Greetings from the hot, hot desert. It is the time of year to enjoy the view of the mountains from an air conditioned living room.
I enjoyed a nice weekend with a full house of family. Cathy and Laura continue to be by my side. We were joined by my sister, Su, in town from Kansas City, my brother-in-law, Paul, in town the Black Hills, and Dan, who conspired with Cathy to surprise me for the weekend. While my energy and appetite remain low, I still enjoy having the love and laughter of family around. We enjoyed some good food, some fun (depending on who you ask) games, some nostalgic stories, and plenty of laughs. It is nice to reminisce over old stories while still creating new memories with my loved ones.
Dan left on Sunday night, Paul on Monday morning, and Su on Tuesday morning. On Monday, we had our first visit with a representative from Hospice of the Valley. On Tuesday, we had the chance to meet with Megan and Nick, who comprise part of our "core" hospice team. Megan will handle the social worker aspect of the care, while Nick will be our go-to for nursing care. Both were very kind and personable and it is bittersweet to have them join our medical team that already includes so many wonderful professionals from Piper and Mayo.
As always, it is important to keep my focus on things to look forward to. I look forward to a private violin concert on Friday, courtesy of Dan's mother-in-law, Cathy. I also have several visits from family members scheduled for the coming weekend. Moreover, I look forward to all the love and support I receive from Team Bacon in the form of guestbook entries, cards, and other well wishes. These messages, whether small or large, short or long, are so meaningful to me and my family.
Thanks for fighting with me!