A Change of Season

Fall. Is. Here. 

Open windows...crisp air. Chili and hot coffee (till next year my beloved venti iced americano) and pies, oh my!

I don't know about you guys, but to me, this is the greatest few days of the year. And us mid-westerners know that those few days of perfectness are probably all we'll get before winter reminds us why living here sometimes really, really sucks. 😌

Besides all the pumpkins and the football and the cute boots and scarves, my favorite part about fall is the beautiful colors. The sunsets seem brighter, the sky looks bluer and there is nothing more amazing than the colors of the trees right before they lose all their leaves. 

Isn't it ironic that the most beautiful point in a trees life is right before it's leaves die?

Dying. Ugh. Such a morbid thought while writing this blog huh? 

But the great news is, mom is NOT dying. She's just going through her own change of season. She has too much life to live, too many weird jokes to tell, too many hugs to give and too many lives to make better. This is why I know she will beat this shit. Because she has so much left to do, and I for one can attest to the fact that Terri doesn't quit anything once she starts it. Sorry grandpa Bob, you're going to have to keep that drink on ice just a little longer. PS, we miss you. 

Mom embraced the first weekend of this beautiful fall season at the single greatest place on earth. The Hut. And if there was a magical, life-changing, cancer-curing, far-away land, Eagle River, WI would be it. And OK, realistically, it might not cure cancer... but for those few sweet days of bliss, you might just think it had. 

Some call it God's country, which makes sense because it truly is a tiny slice of heaven right here in the great state of beer and cheese. I mean where else can you get away with wearing no makeup, the same outfit for three days, not shower, AND a drink bloody mary (or three) at noon in your PJs? And the views? Don't even get me started! Like I said... HEAVEN. 

Mom headed up north with the Ribic's and Grandma Shirl to enjoy a few days of peace and quiet between treatment stages. And in true up north fashion, they enjoyed sitting on the bank of Long Lake to take in the fall colors, headed into town, cheered on the Badgies to one heck of a win (thanks for the semi-heart attack boys) and duh, drank a few bloodys in their PJs. 

I got a full report from Aunt Patty this morning and she mentioned that mom was lively all weekend, successfully downed a mini muffin for breakfast, and was looking forward to some Mexican rice, beans with sour cream and guac, and a margarita for lunch in Clintonville on their way home! Yay! She claims she had to "suck in" to button her jeans this morning (yes real pants are required when departing from the great land) but I don't believe that for one second! 

This week her goal is to make it into work as much as possible and continue to eat... as much as possible. No news or updates yet as we are still waiting to hear the next steps from her fab cancer team before starting stage two. She is still on track to begin that on Oct. 9, but if there is one thing we have learned from all of this, we don't believe it until it's actually happening.  

I hope you all find a way to enjoy this beautiful weather and soak in as much sunshine as you can. Me? I'm going to sip on a bloody mary, say a prayer for mom and enjoy a Packer win. ❤️

Ta ta for now. 

P.S. Thanks Patty and Mike for the great photos!