Box Canyon

Sunday February 14, 1993 Valentine's Day

Awake, a good day, at 7:30. Up at 8:00. I wake Frank at 8:30 after my shower. I watch Dr. Schuller until 9. I get ready to go to brunch with Gary and Maria at 10:30. We go to El Torito. It's a great brunch. I eat pretty good. Everyone else eats very good.

After brunch we all go for a drive through Box Canyon and the estates in Chatsworth. We get home about 1 p.m. and walk to next street to Penny's open house. Gary and Maria leave to go hiking.

I read newspapers all day. At 6:00 I begin dinner. I make a meatloaf. I enjoy dinner at 7. I have felt good all day.

What a wonderful day Mom had this day, her last Valentine's Day. I remember hiking in Chatsworth Park as a girl, but had never heard of Box Canyon. From the photos I found on-line it looks like it is just south of Chatsworth and very similar landscape to Chatsworth Park. Even though Southern California is quite congested and metropolitan, it is nice to know there are still some hidden gems.

Valentine Cards

Tuesday February 9, 1993

Awake at 5. I took a Unisom and Tylenol but no more deep sleep. Frank left for carving class at 8:15 when I got up. I started the laundry and ate a little breakfast. I am feeling anxious, worried and depressed. I can't shake it. I feel almost paralyzed by it. Finally, I take one of Frank's Xanax for anxiety. It helps but I still feel depressed all day. After lunch we go to see the movie Aladdin, hoping that will help. It helps a little.

We stop to buy Valentines, $35 worth for all our family. Is this my last Valentine's Day? will God answer my constant prayer for healing? Maybe I'll feel better after I see Dr. Semrad tomorrow.

I have no appetite for dinner.

I take Xanax when I have insomnia as it helps me to relax, but I don't think it would help with depression at all. I thought buying Valentine cards would lift her spirits, but again, she is wondering if this will be another "last", which it is. I still have that Valentine card from 1993, as well as several other cards Mom sent me while battling cancer those last 2 years. I'm so glad I kept them. The card pictured above is the one she bought for me this day.

Valentine's Day

Friday February 14, 1992

Up and moving fast for a 10 a.m. doctor appointment in Granada Hills. But first we exchange Valentines and gifts. Frank gives me a beautiful card and a candy box that has a beautiful black nightgown inside the heart shape. Then he gives me the beautiful heart shaped box of candy. It's red velvet with a beautiful silk flower on top. It's my first beautiful heart-shaped box of candy I ever received. I love it all.

Frank likes my card and the pretty sweatshirt and huge heart-shaped chocolate chip cookie that says "I love you" on top.

We decide to go to Frank's folks. We all go to lunch. A miracle happens. An old friend of Frank's sees us at lunch. He offers his secretary to notarize a bunch of legal documents for mom and dad. Later we go out to dinner with them and finally get home exhausted at 9 p.m.

Well, the gifts and card sound very romantic, but spending the day with the in-laws definitely does not, especially after hearing mom describe them in previous posts. I hope they weren't too exhausted to cuddle at least.