Happy May Day!

It’s May 1st and happens to be May Day. If you want to know more about May Day, google it! This blog post is all about Verne. 

One-third of 2016 is over and this is the first time I’ve blogged this year. Shameful. I really don’t have a good excuse, so I’ll just admit that I’ve been a deadbeat and we’ll go forward from there. Fortunately for me, my (almost) 75-year old husband has the energy of two 40-year olds and he’s kept busy over the past several months with a number of unplanned and unrewarding projects as our lovely home in the country has begun to show signs of its age.

We’ve had a much-needed wet year with one storm after another. During one of the heaviest rains in early January I awoke to a wet bed and a dripping sound from the sky window that is directly over my side. Verne’s side was dry. Hmm…well, I showed him no mercy and sent him up on the roof in the rain to not only cover my window but also the one in the laundry room that we found leaking when we got up that morning. If that weren’t enough, we also noticed wet spots on the ceiling in the entertainment room, which turned out to be leaks along the ridge cap. With the fourth year of a record-breaking drought, we didn’t dare complain, just smiled (of course I was smiling…I was inside toasty warm by the fire) and carried on. Here’s a picture of my brave husband weathering the storm.

Verne covering my (leaky) sky window with a black trash bag...brrr!

At some point last fall we noticed several ‘soft’ spots on our deck. A call to Old Ted (not to be confused with Young Ted, who has been mentioned in several blogs over the past couple of years) and Verne had his next project. We met Old Ted a few years ago when we had the problem with the cabin floor and shower (combination of pine beetle and dry rot damage). They’ve formed a comfortable friendship since then and seem to have a good time working together on these projects. At least, I like to think Verne’s having fun working outside in freezing cold temperatures demolishing our deck, scrubbing and sanding those boards that could be saved, burning those rotted beyond repair, and then serving as Old Ted’s grunt as they rebuilt and restored the deck to its former beauty.  According to Ted, he’s the brains and does all the thinking (he does have a solid education and background in engineering/construction…for Amador County, anyway) and Verne’s the brawn. That would be insulting if it weren’t true.  Well, I say you need both brains and brawn in construction and they make a great team!

The “projects” don’t end there.  There are the dozen corral posts that have had to be dug up and replaced (I really wish I’d listened to Chuck Domecq when he tried to convince me to use metal posts and fencing for the corrals) and the walkway near the barn that had rotted and had to be rebuilt (again I should have listened to Chuck and had him pour a concrete walkway) and replacing the heating element in the oven after it started an electrical fire and the water heater that died one morning (thankfully we have a beautiful new shower at the cabin that we got to use for the second time) and the two 100+ foot trees that have had to be felled due to pine beetle and are now on the ground in rounds that need to be moved and split for firewood (each must weigh 75 to 100 pounds)… the projects go on and on. 

Verne working on corrals and walkway next to the barn...he looks likes he's having fun, right?

We’re ready for a new, low-maintenance home on a couple of acres a bit closer to town. We’ve been talking of downsizing for several years now. One of the reasons we haven’t made a move to move sooner is the barnfull of a dozen old cars Verne acquired over the past 30+ years. I’m finally beginning to see the light. Over the last year Verne has sold four of the cars with Scott’s old T-Bird and the white Corvair convertible sold this past month. Yahoo! 

Verne helping the buyer load Scott's '59 T-Bird onto a car trailer...

One last ride in the '62 Corvair...

We’re down to the '52 Chevy truck Verne and Keith restored two years ago and the basket case '50 Chevy pickup that has more sentimental value than scrap metal. The truck will be listed for sale this next month and the pickup will be restored to a point it drives and will then be shipped cross-country to Connecticut where my son, Jeff, lives with his family. He is pictured below working with Verne on the pickup about 30 years ago and feels some sort of attachment to the pickup and wants to make it a project car for himself and his boys.  

Verne and 15-year old Jeff  power washing the '50 Chevy pickup about 30 years ago...

When my honey isn’t working outdoors he’s in the kitchen working. Most of us would call bread making work, but he seems to find great pleasure in it. He’s been experimenting with his own sourdough starter…if you’re not familiar with the process involved in making sourdough bread, it takes a starter. A starter is a bit like having another pet in the house that has to be pampered and fed each week. Refrigerating it slows the process, but it still needs attention. Verne has also experimented some with different potato bread recipes. A few years ago we spent a morning with our friend Otti and learned to make her potato bread and the history behind the recipe (see earlier blog post), but Verne found a new recipe in one of our several monthly cooking magazines that claimed the “best ever” potato bread. It wasn’t even close. He made it twice to make sure that he wasn’t the problem and then after having shamed him by telling Otti that he was fooling around with other recipes, he went back to her recipe and had success. He made it the weekend the girls came home to celebrate my birthday and they both went home with bread and the recipe and intentions to begin making their own potato bread. It’s official…Otti’s recipe is the best-ever potato bread.

Verne using his new Staub pan for Otti's old potato bread recipe...nummy!

Speaking of the girls (this has been all about Verne so far)…both are doing well. Immediately following Jana’s last chemotherapy treatment in December she began participating in a trial drug study which has been found to reduce HER2 breast cancer recurrences by about 35%. It doesn’t come without side effects similar to chemo, but we all agreed that one more year of treatment to reduce the long-term risk of facing cancer again was worth it. As Jana says, “It’s her cross to bear…” and she does it with great strength and grace…and equally important, humor. Last fall both girls became very involved in hot yoga and continue to practice almost every day. Unlike many breast cancer patients, Jana has no loss of flexibility resulting from her surgeries and attributes that entirely to yoga.  

I’ll end this post now and continue with more about the family after our trip to Portland this next week and an update on me and my Master Food Preserving interests (I assure you my interest in jamming and fermenting and food preservation,  in general, has not waned!).

To be continued…

More About the Holidays

The weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas are always busy and seem to fly by, but December 2015 set a new ‘social’ record for us. Between a week in Portland over Thanksgiving, returning home for a couple of days and then leaving on a road trip to SoCal with Maria in tow, we were gone for over two weeks. We had two short weeks to regroup and prepare for company through the end of the year. Our company was actually family, but that doesn’t minimize the pressure we put on ourselves to have everything perfect…clean house, entertainment planned, and menus created for each of the days of their visit. You have no idea the amount of time Verne and I spend discussing our guests’ food likes, dislikes, and allergies. We scour Moser Family Favorites (over 200 favorite recipes we’ve tested and keep on our computer) and a huge collection of cookbooks and cooking magazines until we come up with a perfect blend of food ideas that leaves everyone with a smile on their face and wanting more.

Our first visit was the Burkhard family. Aaron is still recovering from his back problems (three bulging discs), so entertainment couldn’t include a day working outside cutting, splitting, and hauling fire wood or burning brush piles. Dang! That used to be my favorite way to entertain strong, young men. I would always remind them that some people pay for a visit to a Dude Ranch and here they are getting the experience for free! More recently I remind them that dear old Dad is almost 75 and can use the help. That gets them every time. And it just so happens to be true. With indoor entertainment the only option, I decided to give Aaron another canning lesson.

During our two week hiatus from travel and socializing, we canned a batch of our favorite salsa (similar to the type of salsa you get at Mexican restaurants) and made a second batch using a new recipe, Roasted Tomato Chipotle Salsa, that is made from dried chipotle and cascabel chili peppers and is quite a bit hotter than our old standard made from fresh jalapenos. Aaron loves hot peppers (the hotter the better) and he loved our salsas. In fact, he’s in the process of setting up a hydroponic system to grow peppers in his garage and has been very interested in learning to preserve his harvest by both dehydrating and canning them. So, spending a day in the kitchen was his kind of fun (and mine, of course).  We didn’t limit his lesson to salsa…we also made two batches of Habanero Jelly (one batch with honey that we ended up throwing away and a second batch with sugar that turned out to be a perfect balance between sweet and spicy) and we dehydrated a large batch of granola with all kinds of health food additives. He’s learning, but we both agreed that more lessons (which require regular visits) are in order.

Preparing to make Roasted Tomato Chipotle Salsa

We had planned that Kendall, who was recently chosen to be captain of the JV Color Guard, would show us parts of her rifle routine, but it was too cold and wet the days of their visit. Like typical teenagers, the kids entertained themselves with their electronics (and my phone…yes, Kendall, I did find the two dozen selfies on my phone). Raelin did get them outside for a half hour to help her load the back of their pick-up with firewood -- something that is plentiful on 40 wooded acres.

Sam and Kendall Selfie

Raelin loading the pickup with firewood, Sam helping 

and Kendall watching (she didn't want to dirty her hands)

The same day the Burkhard’s left for home, December 23rd, Jana drove up from SoCal (with her cat, Izzy) to spend the Christmas holiday with us. Lauren flew in from Portland the next day, Christmas Eve, and we started our celebration with dinner at Ruth’s Chris in Sacramento. It was more than a Christmas celebration this year. We celebrated being alive and Jana having survived this past year.

It was just the four of us through the weekend when Jana left to visit her girlfriend in San Francisco and then home to have her final cancer treatment (infusion) on Wednesday. Lauren planned her visit through yearend to help us with a few projects around the house and craft with her mommy. 

Jana with Izzy wearing her antlers

Lauren crafting

We both love our time together in the studio quilting and crafting and finding inspiration in every corner, every drawer, and every storage box. I’m not sure how I can ever be without a studio…something to think about when we finally downsize. I don’t think it will be this year, so no worries for all of you who love to visit “the Property.” But soon...

'Tis the Season to Give Thanks

Jana and Lauren with Santa (they think he's a Creepy Santa)

at the Spaghetti Factory in Portland on the Williamette River.

I can honestly say that for our immediate family, every day has become a day for giving thanks. The Thanksgiving holiday this year was much anticipated. It was last November, just a few days before her 30th birthday, that Jana discovered a large lump in her breast. We spent Thanksgiving 2014 in Volcano deeply concerned that despite Jana’s young age and good health the lump was something serious. We couldn’t bring ourselves at that point to say the word “cancer”. We were worried sick. This past year has been one of chemotherapy treatments, surgeries, and recovery. I’d like to say that today Jana is cancer-free, but that declaration must be reserved for another four years. Jana’s new ‘norm’ is pill-taking, ultrasounds, and doctors’ appointments. She will finish her final drug infusion at the end of December and have her port removed sometime in January. She has agreed to be part of a test group for a new drug that will be tested in 2016, which will hopefully reduce her chances of a recurrence of cancer in the future.

Cancer has been a life changer for our girl. She has made several changes that have dramatically reduced the stress in her life, beginning with a new job. In September she chose to resign from Liner LLP, a high-stress firm, to a small practice with an emphasis on employment discrimination, something she has experienced first hand over the past year. We helped her move that same month to a smaller apartment that reduced her daily commute from 45+ minutes to 5 minutes. She has joined a yoga studio just a mile from her home and begins most days with an hour of hot yoga. Jana is planning to train in 2016 to become a yoga instructor so that she may teach yoga to women (and men) rehabilitating from breast cancer. During her months recovering from her surgeries, she got back into baking bread and continues to pursue her interest in cooking and baking. I call Jana my “Wilshire Girl”…except for her trips to the UCLA Oncology Center, she spends her life on a 1-1/2 mile stretch of Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles that encompasses work, home, shopping, entertainment (LA County Museum of Art), her yoga studio, car dealer, and even her cat’s vet. No more 70+ hour work weeks and no more stressful commutes and time lost sitting in a car. In other words, she has found balance in her life, which in and of itself is a stress buster.

We are not short on other opportunities to give thanks this year. Scott suffered a heart attack in August and spent the next several months recovering from a quadruple bypass. Not only are we thankful that he was close to a hospital when he began experiencing chest and back pains (he had just returned home from a weekend of camping and hiking with friends where there was no phone service or other form of communication in the event of an emergency), but we are appreciative of his family support. Scott’s significant others, Ini and her mother, Gloria, and Ini’s son Joshua, cared for him throughout his recovery. They make such a beautiful family and the attachment is so strong that when it came time for Scott to return to his apartment in Ballard and go back to work, they all agreed he should move in full time with them.

Speaking of family support, all of our children (his, mine, and ours) have rallied their support over the past year. It has been heart-warming to see and experience the love and selflessness they’ve all shown. I have to say that Lauren, our baby, has shone during these challenging times. Not surprising to anyone who knows her, she is intelligent and articulate. This really came through from her regular updates on Jana’s diagnosis and treatments through her surgery in May. More surprising to me was her strength during the most trying of times. I know she had her share of emotional moments, but we only saw her loving, encouraging, and confident face. She has become the Family Rock…the person everyone will now turn to for strength during tough times. Good job, Sweetie.

One final family experience I want to share. Our son-in-law, Aaron Burkhard, has had his own physical trial over the past few months. He has suffered from three bulging discs, which have left him with limited mobility and continual pain. It has taken two months to somewhat manage the pain. For weeks, he couldn’t stand or walk, so there has been some progress, but, at this point, it is still uncertain as to whether or not he will require surgery. We recently visited with Aaron and he told me that having the last three months at home with his family and experiencing their day-to-day routine has made all of the pain he’s experienced worthwhile. A dad’s family time is often limited to weekends, which has been the case for Aaron with his hour commute and long workdays. He has found the positive in this experience, just as we have with Jana’s cancer and Scott’s heart attack.

These challenges are all part of life and I’m thankful that my family has shown the strength to rise to the occasion and focus on the good with support and love for each other. You make me proud!

Happy Holidays to each of you and looking forward to a healthy New Year!

Beginning of a Busy Fall

My last blog post was about our unplanned trip to Seattle to spend time with Scott following his heart attack and quadruple bypass. So much has happened since then it’s hard to know where to begin. And it’s only been six weeks. Both girls have changed jobs; Jana has undergone another surgery; we spent a week in SoCal moving her to a new apartment closer to work (and to be with her during her surgery); we spent four anxious days worrying about the Butte Fire, which was dangerously close; and, most recently we enjoyed a visit from my two sisters – the first of its kind.

I spent the final few weeks in August preparing for two classes I’m assigned to teach Master Food Preserver trainees. Like many non-profit organizations, money is tight. The lab I planned was extensive and required much of the budget for the 10-week course, which covered several topics besides mine. In an attempt to reduce costs, I asked for fruit donations from members of our sister organization, Master Gardeners, I approached vendors at our local farmers’ markets, and begged from friends with orchards. The donations were plentiful, although the timing could have been better. Because several donations came early, Verne and I had to juice and freeze much of the fruit that would be used for jams/jellies at the first of my two classes. Picking (and picking up) donations and preserving for later use took up a couple of weeks. But, I was determined to be the best and make the experience memorable for the trainees. I was prepared and primed…then came the disaster that cancelled the class.

Just a few days before my scheduled class the Butte Fire started in Amador County and quickly moved in all directions, but ultimately did the most damage in Calaveras County. Our MFP program covers both Amador and Calaveras counties and several people involved in it were directly impacted, with three volunteers losing their homes. The smoke and ash each day was a constant reminder that our home in Volcano was at risk. Had it travelled northeast, we would have literally been in the line of fire. Instead, it aggressively moved into our neighboring county. Needless to say, we were sufficiently worried to move two of our cars and boxes of personal items, including all of my quilts and art, to safer ground. Much of that week was spent packing and making trips to Ione (about 45 minutes from Volcano) to Maria’s home that conveniently sat empty. We survived the fire and on a positive note now have a comprehensive list of what is and what isn’t important to us. While we have accumulated boxes, rooms, buildings full of ‘stuff’ over the last thirty years, very little of it would be missed if it were to be destroyed by fire. I’ll try to remember that as we prepare to downsize to less acreage and a smaller home.

Once the danger was past, we set out for SoCal to move Jana. I was certain we could pack in a day and be ready for the movers. I misjudged. Like parents, like daughter! Jana has accumulated a lot of ‘stuff’ and she was moving from a one-bedroom to a studio apartment. (Note to Self: Sell, give or donate as much as possible during the months prior to moving!) Yikes! We managed to pack in a couple of (long) days and with the help of Raelin and Aaron move some of the lighter and more fragile items on Sunday. We finished the day with dinner at Gloria’s (traditional El Salvadoran food), one of our new favorite restaurants in Culver City. Most everything was moved by Monday night and we began the slow process of unpacking. (Note to Self: Meticulously label moving boxes!) I realize now that the hardest part of moving is living out of boxes as you unpack and finding new homes for everything. The next few days were a challenge with a full day spent at the hospital while Jana had her final reconstruction surgery. As difficult as it is to face surgery of any kind, this one was much anticipated and Jana’s surgeon did not disappoint. We left Jana in the care of her boyfriend, Stefan, and her new apartment in a livable state with most of the boxes unpacked, pictures hung, and so on, and drove home a few days before our company was expected. 

I have two sisters: my older sister by six years, Judy, lives in Clarkston, Washington and my younger sister by six years, Jane, lives in Fayetteville, Arkansas. I will briefly try to tell the story that brought them together for a road trip from Sacramento to Fayetteville. Jane is an artist and about three or four years ago was selected for a couple of juried shows in SoCal, including the Laguna Art Festival. She shipped a plywood container (4’x4’x8’) full of paintings of which eighty remained unsold at the end of the shows and were placed in storage. You all know and probably have first-hand experience with rented storage facilities. Out of sight, out of mind, except for the monthly reminder when you pay the rent (and that’s not true if you set it up on automatic bill pay). Anyway, when we were together in Missouri last fall, they decided they’d like to take a road trip together to visit family and pick up the paintings. They made their reservations to Sacramento and Jane, hoping to rent a van or Suburban, was advised to rent a small truck. Upon arrival in Sacramento, she was informed that they were upgrading her rental (because they didn’t have any “small” trucks) to a 16-foot truck that was large enough to move the contents of a 2-bedroom house. Excessively large and awkward, but it makes for a very funny story!

It was great having them spend a few days with us. We ate and talked and laughed and even got in a little sightseeing. Located in Volcano and just a couple of miles from our home is the Black Chasm Caverns, a National Landmark. We took a private one-hour tour of the cave, which has beautiful formations of stalactites and stalagmites, but is best known for its rare helectite crystals. Less than 5% of the caves in America have these crystals and Black Chasm is famous because of them and their pristine condition. Here are a few pictures from our sisterly reunion.

Judy brought an album of old pictures to share. This is one of my favorites of me with Judy and my brother Gary, who was killed in an airplane crash in 1971. 

It’s already October. We have made a few trips to Ione to retrieve our most precious possessions. Did I mention that during the crisis we had the presence of mind to evacuate about 50 bottles of wine? Oh, yes. We have our priorities straight! And, we have been making applesauce. A couple of friends donated about 25 pounds of apples for my MFP training project, which has been rescheduled for later this month. The apples wouldn’t hold any longer and thanks to my helper, Verne, are now preserved as applesauce to be enjoyed for the next year.

Cancer Free!

The last big hurdle is behind us. We made our seventh 2015 SoCal trip this past week to be with Jana during her surgery on Thursday, May 14th. Wednesday evening we celebrated me (Mother’s Day) and Jana (just hours away from being cancer free) with dinner at Jon and Vinny’s, a trendy restaurant in Santa Monica that specializes in pasta and designer pizzas. The food was good, but the highlight was sitting at a table adjacent to The Fonz (Henry Winkler), who was enjoying pizza with his son (who looks very much like him) and their wives. I was positioned to look right at him all evening, but it took others at our table (obviously much more observant than me) to recognize him. In my defense, he wasn’t wearing his typical white T-shirt and leather jacket.

We spent most of Thursday in the hospital waiting room watching time slowly tick by and hopeful that Jana’s surgeon, Dr. Kusske, would have good news for us following her portion of the surgery, which was the double mastectomy and removal and preliminary testing of the sentinal node in Jana’s armpit. We have since received confirmation that the sentinal node showed no signs of cancer! For Jana, there was no passage of time. She was sitting up one moment talking to her anesthesiologist receiving her epidural and the next she was looking up at me in the recovery room, confused and concerned that she couldn’t remember laying down. It took several hours for her to be moved from recovery to her private room and it was close to midnight before we left the hospital. The pictures below begin with the three girls in the waiting room, Jana swaddled in warm blankets in recovery, and Lauren learning to remove the fluid from the drainage tubes that will remain in place for ten days. 

Our Saturday started early with a text saying, “Where’s my mommy?” It was clear my day would be spent at Jana’s bedside, but there were big plans brewing between Lauren and Verne. For the past year Lauren has been a volunteer submarine tour guide at OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry) and when the men she works with on the sub learned she’d be in SoCal for a few weeks, they urged her to visit the USS Iowa, which is located in the Los Angeles Waterfront (San Pedro) and available for self-guided tours. Verne took no urging -- he was more than happy to accompany Lauren on the adventure. Below are a few of the pictures from their day together.

My day with Jana was “loving”…that seems to be the best way to describe all of the emotions I was feeling (appreciative of the UCLA doctors we chose back in December 2014, proud of Jana – her strength over the past six months and unyielding positive attitude, and appreciative of the outpouring of family love and support we’ve all experienced). Much good has come from this life challenge and I believe we’ve managed to make the best of a bad situation. Although Jana has been declared Cancer Free, she’s not completely free of the effects of cancer as she faces a year of recovery…breast reconstruction, regaining her strength (she was running 5-6 miles a day prior to her diagnosis and now she does well to slowly walk around the block), re-growing her hair and fingernails (both have suffered from the chemotherapy), and regular visits (every three weeks) for Herceptin infusions (same place and similar to chemo, but without the horrible side effects).

I expect Verne and I will continue to make regular visits to SoCal. The first one will be mid-June to return Jana’s cats to her. I’ve had Izzy and Olive (a Short-Hair Exotic and a Long-Hair Persian) since mid-September. Four cats have been a bit much at times (for Verne), but I’ve really grown to love her two felines and will be sorry to say good-bye to them. I’m returning them healthy and well-adjusted, but, unfortunately, Olive more closely resembles a Sphynx than a Persian. I admit it…I didn’t brush Olive twice daily and she became so matted that the only option was to shave her (a big thank you to Vera). Sorry Jana, but you and your kitty will both be re-growing your hair! This picture was taken in January, before Olive became a matted fur ball. 

Déjà vu All Over Again

Our sixth and final chemo trip was all too familiar. The only difference from earlier trips was the limited time we had with Jana – 24 hours to be exact. We considered forgoing this trip as it conflicted with Kool April Nights, a car show in Redding Verne attends each year with his brothers. However, we remembered a 1-day trip we took a few years ago to pick up Ernie, our male short hair Persian cat, from Jana. On that trip, we left the house around 5 a.m. and arrived in LA in time to have a relaxing lunch with Jana, pick up the cat, and were back on the road by 2 p.m. and home by 9 p.m. We did it once for a cat and decided we could do it again for Jana!

The familiar drive down the 99 held no surprises. We always begin the trip with a Starbucks from the Jackson store and then take Highway 88 out of town towards Lockeford, where we pick up Jack Tone Road. Years ago when we first started making the drive from Amador County south towards LA, Verne discovered the Jack Tone Road shortcut. It did cut a few miles from our initial trips that took us through Stockton to the 99, but shortcut? All too often Verne’s shortcuts are actually “longcuts” and I’m not so sure that this doesn’t qualify as one. There must be a couple dozen stops through the rural farming settlements along the 30 miles of Jack Tone Road. But, we do avoid Stockton and, on a positive note, Jack Tone Road intersects CA 99 where, conveniently, there’s another Starbucks.

Once we’re on the 99, we travel through several small towns, including Turlock (where the Turlock Swap Meet is held every year – another car event that Verne has attended with his brothers for the past 20+ years), Modesto (where there is a Macy’s we’ve stopped and shopped a couple of times), and Merced (where the newest and tenth University of California is located). Somewhere along this stretch we begin to see farms, dairies, vineyards and orchards and they literally don’t stop until we leave Bakersfield and approach the Grapevine. I never tire of seeing the orderly fields, which are in sharp contrast to the nearby small settlements and communities that are often in a complete state of disarray.  We pass through Selma, the Raisin Capitol of the World, and I’m reminded of a trip we took with Lauren a few years ago. I was outnumbered and outvoted and we must have made a dozen stops between LA and home, one of them being Selma. Lauren makes a very pretty Sun Maiden!

A little further south of Fresno, we always stop at Bravo Farms where we use the bathrooms, sample cheese, and then, of course, buy several of our favorite cheeses, a couple of bags of the best corn nuts in the world, and milk-chocolate covered dried cherries for Jana. We lucked out this time and they were making cheese – always fun to watch. 

To us Bravo Farms is not just a convenient stop along Highway 99, but it’s a destination. For years it’s been the reason I willingly agree to travel the 99 both to and from SoCal. My preference has always been the 5, which was completed in the late 1970’s and has the same beautiful farmland, but without all of the unsightly towns and small homesteads. It’s just a straight shot from the Bay Area to the Grapevine, where the 99 and 5 join --70 mph the entire way. Well, this past summer a second Bravo Farms opened along the 5, which has resulted in our compromise to travel the 99 to SoCal and return on the 5.

Back to our travels on the 99…somewhere between Fresno and Bakersfield, we pass an old plane sitting in a field off the highway. It’s been there as long as we’ve been making these trips and for all intents and purposes appears to have been abandoned. According to Verne, it’s a B28 bomber, which was used in World War II, and there was one just like it near his hometown of Clarkston, WA that sat in a similar field. For years, kids played in and on the plane until one day someone bought it, fixed it up, and flew it away. Could this B28 bomber sitting in a field near the Tulare Airport be the same one? Hmm…we’ll never know, but it makes a good story (and one I’d not heard before).

Have I mentioned that Verne is a great storyteller? I’ve heard some of them a gazillion times – okay, more accurately, a hundred times. One of them is the story of Route 46, where James Dean was killed in 1955. It’s a tragic story and one that must have made its mark on Verne (I’m a bit too young to remember it). James Dean was an actor (and a heartthrob) in the 50’s. He met his death on Route 46 on his way to a racing competition (his hobby) in Salinas. To make a long story short (you can Google it if you’re interested – I have Verne, my own personal Google), he died at the intersection of Routes 46 and 41 when he slammed into another car and sustained fatal injuries. The other driver, who escaped with minor injuries, lived in the shadow of Dean’s death, although he was not completely to blame for the accident, and later committed suicide. Sad!

There are times we very comfortably travel together without a word and other times, like this recent trip, where we enjoy constant conversation (I mostly listen, eat corn nuts, play Words With Friends, and occasionally nod off). During a 500-mile drive, there is plenty of visual stimuli to trigger memories or even raise new questions. We passed Buck Owens Drive and an exit for Merle Haggard Drive, both conjuring up stories. And then there was a large sign on the side of the highway that read: Don’t Let Ecoli Crash Your Dinner Party! That gave us cause for wonder, especially with my recent education on foodborne illnesses. And there were the rows of fruit trees covered with netting…actually, only every other row was covered. Why? And, why are many of the newer orchards planted with trees at an angle? Curiouser and curiouser! And, what are all of the crops? Why can’t the farmers label the fields so we’d know? And, who picks up all of the gators on the road? Don’t know what gators are? They are pieces of blown-out tires that litter the highway. These are just a few of the questions that pop up during our drive and always seem to lead to a lengthy discussion.

If you’ve ever travelled south to LA, more than likely you are familiar with the Grapevine. It’s a steep grade through the Tehachapi Mountains (they are really more like foothills) that was once a winding road with twists and turns until the highway was straightened out in 1970. Contrary to popular belief (including Verne), that name was given to the original curvy highway due to a six-mile stretch of it that is lined with wild grapes. One more reason I love my smart phone…I’m able to test Verne’s trivia knowledge. Just a few key strokes and I’m rewarded with the full history of the Interstate 5! Our final hour traveling to Jana’s home is through the Sepulveda Pass to West LA. Fortunately, we always seem to be going against traffic when we arrive in the late afternoon and when we leave early morning. That’s the only time we avoid traffic while in LA, but it’s something.

We arrived Wednesday afternoon before Jana’s final chemo and had a relaxing time with her. It was just the three of us as Lauren saved her time off from work for the next big trip – Jana’s surgery. Lauren is the primary caregiver during that time and will be spending two weeks in LA caring for her sissy, waiting on her hand and foot. The following morning we arrived for Jana’s chemo treatment almost an hour late and were scolded by more than one person. Well, it’s the last time, so we took the scolding in stride. 

Raelin assured me she would spend the afternoon with Jana and take good care of her (and she did!) and by 2 p.m. Verne and I were back on the road, this time traveling the 5.

By comparison to our southbound trip, the 5 was unremarkable. We stopped for our first Starbucks in Buttonwillow, so passed on the new Bravo Farms just 50 miles further north. Verne shared a long story about his years working for Price Waterhouse in public accounting and an assignment auditing a large construction company responsible for building part of the I-5, which was located in Coalinga, a small community we passed on our trip. A little further and we passed Harris Ranch, known for its great beef. Unbeknownst to most consumers, however, is the poor conditions in which those wretched animals live while waiting to be slaughtered. I imagine the meat is sold as organic and grass-fed. Well, I’m here to tell you…there is not a blade of grass for miles. Just thousands of cows crowded together living in the stench of their own waste and waiting to be killed. That sight always makes me seriously consider becoming a vegetarian.

Speaking of cattle, on the final stretch home I saw a herd of very different looking cows with a white band around their belly. I tested my own private Google (I’m going to begin calling him “Voogle”) and sure enough, he knew exactly their origin and history and spent the next ten minutes telling me about the Scottish breed, Belted Galloway. They are sometimes called the Oreo-Cookie Cow. Who needs Wikipedia?!

The one and only side-effect of chemotherapy that we all agree will be missed, is our precious time together. Life after cancer is going to be different for the Moser family! I expect Highway 99 and Interstate 5 will become even more familiar to us in the future.

Fifth Chemo Trip

Our trip to SoCal this past week included a detour by way of the 101. It had been months since we’d seen our Santa Barbara friend and I had a quilt and jam to deliver to her. We spent five delightful hours with Sally catching up and eating, of course. We were greeted with a table set for best friends (very hungry best friends as Sally had told us not to eat) and an antipasto plate that was beyond any first course I’ve ever had. Later we went to the Boathouse, which is located on Hendry’s Beach, and enjoyed a bowl of clam chowder. Our power visit was worth every extra mile added to our drive.

We left Santa Barbara around 7 p.m. and drove to Culver City and spent an hour with the girls before checking into our hotel Wednesday night. Lauren had arrived on Tuesday so as to accompany Jana to her pre-surgery meeting with the cancer and plastic surgeons at 1 p.m. on Wednesday. Originally Verne and I were going to attend the meeting with Jana and Lauren was to fly in Wednesday evening. However, when Lauren told me she had two pages of questions (single spaced) for the doctors and I was to take copious notes, I knew Lauren was the best person for the job and I was more than happy to rebook her flight a day early. Her update will be posted this week on Caring Bridge.

The crux of the meeting is this: Jana will be having a double mastectomy and reconstruction on May 14^th. She will be in the hospital for two to three days. Her initial recovery will be from two to four weeks if all goes well. We’re hopeful that Jana won’t require radiation, but that will be determined at the time of her surgery and would result in a longer recovery period. Lauren has scheduled time off the last two weeks of May and will be taking care of her sister during her recovery, as Jana will need round-the-clock care and assistance.

We spent much of Thursday at Jana’s chemotherapy session. It always sounds strange to say we had a good time. However, we had a good time! It was much the same as Chemo Trip #4 as we lucked out and had the same sweet nurse, we followed the treatment with an ice cream cone, and went back home to do a little work around Jana’s cottage. Dinner won’t sound like much to anyone reading this, but it was Jana’s choice and special in so many ways…Del Taco! When the girls were very, very young we lived in Anaheim Hills and would take them (and often one or two of the older siblings) to Del Taco for Taco Tuesday. This family tradition went on for years and there were a number of stories that came from our Taco Tuesday evenings, none of which would interest an outsider to the family, but all of which bring a smile as we reminisce.

We left for home on Friday with Lauren in tow. According to her, she needed a little “parent time.” Again, her reservation was changed to fly out of Sacramento on Sunday, rather than LA on Saturday. You may question this change all for a day together…I’d do it again in a heartbeat. We made the seven hour drive on Friday, enjoyed dinner together at the Union Hotel in Volcano (a favorite) that evening, spent an intense day quilting and dehydrating on Saturday, had another wonderful dinner on Saturday night, this time at Lauren’s favorite Italian restaurant in Pine Grove, Giannini’s. Easter Sunday we were up early and off to the airport.

I’m reminded of something Verne said to me early in our relationship. He said, “I would drive an hour to spend five minutes with you.” And he often did. While I didn’t completely understand his outlook on life, which was in sharp contrast to my own practical approach, I loved his spontaneity then and over the years I’ve come to better understand it. Having a daughter with cancer has given me a new appreciation of Verne’s outlook. Life is all about love and little else matters. 

Chemo Treatment #4

Jana makes cancer and chemotherapy look like fun. More than one person has said that, including me. I try to occasionally include one of the few pictures of her grimacing, but for the most part her response to the camera is a smile. Rarely a complaint, she plans our visits, which are centered around her chemo treatments, as though we’re taking one of our Santa Fe family vacations. And, surprisingly, they feel like a family vacation...a bit of travel (which is becoming very familiar), a beautiful setting (I take back every nasty thing I’ve ever said about SoCal – West LA, that is), non-stop talking and laughter, and good eats.

Sadly, duty called and Lauren wasn’t able to attend Jana's fourth chemo treatment this past week (see my earlier reprint of her blog post, "The Worst Effing Day," Thoughts of a Bookworm at Home), but Raelin spent the day and evening with us. Jana's previous chemo treatment was met with a cranky nurse, who refused to begin her treatment until we all (but one) left the room. This time, we decided to try a different tactic and quietly slipped in unnoticed. It turned out that wasn’t necessary as the room with a view was not busy and we lucked out with a sweet and agreeable nurse. She had no problem with us squeezing into Jana’s space and seemed to enjoy our lively chatter and laughter, which is quite a contrast to her typical day treating cancer patients.

In some respects, the treatments and week that follows have gotten easier for Jana as she's worked closely with her “Side Effects Nurse” to control the symptoms. They have tweaked the meds and seem to have achieved a balance that is about as good as it’s going to get. This time she forwent the Benadryl, which is used to minimize allergic reactions to the other drugs, and she remained alert and well throughout the process (about six hours). She felt so well after the treatment that she suggested we spend some time exploring Santa Monica.

We walked 3^rd Street Promenade with its shops, street vendors and musicians and then walked a few blocks further to the Pier, where we sat in the shade and enjoyed a perfect day. The four of us went to dinner at Wurstkuche (a favorite from our last trip) and then returned to her cute little cottage for more talking (the Mosers never seem to run out of things to say), and cake. Raelin surprised me with my own personal-sized birthday cake (carrot) and a small chocolate cake for the three chocolate-lovers. It was after 9 p.m. before we called it an evening and Rae left for home and we went to the Doubletree where we were staying.

I know I’m biased, but we have an amazing family and a day doesn’t go by that I don’t feel appreciative of each of our children. The SoCal girls have cooked and filled Jana’s freezer with good eats for those days she’s too sick or too tired to cook, Scott flew down from Seattle to spend a weekend with Jana, Jeff has used his Hilton points to pay for our stays at the Doubletree in Culver City, and Maria has paid for Lauren’s trips from Portland to LA to be with her sissy through chemo and finally her surgery in May. With the exception of this recent trip, Lauren has attended the other treatments and stayed through the weekends to take care of Jana, do her laundry, and clean her house and she will be spending a week caring for her after surgery. It's been so heartwarming for us to experience their generosity and support over the past few months. What great kids! What a great family!

Did I mention it was my birthday? Thursday after chemo was actually our second celebration. When we arrived on Wednesday night, I was met with an enormous bouquet of flowers and dinner at Bucato (my choice), where we enjoyed a delicious meal and one of their signature desserts, Tiramisu (complete with a candle). It was almost perfect. The only thing missing was our little Lauren, but she assures me we'll have another wonderful celebration when we make our next trip to Portland. Until then, she's holding my birthday gift hostage. Sneaky girl!

The Mid-Point

We're home from our third whirlwind trip to SoCal and Jana is officially half way through her chemotherapy. The cancer news this past few weeks has been good as Jana’s oncologist excitedly noted a significant reduction in the size of the tumor. Her physical examination will be followed by an ultrasound sometime before the next chemo treatment on March 12^th. This trip began much like the last one arriving Wednesday afternoon and spending a wonderful evening with the family talking, laughing, and of course, eating (our favorite form of entertainment).

Jana planned a casual dinner for us at Wurstkuche, a hotdog place (according to Jana) in Venice Beach. Wurstkuche, a purveyor of exotic grilled sausages (according to the menu), is certainly not your typical “hotdog” place (think Der Wienerschnitzel)…there is nothing ordinary about it. They serve over twenty different kinds of sausages, including a few classics (Bratwurst, Hot Italian, Vegetarian Mexican Chipotle…these don’t sound very classic to me), several gourmet (Mango Jalapeno, Filipino Maharlika, Austin Blues), and about eight exotics (Rattlesnake & Rabbit with Jalapeno Peppers, Pheasant with herbs de Provence). I’ve only named a few. The other choices are equally unique. Besides sausages, they serve Belgian Fries and Belgian and German beers. That’s it! If you want a burger, you’ve come to the wrong place. We all played it safe and stuck with a classic dog topped with caramelized onions and sauerkraut (Jana chose sweet and spicy peppers for her vegetarian dog). We loved the place and will definitely be returning. I’m hoping to muster up courage to try one of the exotics…maybe Duck & Bacon with Jalapeno Peppers or Buffalo, Beef & Pork with Chipotle Peppers. I think I’ll avoid the rattlesnake. I’ve included a few pictures from our evening.

While Verne and Lauren are looking pretty sweet in the picture, I assure you they were being very, very naughty. Each table included about five quart-size containers of different mustards with bands around the top to differentiate them. You guessed it…they decided to switch the bands.

Raelin made the two-hour drive from her home in Fontana to spend Thursday with Jana (and the rest of us). We drove together to the Santa Monica Oncology Center and were pleased to find that Jana was scheduled for the room with an ocean view. We chose a spacious end cubicle and all piled in (as we had the past two treatments) and were promptly met by a cranky nurse who refused to begin Jana’s treatment until we left. All but one, that is. She pointed out to us that there was one guest chair and the rest of us would have to stay in the waiting room. To make a long story short...we protested, but to no avail and we finally retreated to a private little nook on the first floor. The treatment was more difficult for Jana than the previous ones and she slept through much of it, so it all worked out for the best as she was able to rest and we got to catch up with Raelin. This picture was taken before we were thrown out!

On the way home from the treatment, we stopped by RiteAid to pick up a couple of meds for Jana. The girls began sharing memories of living in Campbell, Verne as Mr. Mom, and Thrifty ice cream cones after school. Before long we were all sitting in the sun and enjoying a Thrifty cone while we waited for the prescriptions to be filled. The happy stories (to hear the girls talk, some of their best childhood memories are from the three years Verne spent as Mr. Mom…what does that say about me?) and ice cream were just what Jana needed. 

Three down, three to go!

Second Chemo Trip

We made our second trip to SoCal last week to accompany Jana to her chemo treatment. Scott flew down from Seattle to join us and spend the weekend. It’s been Jana’s choice that we spend Wednesday through Friday with her and then leave before the going gets tough. She’s at her peak (that term is relative, as even on her best days she is far from feeling normal) those three days and then the waves of sickness return sometime on Saturday. Unfortunately, there is nothing we can do to help her through that following week and she prefers to be alone.

Our time together with the three kids (Lauren also flew down from Portland to be with Jana) was incredible…so good to see Scott and I loved seeing  “the Mexico Fishing Team” together. Here’s a picture from their most recent trip last fall and shows the marlin they teamed up to catch. Normally, it would have been released, but, sadly, the three-hour fight did it in. The meat was shared with the boat captain and Scott had the rest smoked.

Jana was tired Thursday afternoon, but managed to muster strength to plant several new herbs and succulents she got on the way home from her treatment. She has a green thumb and loves to “work in her garden.” She reminds me of me when I lived in SoCal and spent hours propagating and tending my plants and was active in the local garden club. Living in the foothills with deer, turkey, and other plant-predators, I have given up all hopes of growing anything beyond rosemary and lavender or the occasional hanging basket of flowering plants. 

Thursday evening, we went to our favorite restaurant, Musha, and were seated in their private room where we removed our shoes upon entering and sat on the floor. What fun! As usual, the food was amazing and we ordered no less than a dozen courses finishing with their green tea ice cream. Scott entertained us with his travel stories, a favorite (of ours) being his story of a day and night spent in Japan wearing only a bathrobe, actually a kimono, beginning with a sauna and an elaborate dinner and ending being escorted by his Japanese client from one karaoke bar to another until the wee hours of the morning. Scott’s a seasoned world traveler and his stories of these foreign adventures kept us laughing, but it was his understanding and acceptance of other peoples’ customs, traditions, and general ways of life that made me proud. Verne and I have never left the states and while we are open-minded to ways and beliefs that differ from our own, Scott is experiencing it first hand. While he’s a great storyteller and has a wonderful sense of humor, he is always respectful and appreciative of these people and their cultures that are so different from our own.  

The following morning we all gathered at Bar 9 across from Jana’s cottage and enjoyed one of their delicious breakfasts…actually, there are only two to choose from: bacon and avocado drizzled with a vinaigrette on multigrain toast (Yum!) or a breakfast sandwich of bacon, chard, and a over-easy egg (double Yum!). Friday afternoon Scott attended a coin show in Long Beach and Lauren met up with her girlfriends and former roommates from Berkeley. It just happened that one of her friends was spending a two-day layover on her trip from Australia (where she lives) to New York to visit her father. The other two girls live in L.A. It had been ten years since the four of them first met at the dorms in Berkeley, became fast friends and later lived in a multi-room house on MLK until they all graduated.

This was an especially short trip as we had a commitment on Saturday mid-day and had to drive back to Volcano on Friday afternoon. But, three short weeks and we’ll be making the trip again and Jana will be at the mid-point of her chemotherapy! Lauren has set up a blog on a non-profit website called www.caringbridge.org, which includes all of her email “Jana updates” she’s sent over the past few months. If you are interested, let Lauren know at laurrae@gmail.com and she’ll either add you to the email list or send you an invite or go directly to www.caringbridge.org for Jana Moser. Love to all and thank you for your continued support of Jana and the family.