HAVING A GOOD TIME IN TEXAS

EATING MY WAY THROUGH DALLAS
I made it to Dallas just fine on United Airlines last Thursday. They were very helpful and accomodating. I fly out again today. I'm glad I had yesterday to recuperate and got to see many friends and family members: AC & Jean Pass (cousins); Mike VanderBerg (my investment advisor who has stared a new non-denominational church on the west side of Ft. Worth); Darlene - a friend of Suzie's from their early days just out of high school working at National Bank of Commerce in the LTV building in downtow Dallas - I thought they were so sophisticated; Suzie's classmate Ronnie Cruse whose sister, Gail Cruse was cheerleader with my sister Diane and is the optometrist at Wal-Mart in Montrose where I now get all my eye check-ups.


It was great to have a rotation of visitors yesterday. I was recovering from having too much fun (i.e. junk food). I got a serious case of stomach upset at the reunion and all the sudden had to leave. I had so hope to do the "Gator" in the dance floor with Charlie Daniel, a friend nearer my sister's age, but it didn't happen. Charlie & I agreed that we could probably get down in the floor but would need help to get back up! Charlie's little sister Sondra was one of our dearest friends from my grade. I'm sorry, Sondra, I didn't get to see you this trip.


Margaret and I were very close friends growing up in Duncanville. Her father loved to feed us. Mr. Park took me to breakfast on Friday and we had the meat lover's Grand Slam. Afterward, he asked if I wanted a chocolate shake! He had one, but I had a cup of tea. Margaret, her daughter Tay, and I have been having hamburgers at all the places I can't get them like Whataburger. I did make my sister Suzie take me by Jack in the Box for two tacos when I first flew in. On Friday night, we went to a Mexican restaurant for one of Suzie's reunion meals, and I buried my face in a plate of Tex-Mex. I love New Mexican/Coloradoan Mexican food with red and/or green chili, but occasionally, I need that El Fenix or even El Chico fix.


I got a horrible case of the d-word at the reunion. It was probably the BBQ sauce on the delicious brisket. Could have been the snow cone from earlier in the day. Anyway, I had to leave the reunion in a hurry as not to embarrass anyone. I did have a few rounds in the bathroom that night at home, but mostly slept like a baby. I think I'm caught up on my sleep and on a schedule more consistent with the real world.


One of the reunion highlights was a tour of Duncanville High School. It is amazing! DHS is the second largest school in the nation based on square footage, but they have incredible sports complexes (this was and still is a great place for football in the fall - the TV show Friday Night Lights brings back memories of going to footbal games on Friday nights. There's a point in the fall in Texas where the hot weather breaks and you feel a little crisp snap in the air, leaves start to turn on the trees, and it's football weather). The high school has a beautiful kitchen for culinary arts where the students can practice and sell their wares to the students and faculty. Being such a big complex, they have halls in various departments with names of scientists, authors, artists, etc. The art department, dance studio, band and choir rooms with private practice rooms were all fabulous. The oldest part of the school is reserved for the freshman, yet this was the new part of the school when Suzie's class graduated in 1967. 1966 was the first one to use the new school. Girl's basketball was always big here, and they still host the AAUW girls high school tournament here every Christmas break. Back in our day, the girls had to play half-court. I guess they thought it would kill us to run up and down the whole thing.


"SWEAT LODGE"
One of the other treats of this trip is that Margaret and Tay have a brand new lab puppy named Relay. On Friday, I took him out for most of the warm morning which made me perspire quite a bit. I think I sweated out some toxins and some fluids which helped my infammations. And you wouldn't believe how well I'm walking - hardly having to use the cane, and trying to do some PT exercises. Relay looks like a dog we had growing up named Black Jack, so my sisters and I are having fond memories of that childhood pet.


FUTURE CHEMOS AND DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENTS

* Sept. 4th (Tues) Support Group, Tuesday, Oct. 4th, St. Mary's Grand Junction

* Sept. 5th (Wed) 9am, Chemo and Visit with Oncolologist at St. Mary's in Grand Junction

* Sept. 7th (Fri) PT - Noon- Ridgway

* Sept. 14th (Fri) 11:00am, CU Anschutz Med Center Tumor Board, Dr. Durham, Radiation Oncology, Denver

*Sept. 17th (Mon) 8:30am, CU Anschutz Med Ceter Tumor Board, Dr. Tracy Shefter, Oncology, Denver

*Sept. 18th (Tues) 10am, Dr. Sammons, Psychiatrist, Grand Junction for Medication Management

*Sept. 18th (Tues) 3pm, Fran Higgins, Therapist, Grand Junction - Talking Therapy

*Sept. 21st (Fri) 9am, Chemo & Visit with Oncologist at St. Mary's in Grand Junction

*Sept. 22nd (Sat) 8:30am - 4pm, Cancer: 50 Essential Things** , Grand Junction, $65/person

*Sept. 24th (Mon) 2pm, Fran Higgins, Talking Therapy - Grand Junction


** Note: This is the best book I' ve found on Cancer


OTHER IMPORTANT SCHEDULE ITEMS

*Sept. 8th & 9th - True Grit Days in Ridgway - we'll have a booth there under Buckskin Booksellers

*Sept. 12th - 17th - Denver Gem & Mineral Show - Main Show (Actual Dates Friday, 14th - Sunday, 16th) - Doing this show under coloradominerals. com. Our booth is down one f the hallways on the left as you come in the front door. I don't think they'll move us from last year's location.

*Sept. 26th - 30th - Mountains & Plains Independent Booksellers Association (MPIBA) - we will attend as buyers and attend many good free seminars.

*Sept. 29th - Vignettes of History - I will portray Verena Jacobson (Mining camp school teacher) at the Montrose Magic Circle Playhouse at 2pm and 7pm. (I'll have to leave the book show early).

Oct. 4th - 6th - Visit Grand Canyon with Robert's brother Mike & Sister-in-Law Leslie.

Oct. 7th - ? - Visit sisters in Prescott, Arizona




A WORD OF THANKS TO BROTHER -IN-LAW AL WEST (SUZIE'S HUSBAND)
Al, you've been so helpful to Ronnie Cruse (who's in a wheelchair), and me and my cane. Thank you for your help and patience. You're awesome!


Thanks, too, to Margaret Park Thomas, daughter Taylor, Mr. & Mrs. Park, DHS Class of 1967, and everyone who made a special trip to see me. You keep my motor running!



Just down here in Tejas - getting all my junk food fixes!

Sincerely, Caroline