Well, it’s been a minute so what better way to ring in the New Year than to exhume the blog.

Horrific politics and health issues notwithstanding, like the Everyready bunny (how many of you are old enough to remember that one?) I keep going.

This has been a week! The weather in Cannon Beach has only served to confirm my desire to escape to my desert sanctuary as soon after Christmas as possible. We had 2 windstorms, pelting rain, king tides, and power failures lasting the better part of a day. Luckily, my kids were able to sandwich in a cameo appearance for an early holiday celebration between the two storms, which was very nice.

On the 26th, I rose at O-Dark:30 in my chilly little house with no power and drove to Portland for a medical procedure. I don’t usually like driving in the dark because my car has crummy headlights and one of the windshield wipers just stopped working. Not a good combination in the Pacific Northwest; time to buy a new car! The trip to Portland on Highway 26 normally takes an hour and a half and the procedure was scheduled for 8:00. Tree branches and debris littered the road and new potholes had appeared overnight so I had to go at a snail’s pace and got there late.

I’ll spare you the old person’s organ recital about my health problems. Suffice it to say, I needed a cardiac catheterization, which could be done without sedation, so I was able to drive myself there and back. I might have spent the night before in Portland and even dragged a friend along but most people were busy with family on Christmas so I quit the pity party, sucked it up and went unaccompanied. As a medical professional, it was fascinating watching the cast of thousands prepare the stage for the leading lady cardiologist’s entrance and the performance to begin. I guess that’s why it’s referred to as the operating theatre in many parts of the world. Then the show began and I got to see the doctor snake that wire down to my heart on the big screen. Not something you want to keep your eyes open for if you’re prone to queasiness…

Anyway I survived the procedure and the drive there and back, and after a brief rest, cleaned up the house for my renters who were arriving the next day. A lovely couple of cyber nomads, Michelle and Lee took care of the house and my cat Dobby last year. They apparently couldn’t get enough of the desolation of the northwest coast and agreed to come back for more deprivation. Anyway once again, two days later at 0-Dark:30, I rose again, and Michelle and Lee drove Dobby and me to PDX for our early morning flight to Tucson. Thankless job, helping me stuff a pill down a cat’s mouth and riding in the back seat trying to keep him calm as it was—Dobby showed no mercy. He expressed his appreciation by taking a dump on Lee’s lap!

In spite of that little drama, we managed to arrive at the airport in time for my flight (which of course was delayed). Dobby’s sedative must have finally kicked in because he didn’t make a sound for the rest of the trip. I had to check a couple of times to see if he was dead.

I picked up my rental car and drove us to Green Valley where my Desert Sanctuary awaited us with open arms. I am in my happy place at last…