Lost in the Woods

It was a nice day and I decided that Lady and I had been on the Longfellow Creek Trail too many times lately.  We could do the neighborhood walk along the street.  That would be an hour walk and we hadn't done that in awhile.  Then I thought about a place I hadn't been in years. We could walk a short way to where I went with Byron the dog all the time.  There used to be a trail there and it led to a space where the sun shone through the trees which I called  "the chapel".  I would sit on a log and pray in a spot where God helped me through my darkest times.  These days I use it in my memory to talk to Jesus.  Ready to take the road less traveled, Lady and I crossed the winding street to enter the Puget Creek trail.

It looked a little overgrown and muddy at first but there was a thin trail.  I figured I knew the way and felt up to the challenge.  After all we could turn around if things got too bad and go home.    I knew there was a creek down far below but there was so much foliage that I couldn't even see it.  Much of the trail had eroded into the ravine. Okay, I've walked in mud before and I knew about the creek below but if I was very careful, I would make it, right?  We squished along and made our way.  An unfamiliar  large fallen tree stood in the path and we inched our way around it.  We came near to "the chapel" but it had changed.  There was no place to sit but I could see the sun through the trees.  I stood there for a bit soaking in the beauty and then it was time to go back the way we came.  We got to the felled tree and then tried to take the trail as we found it.  We must have taken a wrong turn or maybe that trail wasn't as wide as we thought.  Soon there was no trail, only blackberry bushes.  I tried following Lady thinking she would find the trail but all we found were short paths with dead ends. We were on the opposite side of the creek that we'd started on (how did that happen?).  I tried breaking through the bushes with my body and tried to use Lady's leash as a tool.  It was getting to be time to pick up Mr. D from work.   Cell phone in hand I called and told him both where we were and that I would call again if we didn't get home in time.  We made our way through the thorns and the mud with me falling several times.  It was so hard to get back up because there were only thorny branches to help lift me up.  I wished that I was in better condition and could get up without using my hands.  When I realized there was no way that I could pick up my husband on time I called him and said that I might be calling 911 to get out. I thought we were close to the road because I could see power lines.  We came to a place about 10 feet from the power lines where the blackberry bushes became very dense, too thick to make it through.  I fell once more and was too exhausted to get up. I knew then that we weren't getting out of there without help.

The following is my call, not an exact replication:

 "911, what is your emergency?"
"I'm lost in the woods and can't find my way out."
"What is the street address?"
"I don't know, I'm lost.  I'm by some power lines near Puget Creek."
"What do you think the police can do for you?"
"I don't think I need the police.  I need the fire department."
"Okay, I'll transfer you to the fire department."

Fortunately they were able to get within yelling distance by tracking my cell phone signal.  I yelled back at them and shook some bushes to help them find me.  All through this my faithful dog was with me.  She started growling when we heard there voices but we convinced her that they were the good guys.  As one of the firefighters made his way to me with a machete he said, "I feel like Micheal Douglas" (Remember Romancing the Stone?).  To my surprise we were not by the road.  I was taken by the hand and we walked gingerly up the unstable hill to the fire truck.  They kept on encouraging Lady up the hill as she kept coming back down and checking on my welfare.  We finally made it to street and truck.  They offered to take us back in the fire truck and exhausted I took them up on it. I'd never ridden in a fire truck before.  It's one giant step up and one giant step down.  I got in first and Lady followed.  They took us home.  Muddied, scratched up, and full of stickers, I showered and collapsed on the bed.

I have this saying, "God doesn't protect from stupid," but that doesn't keep him from being with me while I'm dealing with the consequences of foolhardy decisions.  He's there the whole time guiding me home.

A Day Off

The Crumpet Shop at Pike Place Market

This morning I took my car in for maintenance to take advantage of my day off. I took Lady with me so that we could have adventures.  We dropped the car off at Honda of Downtown Seattle and took off for Pike Place Market.  Since it was only a little after 10 am vendors were just starting to set up and it was pretty quiet.  We walked through the market and stopped off at The Crumpet Shop for some tea and a crumpet with butter and strawberry preserves.  Yum!  Of course I had to share my crumpet with Lady with her big brown soulful eyes.  We sat outside for some prime people watching.

Lady looking bored as I take her picture at The Crumpet Shop

Then it was time to take the bus home.  I got our Orca Cards out, paid our fare, and off we went for a quiet afternoon in West Seattle.

Progress

Radiation is over and I get my port out next week. It's been wonderful but tiring to be back at work. It's been amazing how many of my customers are cancer survivors. I had no idea there were so many of us. There are stories to be told of struggles with chemo and lost hair. One young man hasn't cut his hair for over ten years. He's not willing to part with an inch of his hair. I can't say I blame him but I think I'll get mine cut when the time comes into some cute style. Right now my hair is a quarter of an inch long so there isn't much danger of me putting the scissors to it any time soon.

Radiation was definitely easier than chemo. It gave me a fatigue I could manage. I'd get up, get my treatment, take a nap, eat lunch, and then go to work. Through it all I was able to take Lady for walks and build up my stamina. I am working part time which is plenty. Most of all I am happy and ready to face my future with hope.

Contemplating seasons

Each day as I walk with Lady the tree colors are different. There is more orange and red intermingled with the green. The days grow colder and the last hot days of summer have come and gone. I hear a lot of complaints about it from my customers but there are others who like the cool crisp days of fall. There are the smells of hot apple cider and pumpkin pie or the newer scent of pumpkin spice lattes. There is something to be said about the rhythm of seasons. They give me a sense of the continuity of life. Leaves turn red then fall. Barren leaves of winter give way to the buds of spring. The lush foliage of summer changes back to red and the cycle begins again.

Each day I have a little more energy than the day before. This cold or flu or whatever it is has really knocked me for a loop. I did feel well enough to hop on the bus with Lady to the Uptown Espresso for our morning outing. I drank my coffee and Lady kept me company. We just missed the bus home. The bus stop had no shelter and it was pouring rain. Since walking in the rain is warmer than standing in it I decided that we would walk home. I was a little worried about my stamina but we made it back on foot dripping but happy.

Today is the start of Lent, Ash Wednesday. I am going to mass tonight and will have the sign of the cross marked on my forehead in ashes. "Repent and believe in the good news." It's a good time to get closer to God. I'm participating in an online retreat called Days of Deepening Friendship, an online retreat. It's based upon a book by Vinita Hampton Wright. You don't have to own the book to participate in the retreat. Ms. Hampton Wright provides the chapters that pertain to the weeks meditation online in pdf form. I worked on the first one today and it is helping me get ready for the six-week marathon that is Lent.