Geri

You've made my night! Wonderful news, love those yearly visits. Geri

Oh Ann I should pack them all up and send them to you!!! I should add that I have only ever bought one turtle (from a pueblo in NM) that was plain black fired clay and very simple, you wouldn't really know it's a turtle. All the others have been given to me by friends who assumed that I liked them and with this last move they have all been relegated to a box somewhere in the basement. Except that is for the last one I got for my birthday

Apparently I collect turtles.........when we were first married Richard gave me a crystal turtle (don't know why a turtle) anyway I kept it on the coffee table and a friend then gave me another turtle ---see where this going?-----I now have a fine collection of turtles in every concievable size, color and material. I have enamel, wood, clay, silver, brass, leather and even a jade one from Hong Kong. I have turtle pins, zipper grips, key rings........the list goes on. By the way I have no affection whatsoever for turtles and my real collections are hat pins, old bottles and salt cellars! Go figure Geri

I'm a little (a lot) late but good news is good news, thanks you've made my day. Geri

Wonderful news, NED is still in residence! Take care Geri

Sorry to hear about your new stresses, remember you survived lc so nothing can take you down! This has happened to Richard a couple of times and he's always ended up better off job wise, I'm wishing the same for you. I don't understand the escort out either, what would they do if you'd done something wrong? Go figure! Take care and don't forget to breathe. Geri

Cheers to my favorite old broad, has it really been 4 years already..........seems like yesterday/a lifetime ago that we met on this site and your future was so unsure. Well look at you now, 4 years down the pike and still on the green side of the sod - ain't life grand! Who'da thunk it? Take care my friend and know that you are much loved. Geri

I'm so sorry for your huge loss, your Dad was such a source of strength for so many of us. He never failed to encourage me in my low moments and cheer for me in my successes. A true friend to us all. Take care Geri

Hey Randy, we missed the mess by about 500 yards!! We lost power for the day on Friday but with a gas stove we didn't go hungry and Richard was ready to man the fireplace but thankfully we were back on the grid by late afternoon. Parts of town are still out but there is absolutely no sign of the storm near our house.........we were blessed this time around but now we await a series of snow storms, ah the paradise weather of New England We should have retired a little further south.....VT to MA wasn't quite far enough to avoid the winter so Richard bought a new snow blower and is now awaiting enough of the white stuff to go out and use it (was it only last year that he wanted snow to go skiing, what has retirement done to him???) Thanks for asking Geri

Hi, I'm in Middlesex County about 30 miles from Boston and 30 miles from Worcester and all we had was rain. We lost power early Friday morning but it was restored by dinner time. While we were drenched in heavy rain, 500 yards to the west the ice was bringing down trees and power lines. It was as if someone had drawn a line across the road - go figure! Life in this piece of the state is pretty much back to normal, just the clean up left to do. Here's hoping that the western part of the state gets back to normal soon too. Thinking of you Christine. Geri

11 years, a lifetime in post cancer years.............here's to many more lifetimes of NED, Donna, you're what we all aspire to be - living with NED forever! Congratulations Geri

Wow, what powerful words. Photo's should be a breeze if you can put those emotions into words. So glad you didn't mortify your son.........he may have sent for the men with the net Take care Geri

Seven years ago today I sat with my husband and tried to eat Thanksgiving dinner that a friend had graciously given us. I had come home from the hospital the night before with my cancer dx and a good supply of oxycontin and hydrocodone. Thanksgiving was less than stellar that year, our daughter was still in Texas and hadn't heard the final verdict yet. That dreaded phone call had yet to be made. We worried for naught - she stepped up to the plate and has been my loudest cheering section since. She's put her life on hold several times so that I could be cared for when her father had to go in a different direction than home. All that was then, fast forward seven years and here we are - Richard and I having Thanksgiving dinner without the drugs and lung cancer. I cooked dinner, Richard cleaned up the kitchen, true domestic bliss Our daughter and her husband are in St Thomas for a week, their last holiday before their baby - yes our grandson - arrives in March. Did I think that all this was possible seven years ago, I don't think I gave it a thought - lung cancer was front and center. Those seven years have been filled to capacity, Karen met and married the man of her dreams,we moved again, I've had a few health problems which are being overcome, I've met some true friends on this board and with their hard work raised money for lc research, but best of all I'll soon meet my first grandchild and hopefully any more that come along. So. unless the beer truck comes careening around the corner I have every intention of staying on the green side of the sod for a good few years yet.......who else is going to supervise Richard now that he's retired there's a lot of honey do's to be done around here! So take heart, there can be life after cancer - someone has to survive and who says it can't be you. Happy Thanksgiving, thanks for listening. Geri

Jen, I'm so sorry. I have no words that will comfort your huge loss, just know that you're in my thought's and prayers. Geri

You all seem surprised that Kasey would take us to a place with "that" sort of name.....it's right in the heart of Amish country complete with the long dresses and and very proper lifestyles.............then in the middle of nowhere this name appears and you know exactly what those prim and proper people do in their spare time!!!! By the way, there is a VERY worn spot in front of that sign - obiously a very popular photo op! The town is very nice and worth the visit aside from the sign. We had a wonderful day with Kasey and Fred and plan many more. Geri

Thanks Rich, it was so good to see you on Saturday. What a wonderful surprise when Richard came and told me you were there, it was good to see you my friend and quite like old times. There's been a lot of water under the bridge in the last couple of years, healthwise we've both put lung cancer in it's place but neither of us is as healthy as we were that day in January2006 when we met for the first time.......life is so contrary!! Anyway, everything fell into place yet again for our walk, the sun was shining , the volunteers showed up and the coffee was hot - what more do you need on a cool November morning. Walkers one might say, well they came in droves and patiently waited for the kick off.....thanks Rich for meeting me that day and helping us to leave a legacy that will one day save lives. Geri

Spare prayers, good thoughts and best wishes coming Mom's way. Geri

Okay, I've been lurking and reading but haven't posted. I've been waiting to get my knuckles rapped for not checking in, so here I am letting you know that I'm getting there in the heart dept - still fighting for breath and energy but at this very moment I'm enjoying a vacation in Myrtle Beach, SC. We are here in our 5th wheel travel trailer, right on the beach and feeling very liberated. We met with Kasey and Fred on our way down here and had a lovely day catching up with them. Next weekend it's time to go home and get my job done for the Boston Walk..........any volunteers out there who aren't busy on Nov 1???? Anyway, I'm fast approaching my SEVENTH aniversary from sclc dx, November 2001 seems a lifetime ago and I'm looking forward to celebrating my long term survival from breast cancer too. Having written a small novel I am signing off.........it's time for a walk on the beach! I'll check in more often in future, thanks for missing me. Geri

Thanks for making my day, weekend, week....whatever! This is terrific news, stable is such a comforting word to take away on vacation. Enjoy the lake. Geri

Okay Rich, enough already! Joining my prayers to everyone else's and wishing you home soon. Geri

I'm so sorry, Geri

Add mine to the groundswell of prayers and positive thoughts. Geri

Keep on keepin' on Rich, something's been done just right. Congratulations. Geri

Sure wasn't in the last year!!!

6, not a bad discription I guess.