Jan. 1, 2012

My life was spinning around like crazy as the new year approached. All the old ghosts threatened in the form of a "call back" about a mammogram. I satrted thinking of what I would do if I had to deal with the Big C again. Maybe quit my job, move to Florida, do something different, but I couldn't imagine living through the same sickness and bleakness of what I went through in '97. Then the morning before New Year's Eve, I waited in the waiting room for the tech to give me the news - it was OK! I then decided with the good weather predicted for NY State and CT, to drive up to Cooperstown to visit Tom and hopefully, Sydney. This was the best medicine for what had just happened. I flew up the roads, and actually had the wrong town, so took an extra tour of that gorgeous state via Binghamton and almost into Ithaca, before realizing my mistake. I called and Syd said I had overshot my destination. I checked my facts and sure enough, I was headed for Weston instead of Westford, NY. By the time we met up at Tom's I was ready to walk up the huge hill near his house towards his friends farm where we saw all kinds of animals including a mama pig with all her little piglets - so cute! Some sheep were eating dinner, all kinds of chickens and birds were there. They are organic farmers and had Tom come for Thanksgiving. Later on, we went to Syd's and then to her parents house for tea. I had not met Gerry and Nancy before; though in their 90's, they are charming people with a very caring daughter in Sydney. We had tea and then went on to a party in Cooperstown on the lake, followed by a visit to some friends named Dave and Charlepan, who seved us more delicious tea and chocolate and baked apples. With all of our bellies full, it was time to head home to Sydney's, where we sat before a roaring fire and ate lumquats and wasabi almonds while waiting for the midnight hour. We talked after wishing all a Happy New Year and then I went off to bed in an antique sleigh bed which was very comfortable to sleep in.

In the morning, I woke up late but was up first. The view from the window of the Clark "pig" hill is incredible. I had to go out for a walk before breakfast, so I set out into the mild morning (for Jan.1) and when I got back, Tom had a fire going in the kitchen and was making coffee! Syd made some ambrosia with pineapple, pomegranate, kumquats, oranges, coconut and toasted almonds. Then she whipped up the popovers! What a treat for me... We hiked afterwards and saw a tower that belonged to the Clarks with lots of historical markers and a small but elegant pet cemetery. They were wealthy residents and very generous with their possessions, including their land.

I can't believe it's been four years since we wrote about Obama's victory in his first election. Now we are ready to choose again, and I wonder if the family feels differently about this first black president. We just had an awful disaster in Hurricane Sandy, which devastated the Jersey Shore, including our old haunts, Fair haven, Rumson, Sea Bright and also our family's historical place of residence in this country, Brooklyn, NY. Our cousins, Mary, Patty and their families and Susan have all been affected but have gotten help from friends that is truly the inspiring part of the story. All the news is about the recovery, which is painfully slow. Many are still without fuel, food, water and power four days later, and the death toll is rising. Everyone is heartbroken, There is a controversy over whether they should hold the NY Marathon in the wake of so much tragedy. (Oh, my goodness, While writing this, the marathon has been cancelled!) Plus, the election next week is being challenged by the disaster with doubt about accurate counting of results. We must pray for the victims of the storm and help however we can by donating at work or online. There is so much need.