Life at the condo: Cancer can go suck it

Yesterday, Darr, Hen, and I headed up to Bothell, WA, to visit my cousin Heather and see my Aunt Arlene, who is battling cancer. I can't remember the last time I saw my aunt, although I was fortunate to see Heather and meet her husband, Cory, a few years ago when she was in town visiting another cousin in the family. Heather and Cory have a beautiful and super adorable six-week old baby boy, Hudson, who I could not stop taking pictures of. I mean, seriously, this baby falls asleep and is then just still. He's an amateur photographer's dream! (Plus they have awesome lighting by the window in their living room.)

It was great to see everyone and spend several hours with my aunt over the past few days. We got to share stories and look at pictures and remember things, like the way my grandma's house used to smell when this one flower plant bloomed in her dining room. It was so overpowering she had to close off that section of the house. (Lest ye think it was an offensive smell akin to dirty socks, I shall tell you that it was indeed the most magnificent flower smell that ever scented the air.) And the harrowing day us kids (my older sister, Heather, and I), hit the beehive on the way to the park while we were staying at Aunt Arlene's house. This was followed by one frantic race around the block as we tried to flee the bees on the attack. (I recall this scene almost every time I see a bee. During the panic, I looked down and saw bees on my shoe and I began stomping that foot with my other foot while still trying to run away from the bees coming after us. Nightmares, people. Bad bee nightmares.) I also remember my aunt coming to our house one time with quiche and my mom was so fed up with my picky eating habits she made me take a bite. One bite. After which I promptly vacated the house so I could puke over the side of the front porch. I bet that quiche was really tasty and I'm sorry my food fear was so great I missed it.

I'm feeling very grateful right now - that I had time to go and see her, that my husband was able to take a day off from work to make the drive with me, that my son is healthy, and that I got the opportunity to reconnect with members of my extended family. Grateful but still, if the situation presented itself, I'd like to shove my foot up cancer's ass. Of course there were pictures...