This trip to Santa Cruz was never meant to be fun. At least, that's what I felt at first. We were going to a place where we normally go when it's funtime. Christmas, New Years...but, this time we were going there because my husband's mother, my lovely mother-in-law had CANCER and was having surgery. Gods, I hate that word. CANCER. Cancer was becoming synonymous with Santa Cruz and I hated this thing called CANCER more than ever. My husband and I wanted to provide support and just be with her for a few days while she healed.
When we reached the hospital surrounded by mountains and trees in Silicon Valley I breathed a little bit. The hospital was top of the line. It was pretty. It had robots. It had art. It had free coffee.But, the moment I really knew everything was going to be okay was when I saw Janus right before the surgery. She was in her hospital gown with an IV in her arm and a smile on her face. She wasn't going to let her situation get her down. She had more important things to worry about. Turns out I needed her more than she needed me.
WEDNESDAY
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THURSDAY
The day after her surgery she wanted to go on a walk. We walked along West Cliff. She took us to some tide pools. She stood on the edge of a rock and laughed.
Bonfire to celebrate the Harvest Moon
All her friends were surprised to see her already out and about.
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FRIDAY
Took some time out to break bread with some other loved ones in the area
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SATURDAY
Since Janus was doing really well, we did fun things.
5 photos stitched
*Pano*
Janus Laughingbear Blume
This is her, 3 days after her hysterectomy (or womboval, as I prefer), looking and feeling fabulous on her way out to celebrate life with friends.
"Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference."
-Winston Churchill
All photos taken with an iPhone 3GS. Used the Hipstamatic app except for one photo I used the Pano app. Added text and made collages through Picnik.com.