Who'd a thunk it?

I've decided I don't want to go into detail about what has gone on during the last 2 years, it's in the past and I'm all about right now. I will give you the extremely brief version, though, as it may give some insight into why I am where I am right now.

Not long after dad died, I reconnected with a friend from high school and needing a change of scenery, moved to Idaho. Yes, I said Idaho. Really, the parts I've seen have been beautiful, but who moves from Montana to Idaho? Apparently my high school friend and I,` but I digress.

I got a job and a half and things on the surface were good, but inside I was grieving and sad and it began to take a toll on me. My half job required me to be on my feet for 4-8 hours at a time on concrete floors and my rheumatoid arthritis, which had been tolerable for the past 20 years, became quite intolerable, which added to my depression. During my "every six month" CA 125 test, the levels were significantly elevated, so I began a short 6-month course of treatment. As you might imagine, it was not the best of times, though it was nice to know that it was caught extremely early and was quite curable.

I chose not to share this information with my brother, son and cousins, but have done so recently. :) My two best local friends helped me through it and I was able to continue working both of my jobs. As I said, it was completely curable, but it was scary and hard and miserable and I am so glad it is over! It was difficult enough going through knowing the end result would be good, I can't imagine not having any idea what the end result was going to be.

Anyway, the big C was gone, but I still had the RA to deal with. Not liking the remedies offered by my rheumatologist, I turned to a more natural approach. My body was toxic from a lifetime of yo-yo dieting, eating the wrong foods, drinking the wrong things, working in a very chemical environment (scrubber operator at a platinum smelter), being around second hand smoke, eating foods that were laden with chemicals, meat that had hormones and steroids added. I had been through 6 months of chemo and could feel it in every part of my body from my brain to my swollen, gnarled up little toe. I was a ticking time bomb and I knew it.

By the grace of the universe, I was introduced to a woman whose life had been changed by a health and wellness program and she was kind enough to share her experience with me. After I heard her story, I started her program. I replaced two meals with pure healthy nutrition. Four days a month, I did a cellular cleanse to detoxify my body, and it was (and is) SO easy! The program provides the best nutrition on the planet and a way to cleanse the toxins out of the body, It worked for me, better than I could ever have wished for.

Good nutrition makes for a healthier body, go figure.

Adventures with Gordy

I spent this afternoon with Gordon, my best friend's father, touring the Museum at the Brig at Farragut Park. The museum is dedicated to the Navy personnel who trained there and is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

It will also be open on September 12, 2009 for a reunion of the naval trainees. Those who would like to attend are asked to meet at the Museum at the Brig at 9AM and bring a sack lunch. Donuts and coffee will be served.

Gordon trained there in preparation for service in World War II, so it was a most interesting tour.


Here Gordon signs in at the special registrar for returning personnel.

The map is of the whole park, which is located on Lake Pend Oreille in Idaho.

The museum curators left one of the "cells" as it had been in the past.

This is a model made by local high school students. It depicts the camp as it was when Gordon was there.

This is one of the many displays.

As is this.

This plaque is located outside the museum at the entrance/exit point.

These plaques, next to the commemorative plaque, contain the signatures of all who attended the 2006 reunion. Gordy is standing next to the plaque containing his name!

It was impossible to get a picture that showed the impressiveness of this courtyard, lined with flags of all types.

This is an original firetruck from that era.

As I walked around the exercise yard of the old brig, it was hard not to think of all the men who died during the war that brought this place to life.

This piece of art was sculpted by one of the men who trained at Farragut. A close-up of the head would show that there are hundreds, possibly thousands of heads carved into the massive sculpture.

Thanks, Gordon, for a wonderful afternoon.