Heart breaking
After 5 and a half months of caring for our mother full time with my sister to keep her out of a facility during Covid, we moved her into Memory Care today. I am utterly heartbroken, and I miss her. The thought of her alone and confused at bedtime tonight is just too much. Continue reading Heart breaking
This is Alzheimer’s
This is Alzheimer’s. I guess out of respect for my mother’s privacy, in addition to my own reluctance to be super public about my private life, I haven’t really talked about Alzheimer’s. Here’s a story. My beloved cockatoo Bunny died a tragic death on friday. I’m devastated, and I’ve been mostly alone with my mom all weekend since then, as my sister has been enjoying (a well deserved) break out of town. I’ve been gutted with my grief and guilt and broken heart, missing my feathered joy engine with an intensity I don’t think I’ve ever felt before. The wound … Continue reading This is Alzheimer’s
My joy engine is gone
I lost my most ever-present spark of joy, my Gofffins Cockatoo Bunny three nights ago. Bunny came to me as a foster a year and a half ago. Then Covid lockdowns struck, and she became my best buddy, my only cuddle, the source that made me laugh and dance and play every single day, and I knew I had to keep her. She was hilarious. She was a total ham. Strangers loved her. She entertained everyone. Anyone could hold her. I called her my birdie ambassador. She loved to dance. Disco was her jam. She never tired of playing, dancing, … Continue reading My joy engine is gone
My job doesn’t suck
Early morning adventures on AL5. Mt. Baker area. Staging for ALS EMS support for the Ski to Sea team relay race. Destination: Mt. Baker ski area. … Continue reading My job doesn’t suck
Ford’s Cove
Is it the grayness of the September squalls blowing through Lambert Channel between Hornby and Denman Islands that suffuses this tiny harbor town with its eerie … Continue reading Ford’s Cove
The Prodigal Guitar
My stolen guitar came home to me, twice! Although I haven’t played it all that much in the last 10 years, one of my most sentimental and dear possessions is my Seagull S6 Mahogany acoustic-electric guitar. I bought this guitar in … Continue reading The Prodigal Guitar
Backpacking in the Goat Rocks Wilderness
Earlier this week I finally got to get up backpacking in the south Cascade’s Goat Rocks Wilderness, and it was incredible! I had hoped to make this trip last year towards the end of July with my friend Danni, but … Continue reading Backpacking in the Goat Rocks Wilderness
First Jar of Sweet Jaime Honey!
Today I got to harvest my first jar of honey! The Sweet Jaimes have really packed on a lot of honey in the past two weeks with the blackberry honey flow. One of the frames of honey was super over-built … Continue reading First Jar of Sweet Jaime Honey!
Honey and zombees!
The last of the blackberry flowers are fading, and I didn’t see many bees visiting the berry patch on my run by them today. I guess that means the blackberry honey flow is almost over. The Jaimes really took advantage … Continue reading Honey and zombees!
Lake Valhalla Backpacking
Lake Valhalla is a beauty! My friend Lori and I hiked in and spent one lovely night swinging in our hammocks with the Valkyries. After reading reports of how awful the Smithbrook road is, we opted to park at Stevens … Continue reading Lake Valhalla Backpacking
Playapixie 