Daisy Didn't Bark

Saturday January 23, 1993

Awoke feeling rested and great. Daisy didn't bark and wake me up last night and I only got up once to go potty. How well I sleep definitely has an effect on how I feel.

I had a bowl of cereal and washed my hair, got cleaned up with no sweats. I frosted 48 cupcakes, went to the bank, had a Carl's chicken sandwich for lunch, ironed my clothes to wear tonight.

Karen King came at 1 p.m. and we visited while Frank showed her how to trim rose bushes. Then I rested for an hour. At 5:15 we left for Bobby McGee's in Burbank for dinner with Phil, Deb, Gary and Maria to celebrate the girl's birthdays on the 27th.

Thank you Lord for answer to prayer and a good day.

From the time I was about 8 years old we always had a dog, sometimes two dogs. In 1993 Mom and Frank had two mutts, Pumpkin, pictured on the left, and Daisy, pictured on the right, sitting for a treat from Justin. They were well-mannered dogs and Mom loved them. My current family has always had two dogs also. Right now we have male and female Boston Terriers, Brutus and Zoey. They are inside dogs so they only bark if there is a loud commotion in the house or in front of the house. Daisy and Pumpkin were outside dogs, since it is much warmer at night in Southern California than it is in Windsor. That's probably why they often barked at noises during the night. While Mom was battling cancer she tried to get outside and walk the dogs around the neighborhood. They enjoyed that.

So glad Mom had a good night's sleep. That is so important, and especially when fighting a deadly disease. Look how much energy she had! She had a very productive day, and a long one! When I have a sleepless night I am good for nothing the next day! No wonder she is thanking God.

The Silver Cross

Tuesday December 1, 1992

I sleep in till 8:30. Frank has started the wash. He does the linens for me. I'm slow as usual but manage to unpack and wash our clothes. Frank gets a movie "Sister Act" for us to watch. Gary and Maria and the boys come over to visit a couple of hours. I go to bed early.

I felt pretty good today and even ate a pretty good dinner.

I'm wearing the beautiful silver cross Justin gave me. I call him to thank him again. Chris said he bought this expensive real silver cross for me with his own money. It means so much to me to know he thinks of me. We are so close. I love him so.

We discover my pump has been leaking, probably since Saturday. I've not been getting any kemo.

I had forgotten about the silver cross Justin gave Mom in 1992 until he asked me to wear it at his wedding in 2011. The cross was worn by Mom at her funeral in 1993 but Frank retrieved it before the casket was closed and returned it to Justin. Justin, your Grandma loved you so much, and so do I son. I look forward to passing down the cross to the next generation when your yet unborn children are old enough to know its significance. Mom loved Jesus as much as she loved you and the cross symbolizes that relationship that was so precious to her.

Smaller Than Marbles

Sunday November 29, 1992

Up at 7:30 feeling a little better today. After getting cleaned up and washing my hair Frank and I go to Raley's Market. We buy cutlets to fix for dinner. I buy some stool softeners to begin taking daily. I'm worried I might get constipated and have to have surgery. My bowels are so squeezed by tumors now that I only eliminate stools smaller than marbles. Maybe 1/2 that size.

After lunch I lie down to rest. Frank and Justin go for a 4-mile walk to Raley's. Frank buys Justin a taco at Taco Bell and a yogurt at the yogurt store. Later we play board games with Justin.

Frank makes a great cutlet dinner plus more leftovers. We watch some TV and retire at 11 p.m.

Ah sweet Frank! You were such a wonderful grandpa, first taking Justin on a long walk, thus teaching him the value of exercise, and then taking him for out for a treat. Then he fixes dinner for everyone. Not too many men like Frank! So thoughtful.

I'll bet the game we played with Justin was SEQUENCE. Frank made the game for Justin and we still play it occasionally. It's one of my favorite card games.

It must have been terribly uncomfortable being so constipated. I injured my back 3 days ago and have been taking Vicodin for back pain. It does take the edge off my pain, but it gives me a horrible headache and basically shuts down my intestines, even when I take stool softeners with the medication. I have to balance which is worse, the back pain or the constipation?

Thanksgiving Day

Thursday November 26, 1992 "Thanksgiving Day"

Chris is very busy in the kitchen all morning though she has done most everything the day before. I feel good. Frank carves the turkey for her. We all sit at her dining room table, Gary, Maria, Joe & Junior, Justin, Ric, Chris, Frank and me. I say a blessing. There is so much I want to say but I start to cry so cut it short. I always get emotional when I pray out loud. I am so happy to have this day with all my family. I'm so lucky.

The boys have fun with video games all day. The rest just visit and relax. It's been a lovely day. Chris made a great dinner. Derek is so cute and sweet. I love my family so much.

I don't remember if I cried too when Mom prayed, but I'm crying now remembering that this was our last Thanksgiving together. It was my first and last time hosting Thanksgiving for the whole family at our house. The photo above was taken on our front porch. Frank used a tripod so we could all be in the photo. First row from left: Junior, Joe, Justin; Middle row from left: Gary, Maria (holding baby Derek), Chris; Back row from left: Frank, Mom, Ric.

It's a Good Trip To Windsor

Wednesday November 25, 1992

I feel pretty good this morning. We are on the road about 9 a.m. It's a good trip, an easy ride. I even drive a couple of hours. The traffic is bad as we get near San Francisco so we go 680 and in through Napa Valley. It's still slow and go and we arrive at Chris' at 6:30 p.m. She has dinner ready for us. Derek is so big! So alert! So cute and so good! He loves everyone who'll hold him or entertain him. He's a love to hold. We have so much fun with him.

Of course, Justin, my love, is glad to see us and I get a big hug. He's getting so tall. He's 11-1/2 now and so smart. I adore him.

We go to bed early. Ric is his usual cool self. Not much to say. He just plays his computer games. Gary and Maria arrive 8 p.m.

To make it from Simi Valley to Windsor, California, in just 9-1/2 hours is good time considering the Wednesday before Thanksgiving is the busiest travel day of the year. A few years after this we drove to my brother's house in Simi Valley for Thanksgiving. We left home when I got off work at 4:00 and it took us 4 hours just to get through the San Francisco Bay area and 11 hours to get to Simi Valley. This is a 400 mile trip. It was a wise decision that Mom and Frank made to head up Highway 680 to Vallejo and then up through Napa on Highway 29.

I love this photo taken of Mom with 4-month-old Derek that Thanksgiving. He looks like he is really enjoying his Grandma. One of my greatest disappointments for Derek and Ryan is that they didn't get to know their Grandma Dolores as Justin did. She was a wonderful Grandma.

A Visit With Baby Derek & Chris

Sunday July 19, 1992

The baby cried alot last night. His diaper rash is bad. He's still having trouble getting ahold of her nipple because her breasts are so large.

Frank goes out in the morning to find a coffee shop for some coffee. Ric is up but no coffee is offered. Justin takes some cereal up to his mom. We have a bowl of cereal. Later I make myself a fried egg sandwich. About noon I make lunch for Chris and Frank. Justin and I are not hungry. Ric wants to make burritos from the freezer for himself.

I visit upstairs with Chris during nursing time. I give Derek a bath.

Frank and Ric fix a trout and fresh corn dinner. It's good. Chris comes down for dinner.

Oh my! How I do remember those first few weeks trying to nurse Baby Derek. My normal bra size of 40D swelled not to an E cup, not even an F cup, but a G cup. I didn't know they made bras that size! It was easier just not to wear one at all. Poor baby, having something like a soccer ball shoved into his face. How was he supposed to get ahold of something larger than his head? After a few weeks, my breasts went down a bit and I was able to successfully nurse Derek for 12 months.

Meeting Baby Derek

Saturday July 18, 1992

We're up early breaking camp. It was a really bad night. The wind was blowing really bad when we went to bed. I thought the tents would blow down. So I prayed over and over many times for God to please stop the wind. He answered my prayers as usual. I awoke at 1:30, no wind at all but a short way away a large bunch of young people were partying heartily very loudly til 3:30 a.m. The final thing they did was fire a gun 5 times. That really upset me. I didn't sleep at all from 1:30-3:30.

By 11:00 we're packed and ready to leave. Donna and Bob take alot of our stuff but Gary still has to make 2 boat trips. I have to wait in line an hour to launch the trailer. We have lunch at the store and are on the road to Chris' about 2 p.m. It's a nice drive. I'm sleepy and sleep. We arrive at Chris' at 7 p.m. We fix spaghetti for them. Chris comes down. Derek is cute and sweet. Justin likes him alot. He has a receding chin.

Wow, what an exhausting and stressful day! I would be livid to be kept awake until 3:30 by a bunch of drunks who are even firing off a gun. Breaking camp is hard enough on a good night's sleep! And then to have to wait in line for an hour to get the boat at the ramp? That's one of the reasons we always stayed an extra day after a holiday weekend; we had the smoothest water for water skiing, no crowds at the ramp, and very little traffic on the way home.

Then when they finally arrive in Windsor exhausted and hungry to meet their new grandson, the host doesn't have the good manners to make dinner for them while the hostess in in bed recovering from surgery! Mom has to prepare dinner for everyone after a long drive. Sorry Mom!

Looking at Derek today, just weeks away from his 20th birthday, I do not see a receding chin, so I had to look back at his baby pictures. If you look at his chin in the photo above, he does indeed have a receding chin! Mom is very observant.

I Love The New Boat Shade

Thursday July 16, 1992

Slept in, resting til 7:30 a.m. Not my best morning this week. I have no energy and still have a pain in my chest for some unknown reason, right side under the breast. Maybe I pulled a muscle trying to get back into the boat. The ladder we bought just won't work on our boat. I had a terrible time getting back into the boat out in the deep water.

I love the boat shade. I have no problem riding in the boat during the heat of the day.

Maria and I help Marty and Kathy haul their stuff back to the marina. I call Chris and Justin talks to her about his new baby brother. Chris is feeling some better from her C-section.

Later, we all take a ride to Mocassin Point Marina, Donna, Bob, Heather, Dan, Gary, Maria and kids.

I can't imagine how Mom went 30 years without a shade for their boat. When Ric and I go boating on a hot day, the shade goes up first thing. It keeps us cooler and prevents sunburn. The bimini top probably looked a bit like the one pictured above. Since I wasn't on this trip, I didn't see it myself. Mom always got into the boat by stepping onto the ledge on the outboard motor just above the propeller, grabbing onto the back of the boat, and pulling herself up. She was the only one who did this and every time I would cringe. One slip and her foot would be sliced by the propeller. Everyone else got in by hoisting themselves over the side near the back of the boat, where it was just over a foot from the water. This required good upper body strength, though, something I no longer have, and neither did Mom. The boat that Ric and I use in the summer has a built-in ladder on the back, which makes it much easier to get into the boat, even from land.

Junior Becomes a Single Skier

Up at 7:15 feeling pretty good. Donna and Bob arrive about 10 a.m. with friends of theirs, Dan and Heather. They have a pontoon boat. I'm in the sun too much greeting them and visiting. I've been so good up until now, staying in the shade. We have a good day, no rain, not much wind.

Gary and Maria fix us a tri-tip roast dinner. It's really good. I don't feel well after dinner. I have pains in my chest. Indigestion? Chest pains in my lungs, right side mostly. We're in bed at 10 p.m. again.

I called Chris and Ric from the marina this morning. Ric answered to say they had a C-section baby last night. He weighed 9 lb 14 oz, 20-1/2 inches long. She went to the hospital yesterday with labor pains but no dilating so they sent her home. Rick said that's enough. Call the doctor and insist on a C-section. He said OK, come on in.

I love this picture that Mom took of Junior, Joe and Justin playing in the mud at the edge of the water! Good sunburn protection!

Donna, Mom's best friend, and Donna's husband Bob live in Pollock Pines, not too far north of Lake Don Pedro, so it was an easy drive for them. They often met us at the lake.

Thank goodness Mom finally got someone to answer the phone at our house! I'm sure she was relieved that Baby Derek had arrived and Mom and baby were healthy and doing well. As I mentioned in this blog earlier, Justin was a C-section baby because his head was too large for my pelvis. His head was 10 cm, my pelvis only 9. My doctor told me he thought this baby was smaller, around 8 pounds and I should be able to have a vaginal birth. Boy was he wrong! Justin was 9 pounds, Derek was 9 lb 14 oz and his head was 12 cm, way too large for my pelvis. I suffered 36 hours of unnecessary labor before finally insisting on a C-section.

Derek Martin Roncancio is Born

Tuesday July 14, 1992

It's a beautiful morning but the day develops into a warm cloudy day while we're at the marina calling Chris. No answer at Chris' house. I called Santa Rosa hospital. She's not there. Maybe they're between or out to shop, who knows! But I have a strong feeling she's going to have the baby today. I can't wait to call her tomorrow. Justin has not been interested in calling Chris each day. Interesting. Will he be more interested when the baby comes?

It begins to rain on the way back to camp from the marina. I'm driving. It pelts my face and chest as I hurry back.

Gary and Maria fix ribs for dinner. The rain stops, the wind blows so hard it rips our tent. We spend the next couple of hours repairing it.

Again, I am thankful for cellphones today! That must have been so frustrating for Mom not to be able to get hold of us, and having to drive 1/2 hour in the boat just to get to a pay phone, only to get a ringing phone. I'll bet there is cellphone coverage today at Lake Don Pedro even away from the marina.

Mom's intuition was right. I was having a baby that day. I went into labor with both Justin and Derek right on my due date, although it was the next day by the time they both arrived. Ryan's birth was a scheduled Caesarean section 5 days before his due date.

Off To Don Pedro

Sunday July 12, 1992

Up t 6:30 a.m. to get packed and ready for Don Pedro. We leave at 9:20 a.m., pick up Gary and Maria in their van at Marklein house. We stop for lunch along the way. We arrive at Don Pedro at 4:10 p.m. Marty and Kathy are here already waiting for us.

Justin has been really good in the truck driving all day. He read alot.

We manage to get all the camping gear over to our camp spot in 2 loads. Gary does the boat driving. frank, Junior and I set up camp though I'm not really much help. Luckily, it's pretty cool. Not too hot.

By 8 p.m. we're eating dinner of fried chicken, potato salad and beans.

Wow, after I just said in my previous post that we always went to Lake Don Pedro on holiday weekends, here they are leaving on a Sunday morning and spending a full week. When we would camp on a holiday weekend, we would leave home at 9:00 at night, drive in the cool of the evening about 6 hours to the lake, sleep for a few hours on the ground at the launch ramp parking lot, and then be up with the sun to launch the boat and begin making trips to our campsite on the shore with all our camping gear. This had to be done early in the day before the temperatures reached the upper 90s. This trip they arrive at 4 p.m. They are lucky it's not too hot. Our campspot was always right about where the letter N is in the word California on the map pictured above. This is about 8 miles from the Don Pedro Marina launch ramp.

I am home about to give birth to Derek.

Sabre Saw

Friday July 10, 1992

Time to stay home and get ready for Don Pedro. Gary and Maria have the day off again. I shop for groceries and bake and make potato salad. Justin goes to the valley with Frank to pick up the boat with its new bimini cover. Afterward, they shop and show up at Jim Willis' retirement party.

At home Frank shows Justin how to use the sabre saw. Justin keeps busy making cut-outs and painting them. He really likes that. This activity takes him well into the evening. We have tacos for dinner.

I have been blessed with yet another wonderful day of high energy though my muscles are aching from walking yesterday. Thank you Lord!

While Mom is busy cooking and packing for their camping trip to Lake Don Pedro, Frank makes it his mission to entertain Justin by teaching how to cut wood with a sabre saw. So cool!

Disneyland Day!

Thursday July 9, 1992 Disneyland Day!

I'm up at 4:30 a.m. after not sleeping all night in anticipation. I'm real bad about that. If I'm getting up early by alarm clock, I don't sleep at all. I feel surprisingly well at 4:30 and feel good all day until 1 a.m. when we arrive back home. I have enough energy to keep up all day. I do look forward to each sit-down time.

Frank and I leave at 6 a.m. with Justin, Junior and Joe in tow. Gary and Maria meet us at 11 a.m. in Frontierland for lunch. We have already done the 4 best rides.

It's not too crowded today so waits for rides are 20 minutes or less. We go on all we want and some twice. It's great fun. At 9 p.m. we have the best seat there is, on the balcony in New Orleans Square, to watch "Fantasmic". It's truly wonderful! Beyond belief! The lights parade and fireworks are great as well. A wonderful day was had by all.

Wow, what fun! What better way to entertain 3 grandsons than taking them to Disneyland. This photo must have been taken when they met Gary and Maria for lunch. On the left is Junior (Gabe), who is 13 here, then Joe, who is 11. Behind them is their mom Maria. Next is Justin, who is 11 and then my brother Gary. On the right is Papa Frank. Mom is often missing from photographs because she is generally the photographer.

I can totally relate to my Mom's problem of not being able to sleep when she has to get up early to the alarm clock. I have had that problem my whole life: now I know where I got it! When I was working and had to get up early for a meeting out of town I couldn't sleep at all. Now that I am retired, it is somewhat less of a problem, but if I have to catch an early flight in the morning I have a sleepless night. I am amazed that Mom was able to keep going for 21 hours though. I usually fade by mid-morning after a sleepless night.

Good News from Dr. Schwartz

Monday July 6, 1992

We're up and doing wash, etc, so we can leave at 12 p.m. to go to Ward's for parts, then Gledhill to pick up rent and see the new baby. She's so tiny at 4 lbs 12 oz. They only have part of the rent. We meet Laura's mom. The dog Sophie is expecting pups again soon. They will keep them outside this time. Good!

Off from there to see Dr. Schwartz. He does a complete exam. He hurts me pushing and prodding to feel the tumors. My white blood count is up to 4.6. Best in a long time! He says he'll see me in a month. Good!

Frank had taken Justin to the library this morning. He got 4 books. He finished one before we got to the doctor. Justin swims and eats with Maria and boys. We eat out at Acapulco.

Chemotherapy stresses the immune system, thus reducing the white blood cell count. This is probably why Mom had a hard time getting over her summer cold. But now she is feeling better and her numbers reflect that.

Mom instilled in my brother and I a love of reading. She would take us to the library in Panorama City every two weeks to check out 10 books. I have always loved to read, and Justin does too. For two weeks every summer Justin flew down to visit Mom and Frank and she devoted herself to him during those visits. This year looks to be a bit different, as Justin spends a bit more time with my brother Gary and his family. Gary and Maria have two sons just a little bit older than Justin, and they had a great time swimming in Gary's pool. Not much fun to drag Justin along to rental houses and doctor appointments.

Justin & Grandpa Bob

Friday July 3, 1992

Had a better night. Awake alot but not so much aching. Out of bed most of the day though did sleep in. Just really took it easy.

Gary will pick up Justin at the airport tomorrow at 4 p.m. He'll take them all to Castaic to see the fireworks. Then he'll keep him Sunday for a BBQ at Gary's with Bob & Geri. Bob and Justin have little to do with each other. I hear they just pretty much have nothing to say or do. But Bob's such a queer duck, he doesn't try or care or know how to reach Justin. Justin takes it as rejection; so does Bob. Too bad.

I don't think it was a rejection so much as just a huge generation gap. My dad was a child of the Great Depression. He was born in 1932. His parents reminded me of the couple in the famous American Gothic painting by Grant Wood, pictured below, very stoic, very unemotional and very conservative. They moved from Kansas to California to find work during the depression.



My dad shocked me years ago when he told me that during his entire childhood, he never once received a birthday present, a Christmas gift, or a party. That to me is borderline child abuse. Life must have been joyless without those things that most children enjoy. That sort of upbringing made my dad very conservative and emotionally unavailable. When my brother and I were growing up, we did have birthday parties and presents because my Mom made sure of it. My dad was the typical 50s father whose job was to just bring home the bacon. It was the wife's job to raise the kids and keep a nice home. When my Mom wanted to get a job outside the home when I was 12, my Dad's reaction was very negative. It was probably the beginning of the end of their marriage. He did not want an independent wife with a life of her own and views of her own. After their divorce, my Dad married Geri, pictured above, who was much more submissive and conservative. They were married for over 30 years until Geri passed away in 2010.

Future Summer Plans

Saturday June 20, 1992

I think I might go to Gary and Maria's to see Rosa (Maria's sister) for a short time today, but get too busy running around doing I don't know what that I don't find time.

At 7:00 we go square dancing with our club, a visitation in Woodland Hills cross from Kaiser Hospital. It's a good time and afterward we all go out for coffee and snacks at Red Robin.

Our future plans include a one-week trip to Colorado in July, Lake Don Pedro July 13, Justin's visit July 4-11, visit Chris July 18, El Capitan campout in August, Dixieland Jazz Festival September 5-7, Hawaii in October, Mediterranean cruise in October, Dee and Steve's in August. All this should keep us pretty busy.

Wow, I am exhausted just hearing about all the trips they have planned. I never thought of Mom and Frank as wealthy, but how did they find the money to travel to all these places every year and go out to eat at restaurants almost every night? Both of them were retired. Mom was too young to collect social security and had no pension. Frank was collecting a pension from the City of Los Angeles, but surely it was much less income than working full-time. My husband and I just got back from a trip to Hawaii where we stayed in our Wyndham timeshare, which was booked a year in advance, I got a great deal on airfare, just $300 round trip for me and $99 for Ric on Alaska Airlines companion fare, which we get every year by opening a credit card with the airline. We ate out only once the whole week, at Wendy's for $1.29 small chili. All other food was purchased at Costco after arriving at the Kona airport and prepared in the kitchen of our condo. We didn't take any excursions, we didn't go to any luaus, we didn't go on any cruises. We just relaxed around the resort pool, spent the day at the beach, or took a drive to different spots on the Big Island, but not too far since gas costs almost $5/gallon in Hawaii. I can't imagine ever getting to the point in my life where money is no object.

Off To Sacramento

Thursday May 21, 1992

We're awake at 6 a.m. and up about 7, dressed, we spend an hour with Justin before he leaves for school. He's so sweet. He hugged and kissed me good night twice last night before he finally went to bed. I felt really good all evening thanks to all those good naps. We visit and relax most of the day. Ric's friend is there all afternoon. He's a limo driver. Ric works in the yard all day.

Chris and I go pick up Justin from school and take the pup to the vet. When we return at 4 p.m. Frank and I say "Goodbye" and we're off to Sacramento. It's a nice 2-hour drive except for some traffic.

We check into the Expo Inn, a suite, lovely, with kitchenette. We have a great Japanese dinner 1/2 block away. We take a walk afterward. I had another really good day! Felt fine!

Ric and I had just made the move a few days before this from my condo in Santa Rosa into our brand new house on Wellington Circle in Windsor. The front yard was landscaped by the builder, but the huge back yard on 1/3 acre lot required a tremendous amount of work to even get it ready to landscape. It was on a slope going down towards the back fence on a pie shaped lot, with the widest part of the pie at the back of the property. There was plenty of room alongside the garage to build a driveway down the side of the property all the way to the back fence. Ric built 2 retaining walls to make 3 terraces out of the slope. Behind the back fence was open space with rolling hills and valley oaks.

The limo driver Mom spoke of is Ric's friend Scott, who Ric has known since elementary school. When I first met Ric, all 3 of us would go skiing at Lake Tahoe together. Scott only stops by to visit once or twice per year when the customers he is driving in his limo are wine-tasting or playing golf in the area.

Justin's Birthday!

Sunday May 17, 1992 Justin's Birthday!

I had a rough night, awake alot and taking Tylenol to try to ease the pains in my body, so I had a rough morning also. Pains in my stomach after breakfast which happens only once in awhile. Then after my shower, I had more sweating than usual. Some days the sweats are horrible and last for an hour or so while other days the sweating subsides in about 10-15 minutes. We visit til 11:30 and then pull out and head home. It's a good drive but I can't stay awake. I sleep most of the way. Once home I gather enough steam to unpack the trailer.

After a rest we go out to dinner and over to see Gary. They had company all weekend and enjoyed it.

We called Justin at 3 p.m. to wish him Happy Birthday.

I'm glad Mom was able to nap on the drive home and that Frank was rested enough to drive the whole way.

Mom always made a big deal out of birthdays and holidays. It was one of her ways of showing love.

Mother's Day

Sunday May 10, 1992 Mothers Day

We're up, feeling good and ready at 9:45 when Gary and Maria and the boys arrive to take us to brunch at Marie Callendar. Maria gives me a pretty bell from Avon. Gary gives me a blown-glass hummingbird. They all give me nice cards. Very nice. We have a great brunch with lots of good food. Later we go looking at furniture for Gary and Maria's new home. Then we go by their house for a bit.

When we get home at 1:30 we relax and take a short nap. At 2:30 we leave for Frank's folks house in West Los Angeles. We take them to the Olive Garden for dinner. My dinner is superb! I really enjoy it. We stay to visit til 9 p.m. We're really tired. I sleep on the way home.

Chris and Justin call. They went to Reno and Tahoe for the weekend and had a real good time. We have a good long visit.

When Mom passed away she left two collections, one of bells and one of hummingbirds. Maria got the bells, and I got the hummingbirds. The blown-glass hummingbird that Gary gave Mom is pictured above. It sounds like a perfect Mother's Day. She got a call from her daughter and lunch with her son, then dinner with Frank's parents. Marie Callendars and Olive Garden are two of my favorite restaurants.

The New House Under Construction

Monday March 23, 1992

It was very painful getting out of bed to visit the bathroom during the night, but I slept very well from 10:30 p.m. to 7 a.m. I awoke in much less pain. So much better I didn't even think to take any pain relievers (Tylenol) all day. We hung out in the trailer in front of Chris' condo til 9 a.m. then went in to clean up. We relaxed until 3 p.m. when we all went to pick up Justin from school.

Ric then drove us to see the new house in Windsor under construction. It's very nice and what a beautiful view of trees, meadows and streams from the rear of the house.

Chris is feeling much better, looks good, and is quite large at 5-1/2 months pregnant. We eat lasagna at home. Frank is a "great" grandpa spending quality time with Justin and fixing his bike, etc. Ric's mom comes for dinner and stays all night.

Ric and I lived in my condo in Santa Rosa for 3 months while we refinanced it to pull money out for a down payment on our new house being built in Windsor. Most of our furniture went into storage during the 3 months while we lived in our temporary lodging. The house on Wellington in Windsor is pictured above and is taken right about this time, a little less than 2 months before we moved in. The beautiful view of open fields and huge oak trees behind the house is what attracted us to the house, as well as being a little larger than the house we had previously lived in for a little over a year. This house was also on Wellington, 1/2 block down the street.

Ric's Mom Carmen worked and lived in San Rafael, about 50 miles south of Windsor. She was an early riser, so when she would come to visit, she would usually spend the night on the couch and then leave early the next morning before rush hour to make the drive to her job as a nurse's aid at Kaiser Hospital in San Rafael.