in August of 2009. David and I went back during my spring break 2010 and I went back alone after school got out and stayed a month. Although she was suffering from vascular dementia, her eyes still sparkled a bright, beautiful blue and she was lucid during the daytime and still wickedly funny.
I don't claim to know exactly what happens to us after we die, but I know it isn't the end. I have felt both of my parents with me since they passed, at various times. I talk to them both and I feel that they know this. It's not the same, of course, but it comforts me.
I started this yesterday, for Mother's Day, but felt bad and ended up sleeping most of the day and night. So, Mom, this is for you. Happy Mother's Day. I hope you spent it fly-fishing with dad in a heavenly stream.
I love you.
Namaste,
Jill
Mom should have finished college and had a career. She was fiercely intelligent, had a quick wit and a wickedly funny sense of humor. She made friends easily and quickly and her heart was infinite. Growing up, our friends always wanted to hang out at our house because mom was so cool. Mom and dad took our friends into their home and hearts and unofficially adopted some of them, especially those who lost a parent. Mom's daddy died when she was little, and she always reached out to anyone who suffered a similar fate. Jennie, Chris, and Tommy are our unofficial siblings. My friends Carrie and Pam both lived with us at different times, and so did Tommy. Many of our friends would show up at Dolbeer St when we weren't home, to spend time with mom. When she moved to San Clemente, she joined the Women's Club and the Friends of the library. Soon she knew everyone in town, had scores of friends, and was running the used bookstore that was helping to fund the library. She started the hugely successful buck-a-bag sale on Sundays during the Farmer's Market. After dad had the stroke, she ran his office for about a year. She was his main secretary already, and there were lawyer friends of theirs who helped when something involved an appearance. Dad was a workman's comp lawyer so much of the work involved getting people into see doctors and into retraining programs. Anyway, dad was always more interested in fly-fishing than anything else, and he never pressed clients for payment. The year mom took over she made a lot more money than he ever had.
The heat was in pipes of hot water than ran underneath the floor on Dolbeer St. At night when mom would cook dinner, I would lie on the warm kitchen floor and talk to her. She would have to step over me as she moved from the sink to the stove. It must have been annoying, but she never told me to get lost or complained. She patiently talked to me as she cooked around me. Now I feel rather guilty that I didn't get off my backside and help her. The kitchen floor and early mornings at the ranch are my favorite memories of her. Mom and I always got up earlier than David and Joyce and usually dad, or else he would be gone fishing. When we were at the ranch we would walk out onto the bridge, mom with a steaming cup of coffee. We'd stand while, looking down into the crystal clear water at the fish swimming below. Then we'd walk across the bridge and sit on the rocks above the river on the other side, still watching the fish and talking quietly. I loved having her to myself, before the day began and everyone else was up.
She gave me my love of reading, and it was something we always shared. She introduced me to Shakespeare long before I encountered him in School. She took me to plays at College of the Redwoods often. She loved poetry and wrote her own as well as reading it. Many of her favorite things became mine and shaped my life. I never rebelled against her or went through a period when I thought I knew more than she did like most teenage girls do. I always knew she was special, she was wise, and she was wonderful. When I looked around I realized that everyone loved her. She kept friends for life and she was constantly making new ones.
When mom was still living in California, I called her every day. If I had a question about something, I tended to go to her first. I went to her first to celebrate my accomplishments and to read her my poetry. I went to see her monthly and we spent every Mother's Day together from the time she moved to San Clemente until she moved to Hawaii, and later Tahiti, with Joyce. Joyce was even in town one Mother's Day and all three of us went to brunch at the Country Club in San Clemente.
By the end of her life mom was tiny. She was shorter than me and I could wrap my arms around her almost twice. I was able to go see her three times during her last year. David, Cate and I went in August of 2009. David and I went back during my spring break 2010 and I went back alone after school got out and stayed a month. Although she was suffering from vascular dementia, her eyes still sparkled a bright, beautiful blue and she was lucid during the daytime and still wickedly funny.
I don't claim to know exactly what happens to us after we die, but I know it isn't the end. I have felt both of my parents with me since they passed, at various times. I talk to them both and I feel that they know this. It's not the same, of course, but it comforts me.
I started this yesterday, for Mother's Day, but felt bad and ended up sleeping most of the day and night. So, Mom, this is for you. Happy Mother's Day. I hope you spent it fly-fishing with dad in a heavenly stream.
I love you.
Namaste,
Jill
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Good Things Come in Threes!
Yesterday was a very special day. Casey say if he had known how wonderful and rewarding it is to be a teacher he would have chosen that path. He says this because of my students and how they reach out to me, and that's what made yesterday special.
First, I checked the mail and there was an envelope from AJHS. Inside was a letter from Allise Jeffries, one of my current students that I am missing out on. She wrote me a lovely letter, telling me her grandmother's cancer is in remission and she hopes mine is, too. Then she said "You changed the way I look at people, in a good way." That means the world to me. We spent the first two weeks of school (and the only time I was there) doing Challenge Day activities. This is to break down barriers, stop the bullying, and teach them tolerance for others. It's good to know that Allise got the message. I've been wondering if I want to do it again next year. I took it further this past year than I ever have before, and it was intense. There were lots of tears, and I spent break, lunch and after school with various kids who had heavy hearts. Allise validated that for me and now I know it's important that I continue this work with my kids. If you're reading, Allise, thank you so much and I love you, girl!
Second, my wonderful AVID kids and my sub, Heather Wolcott, all sent me texts on Terri Mylan's phone. Each of them sent me a sweet message, and at the end they sent me a group picture. Heather, thanks so much for letting them do this. It meant so much to me, and made me feel so loved. I love you, AVID kids!!
Third, last night I heard a knock on the door and I opened it to discover Jake and Hannah Cuen on my doorstep. Jake is in college and Hannah is in high school now, but they were both my students. They came by with their mom to bring me a gift certificate for a massage at the Spa of the Central Coast. It was so very sweet of her to think of me and purchase this for me, and it was so wonderful to see her awesome kids. I love hearing that my kids, especially smart ones like Jake, are in college. I love it when I have all of the kids in a family, too. I tend to know the parents better when this happens, and the kids also. I love Jake and Hannah, and seeing them on my doorstep made me happy.
I am so glad that I decided to become a teacher. I decided this when I was very young, and I'm not even sure exactly why. I suspect I knew, even in elementary school, that I didn't want to give up summers off and all of those other vacation days. I used to play school in my play room, teaching my stuffed animals. I wasn't a kid who loved school, except for Mr. Cloer's class 5th grade class and every English class I ever took, so it wasn't that. Whatever the reason, I'm very grateful. Being a part of the teaching community has enabled me to stay home to focus on fighting this disease, thanks to the generosity of the teachers of A-town. My insurance has covered everything but co-pays. Add to that all of the love I receive from both the teachers and my students, past and present, and I am one blessed English teacher. Loving your job makes you love your life, and I highly recommend finding something to do that you love and makes you happy. If you can make a living doing what you love to do, your life will be happy.
My life is very, very, very happy. Big love and big thanks to the wonderful teachers and kids of A-town. I love you all and you make my life complete.
Namaste,
Jill
First, I checked the mail and there was an envelope from AJHS. Inside was a letter from Allise Jeffries, one of my current students that I am missing out on. She wrote me a lovely letter, telling me her grandmother's cancer is in remission and she hopes mine is, too. Then she said "You changed the way I look at people, in a good way." That means the world to me. We spent the first two weeks of school (and the only time I was there) doing Challenge Day activities. This is to break down barriers, stop the bullying, and teach them tolerance for others. It's good to know that Allise got the message. I've been wondering if I want to do it again next year. I took it further this past year than I ever have before, and it was intense. There were lots of tears, and I spent break, lunch and after school with various kids who had heavy hearts. Allise validated that for me and now I know it's important that I continue this work with my kids. If you're reading, Allise, thank you so much and I love you, girl!
Second, my wonderful AVID kids and my sub, Heather Wolcott, all sent me texts on Terri Mylan's phone. Each of them sent me a sweet message, and at the end they sent me a group picture. Heather, thanks so much for letting them do this. It meant so much to me, and made me feel so loved. I love you, AVID kids!!
Third, last night I heard a knock on the door and I opened it to discover Jake and Hannah Cuen on my doorstep. Jake is in college and Hannah is in high school now, but they were both my students. They came by with their mom to bring me a gift certificate for a massage at the Spa of the Central Coast. It was so very sweet of her to think of me and purchase this for me, and it was so wonderful to see her awesome kids. I love hearing that my kids, especially smart ones like Jake, are in college. I love it when I have all of the kids in a family, too. I tend to know the parents better when this happens, and the kids also. I love Jake and Hannah, and seeing them on my doorstep made me happy.
I am so glad that I decided to become a teacher. I decided this when I was very young, and I'm not even sure exactly why. I suspect I knew, even in elementary school, that I didn't want to give up summers off and all of those other vacation days. I used to play school in my play room, teaching my stuffed animals. I wasn't a kid who loved school, except for Mr. Cloer's class 5th grade class and every English class I ever took, so it wasn't that. Whatever the reason, I'm very grateful. Being a part of the teaching community has enabled me to stay home to focus on fighting this disease, thanks to the generosity of the teachers of A-town. My insurance has covered everything but co-pays. Add to that all of the love I receive from both the teachers and my students, past and present, and I am one blessed English teacher. Loving your job makes you love your life, and I highly recommend finding something to do that you love and makes you happy. If you can make a living doing what you love to do, your life will be happy.
My life is very, very, very happy. Big love and big thanks to the wonderful teachers and kids of A-town. I love you all and you make my life complete.
Namaste,
Jill
Friday, May 6, 2011
Writer's Block and detoxing
I seem to be suffering from writer's block. All of the company associated with the benefit altered my schedule. I usually write first thing, as I'm having my milky coffee. Cancer thrives in an acidic environment, so I buy low acid coffee from Trader Joe's and lace it liberally with rice milk. One large cappuccino cup full a day and then I switch to the cancer healing benefits of green tea or green juice. I find if I don't write at the usual time I tend not to write at all. I need to write for my sanity, so I am making it a priority. Now the problem is thinking of something to say!
You would be surprised, if you aren't a juicer, how many greens and/or veggies it takes to make a glass of juice. I mix it with water because otherwise it's too strong and it makes me nauseous. It also really detoxes, especially beet juice, so if you drink it on an empty stomach and it pulls all the toxins out it will make you sick. There are many people who have kept their cancer at bay with a plant based, organic diet and juicing.
Obviously I want to do everything I can to make sure this is my last recurrence. The two fund raisers and all of the support help me to keep this a priority. Cathy and the yoga flirt girls worked very hard on the Kicking Cancer Carnival. Chris, Sue, Lori, Johnna, Debbie, Carol...and all of the other teachers (forgive me for not naming you all. You know who you are and so do I!) also worked very hard on the benefit last weekend. I must honor their hard work and their support by doing everything in my power to get well and to stay well. It's not always easy. When we go to restaurants, there is often nothing on the menu that is vegan, especially at breakfast. If there is a vegan or vegetarian option, it's probably not going to be organic. This would be much easier if we lived in Arcata, or probably anywhere San Francisco or north of there. I will eat dairy occasionally, and meat if I'm at someone's home and they serve it to me, but it's not my preference. It's also challenging to stay away from processed sugar because it's everywhere and in everything. We don't eat processed food, so I'm doing better with this. The food from the Wellness Kitchen and our baskets of organic fruits and veggies from Nature's Harvest helps a great deal.
So, when I can't think of anything to write, if I just get going something happens! This is exactly what I tell my students - don't fear the blank page, just jump in and get started! You can always go back and fix it later.
Hope everyone is having a lovely, warm spring day. I'm off the dry brush my skin and soak in a lovely detoxing bath with baking soda and Moroccan Rose Oil by REN, a British company that makes toxin free beauty products. It makes the bath water soft and fragrant and my skin soft!
Check out these photos from last Saturday night, taken by Christine Sedley, another talented local photographer: (Sorry - you have to cut and paste. Or go to my Facebook page to see the photos!)
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1680918344894&set=a.1089284434416.2014506.1295622854&type=1#!/media/set/?set=a.1642790962432.235227.1616600776
Namaste, Jill
You would be surprised, if you aren't a juicer, how many greens and/or veggies it takes to make a glass of juice. I mix it with water because otherwise it's too strong and it makes me nauseous. It also really detoxes, especially beet juice, so if you drink it on an empty stomach and it pulls all the toxins out it will make you sick. There are many people who have kept their cancer at bay with a plant based, organic diet and juicing.
Obviously I want to do everything I can to make sure this is my last recurrence. The two fund raisers and all of the support help me to keep this a priority. Cathy and the yoga flirt girls worked very hard on the Kicking Cancer Carnival. Chris, Sue, Lori, Johnna, Debbie, Carol...and all of the other teachers (forgive me for not naming you all. You know who you are and so do I!) also worked very hard on the benefit last weekend. I must honor their hard work and their support by doing everything in my power to get well and to stay well. It's not always easy. When we go to restaurants, there is often nothing on the menu that is vegan, especially at breakfast. If there is a vegan or vegetarian option, it's probably not going to be organic. This would be much easier if we lived in Arcata, or probably anywhere San Francisco or north of there. I will eat dairy occasionally, and meat if I'm at someone's home and they serve it to me, but it's not my preference. It's also challenging to stay away from processed sugar because it's everywhere and in everything. We don't eat processed food, so I'm doing better with this. The food from the Wellness Kitchen and our baskets of organic fruits and veggies from Nature's Harvest helps a great deal.
So, when I can't think of anything to write, if I just get going something happens! This is exactly what I tell my students - don't fear the blank page, just jump in and get started! You can always go back and fix it later.
Hope everyone is having a lovely, warm spring day. I'm off the dry brush my skin and soak in a lovely detoxing bath with baking soda and Moroccan Rose Oil by REN, a British company that makes toxin free beauty products. It makes the bath water soft and fragrant and my skin soft!
Check out these photos from last Saturday night, taken by Christine Sedley, another talented local photographer: (Sorry - you have to cut and paste. Or go to my Facebook page to see the photos!)
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1680918344894&set=a.1089284434416.2014506.1295622854&type=1#!/media/set/?set=a.1642790962432.235227.1616600776
Namaste, Jill
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Movies and Radiation
When you have cancer, everyone in your life reaches out to you, if you let them. People who don't even know me have reached out to me. Most people, unfortunately, have someone close to them who has battled cancer, or they have battled it themselves. There is way too much cancer. I was asked about my dog Bella quite a few times last Saturday night. We assume the doctor got all of the cancer, and that she is going to be fine. I still can't believe my black, very hairy dog got skin cancer.
I heard from the radiation oncologist today and I will be starting radiation treatment Monday the 9th at 3:15. I thought about waiting to see what my CA125 is, but I decided I should have the treatment regardless. It will be worth it if it works and I never have to have surgery or chemo again. I'd rather do it now than wait and start it later if the CA125 continues to rise. The most important thing to me right now, other than kicking cancer's butt for good, is going back to work in August. The next time I don't work for a school year I want it to be because I'm retiring!
Casey's mom is still here visiting and we just took her to our brand new movie theater to see Water for Elephants. Loved it! They should make more movies out of good novels, in my opinion. We saw a preview for a remake of
Conan the Barbarian...I'm sorry but, it's been done already! There's so much good literature out there, I see no need to keep remaking the same movies. I'm happy about a new version of Jane Eyre that's coming out, though, so I guess it depends on the movie! Or maybe it's OK with me if they keep remaking movies based on classic literature. Anyway, our new movie theater is beautiful and we're so happy to have movies in our town again!
I am gearing up for what feels like Battle Number Three. Fortunately I have yoga and lots of love to keep me strong.
Namaste,
Jill
I heard from the radiation oncologist today and I will be starting radiation treatment Monday the 9th at 3:15. I thought about waiting to see what my CA125 is, but I decided I should have the treatment regardless. It will be worth it if it works and I never have to have surgery or chemo again. I'd rather do it now than wait and start it later if the CA125 continues to rise. The most important thing to me right now, other than kicking cancer's butt for good, is going back to work in August. The next time I don't work for a school year I want it to be because I'm retiring!
Casey's mom is still here visiting and we just took her to our brand new movie theater to see Water for Elephants. Loved it! They should make more movies out of good novels, in my opinion. We saw a preview for a remake of
Conan the Barbarian...I'm sorry but, it's been done already! There's so much good literature out there, I see no need to keep remaking the same movies. I'm happy about a new version of Jane Eyre that's coming out, though, so I guess it depends on the movie! Or maybe it's OK with me if they keep remaking movies based on classic literature. Anyway, our new movie theater is beautiful and we're so happy to have movies in our town again!
I am gearing up for what feels like Battle Number Three. Fortunately I have yoga and lots of love to keep me strong.
Namaste,
Jill
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
My Wonderful Village
There has been so much going on that I haven't written in a week. Last night, when my insomnia was raging, I could feel the words bottled up inside. I need this outlet! The "It takes a village to kick cancer's butt" fundraiser was amazing. They put me on a rocking chair throne, crowned me with flowers, and showered me with love. I have never felt so much love. It's such a gift to know how loved I am, and it helps, so much. All of that love flowing into me is a big part of what keeps me strong. Casey and I are so grateful. It was Chris Molina's idea, and he and his beautiful wife, Sue (the other 8th grade English teacher) got the ball rolling. The teachers all pitched in and I can't even believe how hard everyone worked on my behalf. I love you, my AJHS family.
For those of you who weren't there, I will describe it the best I can. The winery is beautiful and it was a warm, sunny evening. As we drove in the first person I saw was Cristal Fernandez, one of my AVID students. I had to jump out of Stella and hug her, I was so excited to see her. I knew that Katie and Lyssa, also AVID students, were going to be helping, but I didn't know that Cristal, Paul, Nadia, Brenda and Cynthia were also going to be there. They are all AVID kids from our first two years of AVID. I love those kids and having them there made it even more special. We parked next to Denise Davis and her son Jake, who was also my student but is all grown up now. Jill and Meg were at the table checking people in, and they stayed there all night. You girls rock! The silent auction items were amazing and people went home with some really cool stuff - beautiful jewelry, hand made quilts, Bob Canepa photographs, baskets of wine and other goodies...amazing. Bob was our photographer, and the pictures are wonderful. He also took us out to his car and let me pick a photograph from a recent show. I picked the one of the dancing egret. It is bathed in golden light and looks like it's dancing. My mom loved egrets, and it made me think of her and feel her with me. Bob is so talented, he's just incredible. We arrived just a bit after 5:00, when the event started, but there were already lots of people there. They reserved two tables for us, and I had a rocking chair filled with comfy blankets and pillows. I don't know who thought of that, but it was genius. It really helped me to be in such a comfortable chair. Even though I feel strong, it was a big evening for me and I sat most of the time. I felt like a queen receiving her subjects, except I was receiving lots of hugs! Johnna, our art and hospitality teacher, is a wonderful cook. She and the teachers made all of the food - I believe Johnna, Debbie, Carol and Lori were in Johnna's classroom preparing food Friday night. The food was organic and delicious! Johnna even made her grandmother's yeast rolls and they were yummy! Lori, my principal, was the auctioneer for the live auction. She was like a fierce warrior up there, egging people on and encouraging them to bid higher. Lori is a formidable woman, and she is definitely someone you want on your side. It was good to see her husband, Reggie, and her son, Evan. Reggie worked at AJHS until last year, when he switched to being a groundskeeper for the district. We miss him. Evan is now a very handsome college boy, but he was my student too. With me were my brother David, his wife, Chris, my mother-in-law, my sister-in-law, Sydney, Yvonne, Susan, Chas, and Chris and Helen from San Diego. I really appreciate everyone making the effort to come for the event. Cathy, my beautiful yoga angel, and her husband Michael were there, too. I don't know the exact count, but I'm guessing there were about 200 people there. They haven't told me how much money was raised, but I am humbled by the love and the generosity. The music was great. Janice and her husband, Ted, played first. Ted plays guitar and Janice sings beautifully. They were awesome! The band was Level 41, and Jackie, who plays the congas, is a cancer survivor. She and her husband are in the band together, and their original music is about her cancer journey. I don't know how they found this great band with this meaningful connection, but it was cool. Jackie and I have similar attitudes toward our journeys, and I value the connection.
That old cliche "you play, you pay" proved to be true. Sunday morning I felt like I had a terrible hangover, even though of course I drank only water. My head was pounding and the nausea was raging. Casey rubbed my head and David rubbed my neck and made me his magic bubby oatmeal. I love my brother's oatmeal! I felt better by the evening, and it was well worth it. My chest port was even a bit sore from all of the hugging!
So, to everyone who worked so hard to make it happen, to everyone who attended, to everyone who donated and bid...I can never express how grateful I am and how loved you made me feel. Casey and I feel so blessed to be a part of such a giving, loving community. Thank you, from the depths of my soul and the bottom of my heart.
Here is the URL so you can see Bob's photos:
http://bcanepa.smugmug.com/Other/JILLS-FUNDRAISER/16876834_RK8N5G#1274544787_rQNQn3x
Namaste,
Jill
For those of you who weren't there, I will describe it the best I can. The winery is beautiful and it was a warm, sunny evening. As we drove in the first person I saw was Cristal Fernandez, one of my AVID students. I had to jump out of Stella and hug her, I was so excited to see her. I knew that Katie and Lyssa, also AVID students, were going to be helping, but I didn't know that Cristal, Paul, Nadia, Brenda and Cynthia were also going to be there. They are all AVID kids from our first two years of AVID. I love those kids and having them there made it even more special. We parked next to Denise Davis and her son Jake, who was also my student but is all grown up now. Jill and Meg were at the table checking people in, and they stayed there all night. You girls rock! The silent auction items were amazing and people went home with some really cool stuff - beautiful jewelry, hand made quilts, Bob Canepa photographs, baskets of wine and other goodies...amazing. Bob was our photographer, and the pictures are wonderful. He also took us out to his car and let me pick a photograph from a recent show. I picked the one of the dancing egret. It is bathed in golden light and looks like it's dancing. My mom loved egrets, and it made me think of her and feel her with me. Bob is so talented, he's just incredible. We arrived just a bit after 5:00, when the event started, but there were already lots of people there. They reserved two tables for us, and I had a rocking chair filled with comfy blankets and pillows. I don't know who thought of that, but it was genius. It really helped me to be in such a comfortable chair. Even though I feel strong, it was a big evening for me and I sat most of the time. I felt like a queen receiving her subjects, except I was receiving lots of hugs! Johnna, our art and hospitality teacher, is a wonderful cook. She and the teachers made all of the food - I believe Johnna, Debbie, Carol and Lori were in Johnna's classroom preparing food Friday night. The food was organic and delicious! Johnna even made her grandmother's yeast rolls and they were yummy! Lori, my principal, was the auctioneer for the live auction. She was like a fierce warrior up there, egging people on and encouraging them to bid higher. Lori is a formidable woman, and she is definitely someone you want on your side. It was good to see her husband, Reggie, and her son, Evan. Reggie worked at AJHS until last year, when he switched to being a groundskeeper for the district. We miss him. Evan is now a very handsome college boy, but he was my student too. With me were my brother David, his wife, Chris, my mother-in-law, my sister-in-law, Sydney, Yvonne, Susan, Chas, and Chris and Helen from San Diego. I really appreciate everyone making the effort to come for the event. Cathy, my beautiful yoga angel, and her husband Michael were there, too. I don't know the exact count, but I'm guessing there were about 200 people there. They haven't told me how much money was raised, but I am humbled by the love and the generosity. The music was great. Janice and her husband, Ted, played first. Ted plays guitar and Janice sings beautifully. They were awesome! The band was Level 41, and Jackie, who plays the congas, is a cancer survivor. She and her husband are in the band together, and their original music is about her cancer journey. I don't know how they found this great band with this meaningful connection, but it was cool. Jackie and I have similar attitudes toward our journeys, and I value the connection.
That old cliche "you play, you pay" proved to be true. Sunday morning I felt like I had a terrible hangover, even though of course I drank only water. My head was pounding and the nausea was raging. Casey rubbed my head and David rubbed my neck and made me his magic bubby oatmeal. I love my brother's oatmeal! I felt better by the evening, and it was well worth it. My chest port was even a bit sore from all of the hugging!
So, to everyone who worked so hard to make it happen, to everyone who attended, to everyone who donated and bid...I can never express how grateful I am and how loved you made me feel. Casey and I feel so blessed to be a part of such a giving, loving community. Thank you, from the depths of my soul and the bottom of my heart.
Here is the URL so you can see Bob's photos:
http://bcanepa.smugmug.com/Other/JILLS-FUNDRAISER/16876834_RK8N5G#1274544787_rQNQn3x
Namaste,
Jill
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