My Sister, Cathy

When I was young my sister, Cathy, held an almost demi-goddess-like place in my life. After all, who else could magically turn liquid detergent and a little water into bubbles? Who else knew how to make cardboard boxes into stoves, and salt and flour into Christmas ornaments? She lived in Far, Far Away Long Beach where I spent summers playing in the yard in wading pools, eating delicious (yet, frighteningly red) peaches, playing with Lincoln Logs and Tinker Toys with David, and watching LA television. (I think they had 4 or 5 channels up there! Howdy Doody and Felix the Cat were on every day.) Post Toasties were on the approved list of foods at her house. When I was home, I'd pine for visits from her. On days when she was supposed to arrive I'd be up with the sun waiting on the front porch. Once, when I was about 6 years old and waiting endlessly for her, I remember figuring out how to call her long distance. "Where are you?" I asked. It was probably 7:00 am.

The reason I say demi-goddess rather than super hero with Cathy is that she wielded a power that was much more parent-like than my other siblings. She could and would make me do things like take a bath, go to bed, and give me painfully tight last-an-entire-week-but-do-them-daily-anyway pigtails (an attribute I hear from others that I also posess. They say abuse is generational. Et tu Deby?) She was talented (you should've seen how GREAT my mission looked), beautiful, and could read (a skill I simply had to posess!). I had to obey her, whereas, with Doug it was more of a series of negotiatiations.

As an adult Cathy has been my companion and the best neighbor I ever had. How many years did we exercise together every morning? We've shared the creation of an award winning gingerbread house (which almost, but not quite made up for the Mission), a love of baking (she, Deby, and Diana are the few, the proud, that I'd do a cookie swap with), and many a bottle of wine. I miss her company terribly. She knows and understands me in the most important ways. I'm her "Ginny Baby" and she'd jump in front of a moving train to save me. If I had a problem and she could help, she'd be there. If I killed someone she'd be the first person I'd call to help me dump the body. What more can I say?

Danae in the Horse Show

Today was a big one for Danae. She rode in her second horse show with Healing Reins. (Healing Reins specializes in theraputic riding for disabled folks.) She had a great time despite having a nasty cold and managed to walk away with second place in her category (beginning riders). Check out the You Tube videos of her I've linked to my video collection (on your right).
Here's a link for Healing Reins for those interested in learning about this great organization. http://www.healingreins.org/ Danae has gained a lot of strength, endurance, and bodily control since beginning to ride horses. She's also developed that obsession with horses that only young girls seem to be able to feel.

"Chef Boy," Sharing & Ice Cream Sandwiches

Carole King

Only Love Is Real


...I think it's true that nothing is really new under the sun. Watching a new love grow from old love's embers. Yesterday's gone but today remembers. Doesn't it seem to come down the same for everyone? Only love is real. Everything else illusion.

Adding to the confusion of the way we connive at being alive.

Tracing a line till we can define the thing that allows us to feel.

Only love is real

Childhood dreams like muddy waters flowing through me... Everything I ever thought is confirmed as truth to me.

Even as I see the way that I want to go now, still I wish I had known what I know now...
Only love is real

Everything else illusion. Adding to the confusion of the way we contrive to just stay alive. Tracing a line till we can define the thing that allows us to feel. Only love is real.

Doug's Visit May 2007

It's a good thing that not all superheroes wear spandex. Mine would all look pretty silly in it! In fact, that's a thought that I'm just going to need to block from my imagination right now - I suggest you do the same!

Ever since I was a little girl Doug has been tops on my superhero list. He can fix anything from bad moods to broken stuff. When I was a kid he'd carry me to bed after Wonderful World of Disney was over, even though I suspect he knew I was only faking being asleep. He was patient with me through bad dreams, barf clean ups, and my incesant talking and singing in the car (though he did attempt to bribe me to shut up). No girl ever had a better little (big) brother.

Even though I'm all grown up now (and then some) I still think of Doug as one of the few somebodies in this world who would love me and believe in me no matter what. So, I was very excited to have him visit us. We hung out, had some family dinners, he did puzzles with Danae, Ooo'ed and Ahh'ed over Deby's cutie brood, and looked around town and on into the "nothing" that surrounds Bend. Mark was lucky to have someone to show his woodshop off to who would

really appreciate its wonderful coolness and obsession potential.

We all got our "Doug fix" and then, off he flew, out of our presence and into the smoggy "something" that surrounds the ant hill (literally and figuratively) that is Vista. We miss him! In fact, when Danae was in trouble a couple of days ago she started whining, "I want Doug." I find myself whining the same thing on the inside.

A Few Fab Family Fotos

Scooter and Buddy

The girls at Mt. Shasta
Mark and me at home in San Diego Christmas 2006

Jumping on the Blogging Bandwagon

Not to be outdone by Laura and Deby, I too now have a blog. I will endeavor to keep you all informed of the goings-on here in Rischville. (But, we all know about good intentions gone bad.) Check in often and leave me comments. Here we are at the top of Pilot Butte looking toward the Cascades.