Leaving Colorado

Today I'm leaving behind the blue skies, mountains, and wide open spaces of Colorado. I'll miss the dry air and I'll miss my family. But I am so excited to return to my home in Paris.

Winter in Paris can be grey, cold and rainy. But I won't mind. I'll be back home in my warm cozy apartment with Patrice. I can hardly wait.

January 14th

Today is the two-month anniversary of my cancer diagnosis and I feel great. I've had surgery, numerous follow-up visits with doctors, and some physical therapy. My treatment is finished (for now) and I'm free to return to my home in Paris. I can hardly wait. I miss Patrice and our life together.

It hasn't been all bad, though. My extended stay in Colorado has allowed me to spend extra time with my mother, sister, brothers, and extended family. Both of my sons have also traveled from their far-away homes - just to be with me. What a blessing.

I've reconnected with close friends who have supported me for the last 5 years during which I made profound changes in my life. Thank you for that.

This separation has been difficult for Patrice. He does not like me to be so far away. And yet, he has discovered some reserves within himself and has made a point of keeping busy. He has visited his own family and has even made some new friends.

I'm now ready to go back. I leave Denver on January 23rd. I've had lots of time to reflect on my life and I realize that although I grew up in Colorado, my life is no longer here.

I'm going home - to Paris and to Patrice.

Taos in the winter

 My son Eric and I decided to take a little trip to Taos, NM. We are staying with Eric's friends Bob and Martha Felt. Bob and Martha own Redwing Books, publishers of Eric's Concise Materica Medica and his Clinician's Guide to Using Granule Extracts. Martha also has goats, chickens, ducks, turkeys, and a huge garden. She is a fabulous cook and so Eric and I have been treated to some delicious meals using homegrown ingredients. Yummm.

Bob and Martha live just outside of Taos and have an exquisite view of the mountains to the east and the entire Rio Grande valley to the west.

Casa Felt

  It's been sunny and very cold outside, but warm and toasty inside.

Taos was discovered by Spanish conquistadors in 1540 but it had already been settled by the Tiwa Indians around 1350 AD. We visited the Taos Pueblo a few months ago.

This time, I visited the Spanish mission church of St. Francis of Assisi

 

and the Martinez Hacienda Museum.

 

 

We visited the Rio Grande Gorge which was created by a separation of tectonic plates,

 

 And the Earthship community outside of Taos which features unique solar homes built using only natural and recycled materials.

Happy New Year and Bonne Année

Denver City and County building

I spent Christmas and a very quiet New Year's Eve with family here in Denver. I'll be returning to Paris (finally!) around the 23rd of January.  Happy New Year and Bonne Année to all my friends on both sides of the Atlantic from colorful, wintry Colorado.

Happy Birthday Philippe

My son Philippe turns 37 today. Where did the years go?

I still remember him as a blond, curly headed child at three years old:

and later, his hair a little darker but still very curly in high school.

Elaine and Philippe

 Now, head shaven, he is a professor of French at Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon. (For more pictures of Philippe, click here.)

Philippe with wife Rachel in Portland

Happy Birthday Philippe. I love you.

Sonia's 80th

I've known Sonia Martin, my former teacher and life-long friend, for 51 years. She taught me everything I know about English spelling, grammar, and punctuation. She is still my behind-the-scenes copy editor. She is a careful reader of my blog and her eagle eye catches mistakes in spelling and syntax on a regular basis. (Thank you, Sonia!)

Yesterday was her 80th birthday. My son Eric, sister Jan, and I brought take-out Thai food and had dinner at her house. Her hair is still brown and she still swims almost daily. We wish her well.

Congratulations on your 80th! For more photos click here.

Santa on skates

Santa paid a visit to the ice rink at the Belmar shopping center last week.