Goodbye Ron

We say goodbye to Ron Edwards, a graduate of Coupeville High School (1965?). I knew him from school (an upper classman). He also played drums in the band the Sceptre's in 1968. Later, he was a Deputy Sheriff then a Detective, then moved to California. He got cancer last year and was told in June that he had 6 months to live. In December he wrote a note to my brother on the Caring Bridge Site:

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2007 09:50 AM, CST
Dear Mike, I heard about your site from Pam Young. I am so sorry to hear of your illness. One thing you must do is stay positive and believe that you will get well. It is a real struggle , to say the least. I know somewhat of what hell has been placed in your path but from experience I can tell you, "Don't give up!" not for a moment. The chemo is an awful stuff but it can and does help. Keep eating and keep up your strength. Obviously many people love you and care and that is such a solace to anyone. Always remember that you will beat this, it does not have you.

I remember you as a young man and you don't seem the type to let this thing get the best of you. I have had numerous speed bumps placed in my path over the years but like you my life has been placed in others hands. Six months ago I went to the hospital with what I thought was phnemonia. turned out to be a large tumor in my left lung and cancer of the bones, liver and all. I was much more fortunate than you when it came to them getting me on chemo. When the Doctor told me I had six months I asked that we get started right away and he started that day. That was on June 13th of this year. I am past my six months and I am still here writing this note to you. Anything is possible Mike, this is the voice of experience. Hold your head up, be positve and believe in yourself. You can do it. Once you get over the initial illness of the chemo it will get better. I have found my peace in the fact that so many of the people I knew in my past are back in my life, supporting me and now you are finding the same. God bless you my friend and continue on, and no matter what, NEVER QUIT.

Ron Edwards


He fought to the end and that came today at 12:18 Pacific time.
Goodbye Ron. I'll see you on the other side!!

The sun is back!!

Elliott enjoying a sunbeam on the couch.
Tomorrow I head to Leavenworth. (The town, not the prison).
It is in the Cascade Mountains just East of Stevens Pass. The State Transit systems get together once a year to have a conference on issues dealing with person's with disabilities.
Leavenworth is a Bavarian looking village and is sort of centrally located so all the systems have a chance to get there. Last weekend it would have been hard to get to with all the snow we were having. Today it is 70 degrees and sunny! I will be glad to get off the Island and do something different from the every day stuff here.

My brother is doing better on his new chemo. I don't know if it is shrinking the tumors any, but he is tolerating it much better! Before, he was acting weird and not in focus. Now he is back to being my brother. Sherry and I were talking a few weeks ago and she mentioned that she missed Mike. I asked what she meant, and she said he just isn't the same. He acts doped up (which he is) on the medications. We prayed together and I asked the Lord for healing, but if he won't heal, we'd like to have my brother back, we'd like to have Sherry remember his last days with warmth. Well since he started the new chemo he is actually acting like his old self. Sherry and I hugged each other and said "Thank you Lord". He listens.

Today I am grateful for my brother.

I am leaving after Church tomorrow and will return on Tuesday night. You won't miss me, because I seem to only post once a week or two. But y'all have a good week!!

Is this april?????

Lookie here folks, we have SNOW!! It is APRIL fercrissakes!
I was driving home from my AA meeting tonight and it was hailing, then snowing, then lightening, and 1" of slush on the road. It is 33 degrees now and they are forecasting heavy snow this weekend! WHAAAAAA????? Ok, I'll admit it, I love it. I like anything out of the ordinary. I am a weather freak and always look for extremes. At least we aren't getting tornadoes or earthquakes!
Anyone else getting weird weather?

Sorry I have been absent, I have writers block....actually I have trouble talking too. It seems I can't keep my concentration focused. I was sharing at the AA meeting last week and changed subjects in the middle of a sentence then I heard myself and lost my train of thought. I realized I just interrupted myself so I shared that and shut up. My friend Jane thought that was the funniest thing she has ever heard!! I guess it is kind of funny.

G'nite.

Where have I been?

I see I haven't posted in almost two weeks!
I was busy, then had a few days off and got the crud that is going around. I seem to be greedy and get every germ that passes by me!! I thought it was allergies, but nope! Any way, I am better. I went to the doctor today and he gave me an inhaler to use and told me to rest (yeah, right). So I went back to work and cleaned my office! Yikes, I actually threw away alot of old crap I was saving just because. Well I have no room for that, and all it does is collect dust to irritate my airways, so out they went! Now my boss will come in and ask if I had a certain document or folder or whatever. Please don't be reading this Martha!! {:-)
My brother started his new chemo treatment Monday and seems to sleep alot. It is so hard watching him go downhill. So hard. I posted my feelings on the Caring Bridge site, then Sherry posted her thoughts too. Go visit here: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/mikebrett If you don't want to sign up just use my email address, phyllisbrett1@comcast.net then the password booboo00 the last two 00 are zeros not letters.
So that is where I have been lately. Busy then depressed, but hanging in there. Life goes on, and it is a beautiful Spring day today after the snow around us the past few days!!
And Baseball Season is upon us!! GO MARINERS!!