Love story for the ages

Lucy and John

It is one of my favorite things: to find an unforgettable memoir that just grabs me and gives me a lot to think about. And yesterday, I finished one that I can recommend without reservation: The Bright Hour by Nina Riggs. I not only enjoy all memoirs, but especially those that are written in extremis. Nina was a gifted writer and had the easiest way of talking about everything, with humor, as well as dying of breast cancer at 39. So, of course, I went online to find out more about Nina. I learned about her husband and children, and how much love was present in them all and for each other.

A couple of years ago, I read When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi, which is along the same lines: Paul was only 37 when he died of lung cancer, never smoked, and was a renowned neurosurgical resident at Stanford. I have read his book twice now and will, I'm sure, read it again. He and his wife decided to visit a sperm bank in order to help his wife get pregnant before he died. He was very ill when his daughter, Cady, was born, but he lived long enough to be there. It's a tremendously inspiring book, too. I also recommend it highly.

But the love story: Nina was so worried about how John would be able to deal with her death that she asked him to get ahold of Lucy Kalanithi, who had been through the same experience that he was facing, and could possibly help him. Nina and Lucy were already friends because of an essay Nina had published in The Washington Post. Lucy had written her a fan letter and wrote a glowing blurb for the unpublished book, and sent Nina a private email two days before Nina died in a hospice. John read the email to her, and Nina begged him to get ahold of her afterward.

John did, and over the period of several months of intense emails, they decided to meet. Lucy was scheduled to come to a conference less than an hour away from John's home. That was the beginning of this part of the love story. The Washington Post wrote a wonderful article about it, which you can read in its entirety here. (Note: I subscribe to the Post, so I don't have a limit on what I can see. Please let me know if you have a problem reading it, and I'll try to find another way.)

For me, it was a Valentine's Day reward, a wonderful book and a real-life love story all at once. (P.S. I found, after some more digging, that the couple broke it off last summer, so the love story might not be still happening. Too soon?)
:-)

Just by chance

Baker Lake from Noisy Creek campground, taken last year

Today eighteen Senior Trailblazers met at the Senior Center to head 75 miles south to hike on the Noisy Creek trail at Baker Lake, ten miles round trip. We had to figure out carpooling, and Al decided, just by chance, not to drive today. He rode with Steve, with Carol and me in the back seat. Just as we left the interstate on Cook Road, heading to Highway 20, Al had an episode of some sort. I thought he had dropped something and was trying to pick it up in the front seat, but instead he had fallen forward and Steve stopped Al's head from hitting the dashboard with his free hand. Al has no memory of what happened, but it was obvious that something had occurred out of the ordinary.

Although it only lasted a few seconds, no more than ten or so, and he came out of it without any obvious after effects, Carol said we needed to get him to a hospital and get it checked out. Just by chance, there was a Peacehealth hospital a few minutes away in Sedro Woolley, so off we went. Al was admitted and several tests were performed. The really nice woman at the desk was very helpful, and we were the only people there at the time. We chatted about what had happened and she mentioned that she is a writer. I gave her my card and I learned that she, Ruthie, is a published author. She writes books about, as she put it, "paranormal romance."

Ruthie and her most recent published novel

Well, it turns out that term refers to vampire love stories, and she's working on a sequel to this one. When I came out from visiting Al (we took turns), she was busy reading my blog. She's definitely a writer and was very interested in my writing. I think I have a new fan.

While Al was wired from head to toe and was waiting for the tests to be done, I was able to contact Diane in one of the other cars to tell them to continue on while the three of us would stay at the hospital with Al. We knew that they would soon be out of cellphone range, so once it was all squared away, we were sure they would have a good day anyway. Carol called Al's daughter Lisa, and in a very short while we learned that she and Al's wife Wanda were on their way.

As most of you know, Al drives most of the time, and it was just by chance that he didn't drive today. It was just by chance that Carol had noticed the hospital sign on another one of our outings, and that it was very close by. And not only that, when we got there, we learned that it is a Peacehealth hospital, just like the one we have in Bellingham where Al is registered. We were all really a little amazed at all the things that had to happen for this situation to turn out for the best.

After all the tests were done, nothing could be ascertained as having caused the episode, so he will follow up with his own doctor here in Bellingham. Although I don't know how the other fourteen people fared on the hike, the weather could not have been better, and several of the hikers are experienced enough to help get the group to the Noisy Creek campground and back.

Mt. Baker reflected in Baker Lake, last May 15

While we're all anxious to know that Al is all right, I know that the rest of the group saw the first and last pictures on the hike, because the weather was almost exactly the same last year as it was today. I'm sorry I didn't get to visit with the group, but there is always next year. Now you know why this post is called "Just by chance."
:-)