Happy Anniversary to Max and Carol

Today would be my 28th wedding anniversary to my beloved husband, Max. I plan to continue to celebrate! We had an amazing life together and I continue to feel blessed to have shared so many years as his devoted wife.

If I hadn't experienced it myself, I probably wouldn't have believed anyone could love someone as much as I loved (and still love) Max. He wasn't a perfect man and I certainly am not a perfect woman but we were perfect for each other!

September 10, 1983 was the first day of the happiest days of my life with Max. He is still with me everywhere... because there are reminders of him wherever I go and whatever I do. When I read a menu in a restaurant, I know exactly what he would have ordered. When I pour a coke, I remember we used to share. When I get in our car, I feel him next to me. When I take a trip, I remember all our wonderful trips together. When I hear Johnny Cash, I remember how Max used to love listening to him for hours. When I see Macaroni and Cheese, I think of him. When I see cowboy boots I think of Max. When I see an old car, I think of how Max loved his classic cars. He loved cars in general. He is, literally, everywhere... every day!

So, even tho he is not here in body he is definitely here in spirit!

Happy Anniversary to Max and Carol !

Stay tuned...

Carol

More on Summer in Phoenix

Have you ever wondered why people leave Phoenix in the summer? I had never even been to Phoenix in the summer (until now) but I do watch the Weather channel and I never felt compelled to go there (until now).

There is no such thing as a cold shower here because even the water coming out of the pipes in the ground is warm. Ugh.

The one good thing I can say about the Phoenix area in the summer is that your coffee never gets cold!

I'm enjoying being with Connie and Bill but I AM looking forward to getting back home and enjoying my favorite season of the year... FALL in Wenatchee!

Stay tuned...

Carol

Phoenix in the Summer... Ugh!

Phoenix isn't a place I would actually choose to go to in the summer, but the call to help family sent me here anyway.

Max's sister, Connie, had back surgery on August 29th so I left home August 24th to come help during her hospital stay and recovery. She had back surgery in late December too, so this is her second major back surgery in less than a year... no small task to recover from, physically or emotionally.

The picture here is Connie and her brother Max (my late husband) taken a few years ago at a play we attended in the Palm Spring area. Max's birthday was August 24th, which was a fitting day for me to leave... paying tribute to him through coming to take care of his beloved sister,

Along with Connie's husband, Bill, it is my job to help her in any way possible. You can pretty much sum my job description up as a "go-fer" or "slave" to her every whim. :-) She's getting up and around, with the aid of a walker (Max's walker) but needs to rest a lot while those muscles and nerves and incision heal.

She's actually doing quite well under the circumstances but going for 6 weeks without bending, twisting or lifting is a tall order. Her first follow up appointment with the surgeon is this coming Thursday, so we are all anxious for that day.

I took 3 days to drive down to Sun City, Arizona. I think every day since my arrival, up until today, has been 110 or more! As much as I enjoy the weather here in the winter, I detest this kind of incessant heat even more. I will take Wenatchee's 4 seasons any time... winter and all.

On the trip down, I particularly enjoyed the part of the drive through southern Utah. I'm anxious to get back there when I have time to actually go to Zion and Bryce... with camera in hand. Eventually I'd like to get back to the Grand Canyon as well.

I am also anxious to get back to Wenatchee to enjoy the beautiful Fall season, which is my absolute favorite.

That's all for now.

Stay tuned...

Carol

May - August, 2011

As mentioned in my first post, my husband died on May 22nd of this year. It's been an interesting 3 months.

I've gone through serious withdrawal from Max's physical presence in my life. He was such a truly sweet spirit and a total joy to be around, in spite of his declining health. I've seriously thought I could never be happy again. It's been difficult for me to even talk about him without crying. But, I think with each new day that gets a little better.

I've cut way back on my work load and seriously considering totally retiring from real estate. My passion is gone. I need to find a new focus, a new passion. I want to pursue new challenges.

I've always had an interest in photography so I am going to pursue that in some form or another. I signed up for a 3 day workshop in Portland for late September. We'll see where that leads me.

Stay tuned...

Carol

Lives 1 thru 4

It seems appropriate that my first post should explain why I titled this blog "My 5th Life".

I've often said, with life's constant changes. we go into new chapters of life from time to time... but my life seems bigger than chapters so I'm declaring multiple lives (with lots of chapters in each).

My 1st life began on April 7, 1952 when I was born. It lasted until I was 12. My Mom died when I was 7 and my Dad died in May of 1964.

My 2nd life began when my Dad died in 1964 and my brother and I went to live with our Aunt Dorothy and Uncle Orval. This was my Dad's brother and his wife.

My 3rd life began when I moved to Wenatchee, Washington in June of 1970, at the age of 19. This was my single, independent life.

My 4th life began on September 10, 1983 when I married, Max, the love of my life. That amazing life ended on May 22nd, 2011 when Max passed away.

Hence, my 5th life has begun. I could probably write a book on each life but I won't. I did run a blog on my 4th life (with Max) for a a few years. That can be found at: www.TreeDoctor.blogspot.com . What a life we had together!

My hope and prayer is to, eventually, find new purpose to my life without Max's physical presence.

My one last thought for this post is that I can't help but hope I'm not a reincarnated cat. I don't think I want to live a total of 9 lives! I'm hoping 5 will be enough then I can go be with Max again and live, as the Fairy Tales promise, happily ever after!

Stay tuned...

Carol

Chapter 1

Since the death of my husband, the love of my life, on May 22nd of this year, I've been struggling to find a new purpose. He was my true passion and I need a new passion, a reason to keep going.