Driving for the First Time

Sunday November 3, 1991

Frank is off to Lemona one last time. He'll paint 2 more bedrooms. He wouldn't do it for anyone but Laura. She's so sweet. Makes us want to do more to make the house more perfect than it already is.

Jennifer and Ron are coming today to spend the night. They are delivering a CHP trailer to Riverside tomorrow. I must straighten the house up some.

I probably overdid it cleaning bathrooms, vacuuming, etc. I go marketing alone. Big Deal: driving for the first time.

We fix pot roast. Jennifer and Ron arrive about 9 p.m. We have a nice visit and go to bed late. I'm feeling fine but tired.

Jennifer is the youngest daughter of Mom's best friend Donna. She lives near Placerville in Northern California so had a long drive to get to Riverside in Southern California.

It is kind of a big deal to drive by herself for the first time. Having a sense of power and independence is important.

As for Frank wanting to paint two bedrooms to please their new tenant, I can totally relate. I held several different jobs during my 33 year career with Pacific Gas & Electric, but the one I held for the last 12 was the best one by far, not because I made any more money or had better benefits, because I did not. It was because the group of 13 guys I worked with made me feel appreciated, and I wanted to do my best for them. My boss Pat was easy-going and friendly, and made me feel like his equal, not just a lowly payroll clerk. Above all, he appreciated me. I had the opportunity to take other jobs that paid more money, but I turned them down. Even though I retired 4 years ago, Pat still takes me out for a birthday lunch every April and invites me to their Christmas breakfast.

Square Dancing Is My Life

Saturday November 2, 1991

I awake full of energy! It's a great day.

We meet Laura and Terry at 10:30 a.m. His 11 year-old son Chris is with them. He will also live there. Laura's son is also 11 and Megan is 2 months. It's a pretty day! We show them everything they need to know. We sign the lease. They will pay from November 15, but we give them the keys to move in sooner if they wish. I take Laura over to meet again Hal and Eric Larson. Joan is not there. Eric remembers her. She invites him over after they move in. Laura hands me a note I read later. It is sweet, saying how much it means to them to get the house and how nice we are. Frank does the last yard work.

I'm back! Square dancing is my life! I dance almost every dance tonight. I really have fun with all my friends. My incision feels fine and so do I. It's almost 4 weeks since surgery.

Mom sure is excited to be alive today. So many exclamation points! She must be feeling good. To have all her energy back 4 weeks after major surgery is a testament to her love for life. She is excited to finally have a tenant, and especially to have a tenant who really appreciates the house. Feeling appreciated is so important, and since mom has reservations about their ability to pay the rent, I'm sure Laura's note really helped reassure her.

Also, being back in the "swing" of things at her square dancing club has really lifted her spirits. Her friends there are very important, and the dancing is her passion. She is apparently not thinking at all about her upcoming chemotherapy two days later. Very inspiring! Our thoughts affect our emotions which affect our physical health. What an amazing woman!

I Pray to God for the Strength to Endure

Friday November 1, 1991

I slept 10-1/2 hours last night. Make up time, I guess. I'm dragging all day. It takes me all day to pay the bills.

My incision is suddenly healed, but Frank insists it needs a couple more days of peroxide.

Dr. Bix calls. Chemo will be next Monday. There will be intravenous drugs once a week and some by mouth, 4 daily. Also a pill for 5 days and then wait 6 weeks. I may have hair loss, mouth sores, diarrhea, cramps, nausea and weight gain. I refuse to accept any side effects. I pray to God for the strength to endure and the power to resist any side effects. I am anxious to get started.

Laura is so excited when I tell her we are renting the house to them. We will meet tomorrow to sign the lease.

Wow, the "treatment" for cancer seems almost barbaric. Most of us try to recover from nausea, cramps and diarrhea, not try to induce it. A few days after this entry, I find out I am pregnant with Derek and am about to have these symptoms myself, 9 months of horrible nausea and vomiting that lasts 24 hours/day.

A Tenant for Lemona House

Wednesday, October 30, 1991

We have another lovely day. I am excited about seeing Laura again. I remember her about 12 years of age. She's 32 now. Laura arrives on time at Lemona with her boyfriend Terry, son Josh and baby Megan. They are lovely. We like them right away and they love the house. Laura's stepbrother Mike still lives in the house down the street. They want the house and fill out an application.

We join our friends for dinner in 1000 Oaks for Japanese food. It's great fun.

I toss and turn all night worrying that Laura and Terry cannot really afford the house.

That is the problem with doing business with friends: it can ruin the friendship when things go badly. Mom is already having doubts about renting to a friend who may not be able to afford the house. Interesting that Laura's stepbrother still lives in the house 4 doors down 20 years later. I think I read in California most people move every 5-7 years.

Is This God's Divine Intervention?

Tuesday, October 29, 1991

We decide to rent Lemona to two Hispanic couples with one baby. They are young and very nice. Their credit is OK. We are negotiating when they will move in. They must move on November 20. We are telling everyone who calls "the house is rented".

My incision hole is suddenly much smaller. My incision still feels like it is pulling and is uncomfortable late in the day. Lying down relieves it.

We had a great lunch at a new BBQ place called Mavericks. We are trying to eat no sugar this week. Not an easy task!

In the evening the phone rings and when Franks says it is rented I say "Take their number!" He hands me the phone and it turns out to be Laura Persons, Gary and Maria's friend. Laura grew up 4 doors down on Lemona. Maria knows her from work. Laura works downtown. We decide to show her the house tomorrow night. Is this God's divine intervention?

Wow, after all those months with the house sitting empty, Mom and Frank must have been desperate to rent it. What was it that made mom say "take their number"? Was God tapping her on the shoulder? What are the chances that someone would call on their ad who lived in our neighborhood back in the 60s? Laura and her brother Tom were good friends with my brother Gary. Can't wait to see if this works out! Remember, I am reading this for the first time too.