REMEMBER ONLY YOU CAN HELP COMBAT OVARIAN CANCER
CHECKS TO:
GAIL PURTAN FUND
KARMANOS CANCER INSTITUTE
4100 JOHN R DETROIT, MI  48201
1-800-527-6266
"IN MEMORY OF MARY LOGSDON" - IN NOTE SECTION OF CHECK

JULY 27, 2006 - THE HILLS ARE ALIVE, WITH THE SOUND OF MUSIC…

Thie hills out here are alive with the sound of music, but in this case the music being heard is fox, coyote and an occasional mountain lion. The call to Dick Purtan came off very well. It was 6:45 AM here when I called, which made it 10:45 AM EDT. It made for a short night, to be sure. I had a great time with Kyle and Eileen this morning before I left. I had the pleasure of giving Kyle a ride to physics camp, BUT, as payment he had to explain the physics behind the motorcycle's ability to carry two people in relative economy the distance to his school from home. 24 pages of single spaced, type written pages will be waiting for me when I get home. He's 8 years old. It better be there.

He enjoyed the ride, so that is why I insisted on 24 pages, instead of the usual 248 pages that I get from other kids at Physics camp…… PHYSICS CAMP???????

I drove via a couple of freeways up to see my school buddy from East Detroit High School, class of 1967. Tessie (Regala) Percy and her husband Christopher live north of Los Altos about an hours drive. For reasons I don't know, the GPS insisted on putting me at an insurance company driveway that wasn't even on a street named anything close to the street that Chris and Tessie live on. So, I had to ask for directions, which found me just about ¼ mile from the house.

Tessie has been cancer free for five years now. She was diagnosed with breast cancer and is looking and feeling extremely well. Her sister had not been so lucky, though. So hopefully there will be some spin off success from all the research that is being done on all cancers. 

I keep reminding people that it doesn't take but a little bit of time, an envelope and a stamp to send in a donation to the Gail Purtan Fund. Large donations are nice, but I have a feeling that it will be the "average Joe" who sends in a dollar or two that will make the difference in combating Ovarian Cancer and ultimately helping in the eradication of this disease.

Tessie is still full of energy. I have known her since before high school, since her family and ours went to the same church in Warren, Michigan. She claims that she is still regaining her strength from the bout with cancer, but to me, she seems to be doing very well.

Chris had just purchased a new car for Tessie that is a Camry HYBRID. What an interesting ride that is. The car looks like a normal Camry, except that it has a bit less trunk space because of the batteries secreted there. The engine compartment looks different too, because an electric motor shares space with a 16 valve gasoline engine. The car is smart enough to use one or both of the energy sources when necessary. I was most impressed with how quiet it runs.

The home that Chris and Tessie have in the hills outside of San Francisco is a very nice place that feels comfortable. The back yard, mostly covered by an in ground pool and spa, is both relaxing and well designed. Of course, out here, the pool can be used 8 months out of the year. There will never be other homes behind their subdivision because of the fact that the land is public and can't be built on. Today was mostly just catching up on old times and old friends, with very little movement happening otherwise. I even had a nap this afternoon.

Tessie and Chris are baby sitting for their daughter's baby. Her name is Sophia (pronounced SOFFEEEYA). I have to say that if Tessie wants to claim that she is the most beautiful grand daughter ever born in human history, then Mariel will have to share the title. I was so enthralled with her that I had to call home to hear whatever I could of Mariel. She stopped being busy long enough for me to hear her breathing into the phone as I talked to her. Marie insists that when she sees photographs of me, she gets excited and recognizes me. That is a relief. I thought she might have forgotten me. I am on the way home. More miles lie behind me than lie ahead of me.

Tomorrow, I am on the road again. If you follow the map, I will be going across the Bay Bridge then the Golden Gate Bridge to get to route 1 and the giant stands of redwoods that are located within easy reach off of that road.

Those of you who have taken the time to respond via the comment ability on the blog, I thank you for your input. I have found that some of you had problems with getting the photos. This has precipitated calls to the help desk of the hosting company, and as far as I know, corrections have been made. I am surprised at the number of you who have mentioned this becoming a book. That astounds me and makes me feel good that you are enjoying the ride too. Thank you for taking the time to send your thoughts. They are appreciated more than you know.