Button, Button...

...who'll find the button?






While reminiscing in my mind about Jane - I thought of the Button Game and this little memory....

Before I moved from Minnesota, I called Jane to see if she wanted to meet for lunch.  It had been a while since we'd visited.  She was at a shopping mall in Burnsville when she answered her cell phone.

I told her I had just one errand to do first - to go to Joann's Fabrics and buy a button.

I had replaced the buttons on a new blouse and was short one.  I had forgotten to count the buttons on the sleeves.


She started to laugh - because at that very moment she was standing in front of the displays at Joann's...yes... shopping for buttons.

So I gave her the details - and she picked up my buttons for me.

Fortuitous for me....and we thought it funny and quite the coincidence.

Jane found the button.  Thanks Jane.

Farewell to Jane...

Jane was my friend.

We first met when I went to her home to pick up my son Nate.  Nate - and Jane's daughter Laura - were juniors in high school and had met when performing in The Music Man at the Chanhassen Dinner Theatre.

When I arrived - Nate, Laura and some other friends were in the music room - and it was clear they had no intention of saying any quick good-byes.

So I joined Jane in the family room and saw a jigsaw puzzle spread out on a card table.



I loved doing puzzles too - so we sat down and worked on it together and got to know each other.

A new friendship was born.

There were many impromptu family dinners together, photo ops with Nate and Laura at proms and theatre performances, picnics at the Arboretum, weekends at Stevens Point and much more.

One weekend in June 2005, we drove to Stevens Point to see Laura perform in a college musical production.  I drove Jane's SUV there and back.  It was a perfect arrangement as I liked to drive and Jane liked to ride.

The following Tuesday, Jane sent out a group email explaining that she had some blurry vision in her right eye and had it checked out.  Unfortunately, a cancerous tumor was found in her eyeball.

The good news was that it was all-contained - and even though she would lose her eye - there wouldn't be any radiation or chemo treatments required.  It was surreal as she never mentioned or complained about any eye issues when we were together just a few days earlier.

Through it all - she maintained her positive spirit and deep faith...

...and her sense of humor.



She loved the cookie bouquet I got for her - complete with a pirate cookie with an eye patch.

Until it happened... I never knew that Jane's doctors had cautioned her that there was a possibility that the eye cancer could potentially manifest itself in liver or lung cancer within 6-10 years.

Unfortunately they were horribly right - as 6 years later cancer did appear in her liver.  It was unyielding and relentless and took her too soon.

Through it all - she and husband Don were so courageous.  Their CaringBridge posts displayed their unshakable Faith.  It was gut-wrenching, heart-breaking, amazing, and humbling, to be included on their journey. 

Jane was a woman of faith, integrity, and fun.  I will be forever grateful for her being part of my life.  I miss you Jane....til we meet again.

Jane was...and will always be...my friend.

See Jane.

Stop, Jane!  Stop!




Please don't go...


I love you, dear friend.

The Eagle was Banded

I've been enjoying eavesdropping on some eagles' nests that are located off Catalina Island.  These cameras are part of a long-time and ongoing project to help increase the once-endangered eagle population.

The Two Harbors nest has one female eaglet.  The West End nest has 3 - 1 female and 2 males.  It's been very cool to watch the nurturing done by both sets of parents - who would take turns hunting, feeding and watching the kids.

A few weeks ago they banded the single female in the Two Harbors nest.

Young eaglets are banded and numbered so they can be tracked and data gathered as to how successful they are at staying alive and well and potentially reproducing.

It may seem intrusive to some - but without the dedication of those involved - there might not be any eagles to band.

I watched the eagle-cam as the nest was visited by a Dr. Peter Sharpe and his assistant.


 

I took some photos of my computer screen - so they're not the best quality - but it shows the process of how to snatch an eaglet.


This is the eaglet's first ever glimpse of a human.

Dr. Sharpe backed slowly into the nest - about a foot each time.  With each stop he would re-arrange a branch or two and move the dried grass around.

At this point she looked very curious.

By now there's definitely some whiggage going on. 

Baby tries to "get big" to scare away the ginormous intruder.


Then she seemed to settle down - just trying to figure it all out.

He rarely looked at the eaglet - only glanced her way a couple of times.  She looks curious in this pose.

You can see how big the nest is when a man can sit in it with room for a friend.

Note the way he's dressed - a bit reminiscent of a super-sized eagle.

She started to get a little braver here and moved closer to get a better look.

Then in a flash - he reached out and snatched her by the beak!

I jumped about a foot - even I wasn't expecting that!

Needless to say - she was not a happy camper!

Look at that wingspan on a youngster still unable to fly!

His assistant came in quickly to help so the eaglet wouldn't get hurt....

...and in no time she was in the bag - literally.

They took her out of the nest for about 20 minutes to do the banding, figure out the gender and give her an overall well-baby check.

She was returned to the nest - a bit shell shocked...

...but lookin' fine in her new 'wing bling'.

The parents had been flying overhead during the banding process and returned later with some goodies for her.

If you'd like to watch the live action - the link is below.

Happy bird watching!

www.iws.org/bald_eagles/twoharborscam.html


p.s. Baby girl #18 may not always be in the nest.....she's learning to take flight! 


This one is great too!      www.ustream.tv/decoraheagles
 

Relative-ly Speaking

Lately - I've had a serious case of writer's block.

I've always told myself - as it relates to writing here - that I wouldn't do it if it felt forced.


The few times I broke that pact with myself - the end result left me feeling uncomfortable and somewhat out of sync.

I'm feeling out of sync now - but for a reason unrelated to writing.  

This past Memorial Day weekend I attended a funeral service for the best friend of a friend of mine.  Tim passed away at age 53 after a 7 year battle with colon cancer. 

I regret that I never had the chance to have known him - but I will be forever grateful to have met his amazing family.
 
I appeared in their world as a relative stranger - and emerged feeling like a Relative.

In the midst of their intense grief - they welcomed and embraced me as family.  What a gift...

In honor and memory of Tim - I know he'd like that I passed on a short public service announcement:

"Colorectal Cancer is the second leading cause of death from cancer.  But here’s the good news, colon cancer is not inevitable.  It’s preventable.  In fact, it’s up to 95% preventable if it’s caught early, through screening."

So get screened...

....be a Smart Ass.