Full Circle

My last three jobs primarily focused on large-scale change initiatives… helping people and organizations to understand, absorb and accept a constant stream of changes, both big and small.  We used to talk a lot about “getting comfortable with being uncomfortable.”  We focused on listening.  We emphasized and reemphasized what was important.…

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Drive Safe

As some of you have noticed, I’ve become significantly more attuned to my surroundings in the last two months.  Maybe it’s my mindful meditation practice?  Perhaps the real or perceived threat of being in constant and imminent danger?  Or it could be La Niña and the weekly excitement of rockslides and…

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Allergies

This past weekend was beautiful, as the majority of our weekends have truly been since we got here.  On Saturday, all the boys went fishing with Papa at the end of the furthest pier in Avila.  While they were busy drowning bait, I walked almost five miles— starting at the Bob…

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Turning Point

Back in high school, two of my friends and I decided we wanted to take a night class at our local community college— some sort of advanced Spanish class that took place after dark. My parents told me no in no uncertain terms.  They were certain I would be accosted…

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5 Rainbow Day

On Tuesday night, James and I headed up to Santa Cruz  in preparation for two appointments on Wednesday.  The next morning we woke-up, had a cup of tea and some swamp water, and then packed-up for the commute to Palo Alto. As we were waking-up in my parents’ cozy sitting room…

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Fumes

A quick update to let you know I’ll post a more satisfying update on Saturday.  Running on fumes this week and am coasting into the weekend via gravity and momentum.  James and the boys have another four-day weekend and are off adventuring today.  Thank you to everyone for your texts, calls…

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Signs

Years ago, my dad told me this story where he had two job offers he couldn’t decide between.  His indecision led him to wake-up on a Monday morning, get into his car, and start driving without a plan.  It was his first day on the job and he needed to…

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Home Alone

Not a lot of new updates to provide on the #TeamJames front.  That’s the character-building part of this whole situation… getting comfortable with being so excruciatingly uncomfortable… and the waiting.  James and I will head-up to meet with the Stanford oncologists on Wednesday.  Meanwhile Granddad will come down to hold…

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Potterwatch

Today James took the boys miniature golfing in Santa Maria.  I’m told Jacob won and they all had a great time.  Apparently there was one hole where two of their balls went into the hole and never came out.  After James jammed the end of his club into the hole…

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Rogue One

On Tuesday of this week, James took the boys to see the new Rogue One Star Wars movie.  And today they had to wrestle the DVD player out of storage so the three of them could watch the first Star Wars movie, which is technically the fourth?  I don’t even…

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