WHAT A MONTH THIS HAS BEEN, WHAT A RARE MOOD I'M IN
It's almost like falling in love. In which case, I will vainly attempt to briefly (Yeah, right. No, seriously) list the salient events of what has been a true month of piling on, June 2011. And I see by this highly-defaced calendar page that this will be my one and only blog post of this busy month, to the delight of literally dozens out there in Publicville. Sorry, and you're welcome, at the same time.
Please allow me to start at the end and head for the beginning, therefore Forward into the Past, at breakneck speed!
HARD-HITTING BULLET PRESENTATION OF MAJOR EVENTS
* CTDN picnic, Pleasanton. A most enjoyable, delicious and inspirational yearly event, chock full of incredible transplant stories and people.
* Famous punk band The Community (Matt, Aaron, Neal and our son Andy) appear at Pine Street Bar. Despite permanent hearing damage, fun is had by all. We are honored to host the band/groupie pre-party and dinner right here at Le Bistro Broadmoor.
* Brief visit high on Parnassus Hill to attend to arm swelling and pain from last procedure (see below). After much-appreciated concern and examination, we are able to return with instructions for simple home treatment.
* A surprisingly tolerable jaunt south via Interstate 5 delivers us to the delightful Farmer's Daughter Hotel, located across the street from the famous Farmer's Market at Third and Fairfax in West LA. We endure the requisite SoCal traffic silliness making our way to Dodger Stadium where we join up with good UCSB buddy Don S and his cousin David. There we enjoy a beautiful LA evening in awesome box seats as the beleaguered Dodgers convincingly beat Detroit. Thank you Don, so very much!
* We make way for Long Beach to celebrate birthday #95 with Aunt Bessie by joining her for an excellent (really) retirement home lunch. Following that, we carefully avoid Community Hospital of Long Beach and set sail back to the "Daughter". It is then on to explore Farmer's Market and adjacent (and totally out of control) The Grove shopping phenomenon. After dinner at Wood Grill, we briefly tour other childhood sites of interest before returning to our room.
* On the way out of town a sumptuous breakfast is enjoyed across the street at Dupar's amidst scores of The Price is Right hopefuls preparing to line up at nearby CBS Studios. Our route to the 405 takes us on a sentimental trip to the old neighborhoods and Hami High, and finally back to the Super Slab and home.
* The inclusion at the 65th anniversary observance for Jim and Gladdie McPhail provides us an opportunity to properly give our best wishes to these fine folks who we have been pleased to know for over forty years.
* Another milestone anniversary, the fortieth, is a privilege to share with Carol and Dan. Joined by Sue and Jeff, the six of us travel via our three two-seaters to Mi-Wuk Village and a super cabin where we enjoy food, drinks, games and mirth. One of many highlights is our trip to Sonora Pass (9700 feet altitude) where we pause roadside and greet a phalanx of Corvettes passing the opposite way, shining against the ten-foot snow banks in the warm sun.
* Our cousins from Phoenix, Mel and Jacquey, meet us at their timeshare in Carsbad as we fly to San Diego in the morning and return the same evening. Loads of fun but clearly too short!
* A seemingly simple outpatient heart biopsy at UCSF is combined with an angiogram of my left leg, due to concern expressed by my distinguished vascular surgeon Dr. Charles E. I enjoy an overnight on 10 Long and an early cath lab visit the next day, but I am thoroughly delighted to have my special French toast order honored by my friends in Nutrition Services. The severity of the leg cath requires an additional night in-house. The findings indicated 99% blockage behind the left knee, so I will return this Thursday for the appropriate treatment.
* A most joyous time is had by all concerned at the beautiful Napa residence of Cindy and Bob F. to celebrate the engagement of Linsey and Andy. When the weather reports indicated rain, Cindy and Bob swiftly and effectively readied their garage to accommodate the event, which came off flawlessly and graciously. Thanks Cindy and Bob!
SO, HOW CAN YOU FOLLOW THAT UP, BOB/IRV?
I knew your were gonna ask me that. In fact, it would be impossible to adequately complement June except to take July completely off. Pshaw! you say. Yes, for certain there will be social and medical happenings and yes, Cheryl is already busier than a one-armed paper hanger with cruise referrals already. Other known events will include the aforementioned UCSF visit, as well as Beach Boys concert at Wente, staffing a CTDN info center at a Giants game, and the next iteration of Dinner with the Gang.
So as we launch into Summer, we will go to our rickety old garage, where we find our brand-new, shiny red Super Stock Dodge, and we'll have fun, fun, fun now that Daddy took the T-Bird away. See you out on the Transplant turnpike which, as always, is already in progress.
Bob/Irv
