Surgery, Recovery, New Job for Larry, New Home for Us, Chemo....

Mike and Sue had traveled to Chile to visit us -- what timing!  A few short days following their return to the U.S., I was diagnosed by a physician in Santiago with a tumor in the lower lobe of my left lung and knew surgery was a given.  We returned to the U.S. arrivng on Sunday, May 8, and began the process of doctor appointments and tests (and our annual trip to the Grand Canyon for the guys' hike) working towards establishing a surgery date which turned out to be June 13. 

Connie and Dave popped in from Vegas for a quick visit before surgery -- nice to catch up.
(L-R, Mike, Dave, me, Connie, Larry, Sue, Karen, M&Ms, and Stephanie.)

Below was my home away from home for 13 days.

Virginia and Jane (Grant) sent flowers.

Shortly after release from the hospital, our Calama neighbors, the Olmsteds, arrived in Phoenix and we were able to catch up a bit.

(L-R: Josh, Maddy, Tracey, and John.)

July took Larry back to Calama to wrap up his job there and arrange for our Calama things to be shipped back to the U.S.  His 10 days back were full, but also allowed for time to gather with fellow workers and friends.  I wish I would have been able to return to see all of the new people who have entered our lives as a result of the Chile experience.

Larry's work group despedida.

View from the mine site.

Despedida with our neighbors in Calama.

Good-bye Calama and good-bye to a great experience living in Chile and hasta luego to all the people who came into our lives as a result of this experience...

Early August took us to Harrison.  We arrived in time to send Karyl off to the Fair to compete in the Hog Westling competition.

We were surprised by a visit from Jane and John Goldrick (Torrington, WY) and BJ and Cheryl Dunn (Chadron) that afternoon. 

(L-R: Jane, John, Cheryl, and BJ.)

Virginia (Chadron) and Jane (Rapid City) [see flowers above] came over for a visit.

(L-R: Linda, her son Todd, and Wayne to the right)

The niece (Sophia on the left), and great-nieces and nephews [back row L-R: Austin, Kennedy and Brady.  front row L-R: Sophia, Kane, Kealy and Dawson.]

Niece Elizabeth and friend Monty

Niece Karyl, Travis, Brady, Kealy and Dawson.

Doug, Kennedy, Niece Crystal and Kane.

Linda and I like to get our picture taken with Sophi -- her favorite aunts on the Todd side of the family.

(L-R: Linda, Wayne, Dorothy, and Sophi.)

Aunt Co (Rapid City) came for a visit.

And then, all too soon, it was time to leave Harrison's wide-open spaces and cool temperatures including afternoon rain showers, a lot of time on the front porch, home-made ice-cream, catching up with family and friends, and evening thunder and lightening storms. 

Nebraska wide-open spaces.

We arrived in Denver and were able to spend time with step-father Marvin and his wife Jennie and Jackie.

Certainly not enough time with family in Denver but was necessary to return to Phoenix to close on the purchase of our new home -- we're going to live here longer than we've ever lived in a home before -- we think....

Jim and Liz and Jimmy came over to our Mesa place to help pack up some things and Liz's sister Marilyn and husband Mel met us at the new home to help unload.  Mike and Sue and Harper arrived in time to participate in a champagne toast to our new home in Carefree, AZ -- just a tad north of Scottsdale.

Jim and Liz and Jimmy came up the following weekend for a champagne brunch. Nice to have family close...

Hmmm, what is with the chile hanging by Larry's head.....

And I'll end with a couple of examples of the sunrises we're enjoying here in Carefree...

Oops, forgot to mention chemo.  Started that on Monday, August 15.  My treatment schedule will be three days of chemo followed by 2 1/2 weeks off.  The current treatment plan will be 4-6 sessions as described above.  Next chemo:  Tuesday, September 6-8.