I am here at Providence Hospital to attend a Mass and to receive this special blessing from the Archbishop. It is the Day of the Sick and that is me these days, one of the sick. The folks from the Order of Malta are here also to talk to me about the future trip to Lourdes, France. A future trip that I am trying to finagle my way aboard. Maybe finagle isn’t the right word but I just wanted to use it. I have some gaps in my paperwork and then hopefully I will be an official candidate.
Finally I am feeling better with my body and nearly normal on things of concern. Without whining I have to just say that these new treatments are a major challenge. I think I have expressed that over the last few weeks, maybe I should move on to something more interesting.
The Order of Malta is an interesting topic. This is an ancient organization that goes back to when the first pilgrims started venturing from Europe to the Holy Lands. They were first called the Knights of Saint John, that is John the Baptist, that John. They were tasked with protecting and caring for the travelers on these holy pilgrimages. They are credited with setting up the first hospitals anywhere. Sometimes they are referred to as the Knights Hospitaliers. They are overall known for there work with basically the sick. And that’s where I come in.
They want to include me in their annual trip to that famous healing place Lourdes. All the chapters of the Order of Malta from around the world are converging on Lourdes during the first week in May. I don’t know the population of all that but know that the West Coast outfit is sending 50 of us and each has a helper. So a bunch of us.
OK back at the ranch for a little rest. Then My Rebecca and I are back to Seattle for a dinner. Hmm, I am supposed to be recovering.
Love, Felipe.
Hang in there, Phil . . . you are in my prayers for both the possibility of going to Lourdes AND to turn the corner on feeling better! You are one tough hombre, Felipe! Buen Camino. . . Jim
Jim ~ Yea, Buen Camino! I remember in Spain of moving through the various stages of what that phrase meant to us. Eventually it encompasses that whole experience, the good, the bad and the ugly. Turned the corner on my chemo cycle and am now feeling better, thanks. Felipe.
This trip to Lourdes sounds very interesting. I hope it all comes together for you. Keep us posted. I hope you are feeling better and can be done with the side affects of this new treatment. Kelly and I off to Kauai for 10 days the end of February and beginning of March. Kelly has never been to Hawaii, and it was a Christmas gift from me Christmas of 2016. Took awhile to arrange and work around other commitments. Going to Tucson this coming weekend to meet up with my Aunt and cousin from Ohio. Then a week after I get back from Kauai I am meeting up with some other “retired principal” friends of mine for small 5 day cruise to Mexico. I have been trying to meet up with them for a couple years since we have been stationed here in the Inland Empire. Then in April I will head to Ohio to help my Dad out with taxes and getting a new dishwasher.
Kelly and a colleague have submitted a lottery request for a tag to hike Half Dome up in Yosemite for May or June but we won’t hear if we are selected for another month or so. At any rate both Kelly and I are in fitness training in case that comes to pass, we need it regardless. Kelly has been walking to work every other day and I have stepped up my aerobics, yoga and hiking. Starting week 4 and things are getting better. Feeling a lot healthier.
It is the big 60 and our 35th wedding anniversary this summer too so the kids and I are plotting something. Still taking suggestions from the kids and tossing around some ideas. Still hoping to work in a trip your way too this summer. Lots to think about and plan. Sure miss you guys and long to see you soon.
Carol ~ thanks dear for the update. You wear me out with just the explaining of it all, hehe. Significant year coming up with your 60th and your 35th. Of course they are only numbers which may describe your situation or not. I have to go write the blog, see you, miss you, hello to Kel. Felipe.x
Hola Felipe,
I was thinking as I read, how things have their own timing, this thing of “there is a time for everything under the sun”… for me it is such a synchronization that this idea of the trip to Lourdes (to Lourdes!!!) comes right now… that you are dealing with this new treatment, all the side effects that make you feel sicker than cancer does, and that is charging you such a toll… I just thought of that… some months ago when you (and us) had no idea what this new drug would bring, the trip sounded like a nice trip… now it has such an additional meaning too… well, it seems to me anyway!
Hope you had a lovely date 😉
Plain Hugs this morning!
Cris
Cris ~ Yes, the timing of all this is awesome. I don’t think I truly appreciate the full significance of it yet. We had a fun dinner in the city last night and didn’t get back too late. It is sort of an expedition to make it to to Seattle and back from here. Time to blog! Felipe.x