Reeling

On Labor Day (September 3rd), we went to a potluck pool party at the home of one of our neighbors.  It was a beautiful evening and the food was varied and tasty.  There was a nice mix of new community members, old timers (20+ years) and the middle group, like us.  At the party I learned that one of our neighbors, Rebecca, is in the hospital with a tumor.  Rebecca and her husband, Dave, are "old timers" although they are not old.  The kids know their property as the llama house.  They host a wonderful New Years Eve party every year.  Rebecca is a hair older than me, swims every day, is active, fit, slender, beautiful.  I have always admired her energy and her sense of style.  She is the last person I expected to hear was ill.  She sent an email to a group of us and said that her doctors were trying to figure out the best way to tackle her surgery -- it seems that the tumor is in a "tricky" location and has attached itself ... all over the place. 

And then she asked us all to look after another community member who has the same issue.  This community member is our neighbor.  Our next door neighbor.  Right across the fence.  Laura is in her 40s with children in high school.  

Brett talked to her husband over the fence yesterday.  He said the last few weeks have been a roller coaster.  She wasn't feeling well, went to the doctor, and discovered she had a tumor.   Stage 4, metastasized. 

Brett and I are reeling.  

There is a dark edge to the autumn sunshine this year. 

For those of you who pray, please remember Rebecca and Laura -- and their families.  It the rest of you could just send positive thoughts out to California and up our little mountain, we would all be thankful.