Anniversary Trip

Eugene and Lorraine continued their 50th. anniversary celebration by going to Jordan and Israel. It was a learning and study trip with a tour group. The first view of Jerusalem from the top of a hill, left them standing in quiet awe. The tour guide distributed bread and wine as an Old Testament welcome. Every historical, Biblical site was a moving spiritual journey--from the grooves in the cobblestones of old ruins created by chariot wheels to sailing on the Sea of Galilee. History became a living experience.

Eugene thought Lorraine should ride a camel on top of the Mt. of Olives. He said that the grand kids would be impressed. (They were.) Lorraine thought a person could get seasick, swaying back and forth, riding on the "ships of the desert" for a long distance.

The journey in the Holy Land was inspirational and safe. They would recommend it to anyone. Most surprising, was the multitude of buses and crowds of people.

MISSING JOAN!

Joan found out in late October that she has esophageal cancer. She's been at Mayo since early November when she started her chemotherapy treatments. She is now staying at Hope Lodge and keeps us posted about what/how she is doing--and she is very busy between treatments, appointments and socializing (even got in some cleaning!)

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She spent Thanksgiving with family in the Cities and had a nice weekend. No trip to the Cities would be complete without checking out the new American Doll store at the Mall of America (after all, Grandma Joan took a granddaughter to Chicago for an American Doll trip).
She said in an update that now "Grandma has the necessary items from American Girl."

She met with her radiation oncologist's PA recently. Joan was told that she is doing much better than many patients and she told Joan, "You are a tough lady!" We can all agree with that.

It sounds as if she is VERY busy during the day and there are many activities going on at Hope Lodge--music presentations, pot luck suppers and lots of socializing. Of course, all of this has to take place after watching Jeopardy for Joan.

She has about a week left in Rochester and then a month off before another round of scans and medical decisions to make.

She will be with family at Christmas--perhaps even going to Indiana to visit her son and family! She hopes to spend a week or so at home where we hope to have her come to coffee with us--perhaps we'll have to plan a party (after all, we do have wine glasses!).