Camp Goodtimes West 2013

Today, I had the privilege of returning to Vashon Island and Camp Goodtimes West to help prepare the Arts & Crafts cabin for the June session, which begins this weekend. It is always a good experience to help at camp (and a blast to help with Arts & Crafts) because the staff is AWESOME. We have a lot of laughs and chat away as we move, prepare and organize things, getting the supplies in order for the kids to work on craft projects during their week at camp. We opened boxes of brand-new paint, duct tape and other craft materials (I'm not going to reveal what projects are in store, but it looks like there will be a tremendous amount of fun).

Camp names are important. No one on staff uses their real name at camp; everyone gets to choose a camp name, based upon something they enjoy or love, or a nickname that they have. Mine is "Truffle," because I'm part French, and I love both chocolate truffles and the mushroom-type. Some other names of camp staff are Pineapple, Rocksie, Beef, Skipper, Loop, Lovey, Puck, Panda, Doppler, Athena, Ruby and more. It's entertaining to ask and learn why each one chose that name.

Rocksie made a new name tag for me last year, and I added a bit of "bling" to it

Because names are important, name tags are also important, so that campers can easily identify staff and other campers, and get to know them. We all wear name tags all of the time, volunteers, staff and campers. People have a great time designing their name tags, often getting more elaborate over time, and new ones are available each year. Today, we prep-painted wooden name tags and cut lengths of ribbon for each one, so they can be worn around the neck.

I had time to go down to the beach for a few minutes - the beach from which we rowed out to scatter Katie's ashes, at her request. It was the first time I'd been there since we did it. It is a beautiful place.

There are various boats and a boat shed on the beach.

 On the side of the shed, this message is painted:

Isn't that a perfect message for a camp to display?

I'm thankful that our children had the privilege to attend and be blessed by this wonderful place. It made a huge positive difference in Katie's life. If you would like to know more about Camp Goodtimes West, would like to volunteer or offer support (especially needed, now that the American Cancer Society has announced that it will withdraw its financial support of children's camps), please go to http://campgoodtimeswest.org/.

One more thing: I hope that you all had a happy Father's Day!

We enjoyed Father's Day dinner at my parents' house.

David was at work all day; we celebrated as best we could without him.

Good Things Are Happening

July has been a busy month, but you wouldn't know it from reading here - it's the LACK of postings that tells the story! Let me fill you in...

David had his wisdom teeth removed last week. This was his first surgery (two were impacted), his first IV (as he noted) and his first experience with general anaesthesia. I wondered if I would have any symptoms of PTSD when taking him in for the procedure or caring for him afterward, but it didn't happen. He did well, he was funny on drugs immediately following the surgery (reminded me of Katie on what they call "happy juice" in the hospital), and we had a quiet few days here.

The day after his surgery, I went to Camp Goodtimes West again to volunteer with the Arts and Crafts program on Carnival day. It is a perfect venue for me to help. As time goes by, my love for, understanding and appreciation of the magic of camp grows. I am so very thankful that Katie was touched by it, especially considering what awaited her just two months later. I like to think that it brought her back to some connection with her self as a KID after the horrific trauma of cancer treatment, and before the issues of facing her own mortality.

Carnival Day at Camp with a Rotary friend, Bunky, Mooselips, and me (Truffle)

Lunch on the deck with Camp staff and volunteers (some of their names: Gypsy, Yak, Leo, Flower and Loop)

Have I mentioned that Camp is on an island, and that Katie's ashes were scattered in that harbor? I think so.

I attended a class this month about blogging, and am planning to start a new, different blog. I feel called to write more about the spiritual journey, about the impact of Katie's life, but also about this new life, and perhaps a bit less about our own family/home life. I will keep up this blog in that vein, but will branch out further to new, exciting frontiers on the new blog. I plan to give it a name and announce it here soon.

Today, I met with the new person assigned to the Katie Gerstenberger Endowment for Cancer Research at Seattle Children's Hospital's Foundation. I will be updating that blog with more information soon, but the big news is that Katie's endowment's income will now be funding research at the Ben Towne Center for Pediatric Cancer Research, under the guidance of Dr. Michael Jensen! This has been our goal and desire since we first heard about Dr. Jensen's work, and we are thrilled to say that, due to the generosity of our family and friends who have donated, her endowment is now contributing in a concrete ($$) way.

When Katie was on hospice care and knew that she was going to pass away, we broached the subject of creating an endowment in her memory. We asked if she had any special requests. Her reply was that she wanted the endowment to support research to cure the cancer she had (adrenocortical carcinoma). Since this illness is so very  rare, we expanded the mission to include research that will lead to cures for "all solid tumors." Dr. Jensen's work will do just that. Clinical trials for new therapies are set to commence this fall, perhaps as early as September!

I am creating a proposal to teach a class in our community, and am filling out an application to enroll in a program that is very near to my heart's desire. I will post here as the answers roll in.

We have hosted friends and family here, and have been to visit others.

At my parents' home with friends, just before digging into the trifle that I made for dessert.

Gregg took a 10-day trip to France and Spain for work. He was able to see new places, eat and drink well, and still accomplish what was needed for his firm. He enjoyed the fireworks in honor of Bastille Day in Biarritz, and was near the Tour de France route, but didn't intersect it.

There is guild news in the works, and that will be posted soon.

What's new with YOU?

Camp Goodtimes West, June 2012

One of Katie's favorite faces to make, when Mooselips pulled out his camera, Camp Goodtimes West 2007

I spent yesterday volunteering in the Arts and Crafts shack at Camp Goodtimes West on Vashon Island. I try to do something for camp each year, as a way of giving back in gratitude for all that camp did for Katie, and does for other children living with cancer. As the years go by (it has been 5 years since Katie & David attended camp), I appreciate more and more what camp is, and what it did for Katie and David. I can see for myself why she asked us to scatter her ashes there.

Some people refer to Camp Goodtimes as "the happiest place on earth." While I believe there's a famous theme park whose PR claims that as their tagline, I'd like to have those PR people visit Camp Goodtimes West and weigh in on it; I think camp might win the designation.

If you've read my book, or read my postings here on the subject, you'll recall that Katie didn't want to go to camp at all. At all. AT ALL. For her to change her mind so completely about it as to ask us to scatter her ashes there, and for the camp staff to not only welcome us to do that, but to assist us in such a sacred and heart-rending step, tells you a little something about the people and the place.

This year, I went through some of our own craft supplies and donated things which I know we won't be using anymore. It felt good to send those things to camp so that other children could enjoy them. Rubber stamps, stickers, scrapbooking supplies, origami supplies, markers, pencils, crayons, all went into a box and off to camp.

I've posted this video of Katie at camp with Mooselips before, but it's worth posting again, in case you missed it. And this one, which shows a little bit of what the camp experience is like.

Everyone on staff (and the volunteers, too) has a camp name. Mine is "Truffle." You never refer to other staff or volunteers by their given name, even if you know them well in "real" life. I love to see staff who knew Katie and David as campers, and am always warmly greeted by them. This means a lot to me, and I appreciate it.

Yesterday was Carnival Day. In the morning, we had kids coming in to work on craft projects such as lannies, backpacks, hats, fleece pillows, clay piggy banks, bracelets and duct tape crafts. I LOVED helping the kids with their projects (and I can see I need a refresher on lannies). It has taken a few years of volunteering to get over my shyness at camp, and I enjoyed a greater feeling of ease this time. I loved being called "Truffle" by the kids when they wanted assistance with something.

There are 3 wonderful women who are in charge of crafts this year, and it was a pleasure to work with them. We had a lot of laughs. One of them, Rocksie, is a treasure - a mentor and trusted friend, though we only see each other once a year. Rocksie read the draft of my book before it was published, and is always ready to lend an ear (and a few choice, pithy words) to me. I love her! Rocksie & Ginger and I went out to lunch after morning crafts, and before the carnival started. It was so good to catch up with them.

One camper stood out to me from the others, because she was in Katie's cabin in 2007. She is a cancer survivor, and there she was, 5 years later, healthy, smiling, taking part in everything I saw and doing well. It took my breath away to reflect that two campers can be in the same cabin, and one can die within a few weeks of camp, while the other goes on to live a happy, healthy life. I wondered if Katie would have wanted to go back to camp year after year, if she had lived. I can't have the answer to that question, but I'm very glad indeed that her cabin-mate was there and enjoying life. It's always good to see survivors!

The carnival is hard to describe in words; you really have to be there to get the picture. This was my first time experiencing it. There is a grassy field at camp which is set up with a large tent for hairdressing, an inflatable jumping house, softly padded jousting equipment, a table for face-painting, cotton candy, snow cones; there is loud music, dancing, a huge whipped cream fight, a slip & slide and the local fire department's truck (which obligingly gently hoses everyone down after the whipped cream fight and creates the slip & slide area). There are safe areas for kids who are medically fragile, so no one has to engage in more than they are comfortable experiencing, and lots of staff supervision. I saw kids who were barely able to stand or see being tenderly supported by staff so that they could participate in a gentle version of the whipped cream fight. No one is left out, but nothing is forced. In 2007 Katie had her hair done, but declined the whipped cream fight and the slip & slide.

Here is Katie at the carnival in 2007 with one of her counselors:

Once she realizes Mooselips is taking her photo, she resorts to "the hand"

 Newspaper article about Camp, featuring a photo of Katie getting her hair done at the carnival

At the dance, with rainbow hair still intact...

She again resorts to "the hand" to ward off the "Mooserazzi"

Here is my picture at camp after the carnival yesterday:

Thanks for making a wonderful new name tag for me, Rocksie!

Close-up of my carnival hairdo, courtesy of Gene Juarez Salons' hairdressers, who volunteer at the carnival each year. After 3 shampoos, it's still a little pink on top.

If you ever have the opportunity to volunteer for a camp like Camp Goodtimes West, or to donate to it, I strongly encourage you to do so. You'll have a blast, and you will come away inspired.

I'm grateful to our dear friend, Mooselips, for suggesting (hounding, encouraging, pushing) us to send our kids to camp!

Birthday Week

I turned 53 this week. It's been a lovely time of fun activities, not all centered around me (thank goodness!), but a week of things which I've enjoyed immensely.

On Friday, Mom and I went shopping and out to lunch. She & Dad had given me birthday funds for shopping, so we went to TJ Maxx (one of my favorite stores) and had a blast. After that, we drove through the rain to the General Store at Port Gamble (our first time there) for lunch. It is a great place - a real, old, country store, converted into gift shop & restaurant. The food was excellent. If you haven't been to Port Gamble, you might want to look it up. It's a charming old mill town, situated on a bluff overlooking Hood Canal, and has been very well-preserved.

Friday night, Gregg and I went out on a date to one of our favorite places, the Harbour House Pub on Bainbridge Island.

Gregg perusing the menu, which is designed like a newspaper. The pub's yam fries are the best!

Roses bloom outside the pub in June - one of my favorite patches of garden in town

Interior of the pub - yes, a bicycle is always on that beam over the bar.

The pub is in an historic house on the harbor in the little town of Winslow. We love the atmosphere and the food. We had planned to meet friends afterward for an evening of live music at the coffee house nearby, but Gregg was exhausted after two intense weeks at work, so we went home after dinner.

On Saturday, Gregg gave me the best birthday gift: a card and a day at the beach, followed by dinner out. We went to my favorite beach and hiked eight miles. David was invited to join us, but had another invitation to hike on Mount Rainier, so he spent the night with family and went with them. He and I will make the beach hike later in the summer.

Thanks for the cute sweatshirt, Laura!

We ate the picnic lunch we had packed around the halfway point, picked up some beach glass, and were caught in a downpour on the way home. Eight miles of beach walking = heaven on earth!

We visited a couple of thrift stores, and decided to change our dinner plans to escape the rain. We drove back to Bainbridge and went to a wonderful little Japanese restaurant for tea, miso soup and sushi.

Meanwhile, David's group decided that the weather wasn't good enough to go to Rainier, so they went to Cle Elum instead. They were still caught in a lightning-and-hail storm, when the temperature suddenly dropped at least 20 degrees, so I'm grateful they decided to forgo Mt. Rainier! Fortunately, he was with my brother, sister-in-law and nephew, who have mountaineering experience, so they had everything they needed - and came home safely.

On Sunday, we picked up my parents, drove to the ferry and rode to Seattle to see our nephew, Phil, who was visiting from the Bay Area, and my brother and sister-in-law. Some of the group played tennis, while others went for a walk. Afterward, we gathered for lunch together. It was great to see Phil and hear more about their hike.

On my birthday, David worked on the Argosy Camp Goodtimes Cruise (a.k.a. "Da Boata"), so I had a quiet day at home and a massage - a perfect birthday luxury. Tonight, my parents took Gregg and me to Burrata Bistro for dinner. They are so generous!

Kim (the owner) had a bottle of wine waiting for us at the table. The dinner was excellent. Three of us had the special (osso buco with baby carrots and pea greens on garlic polenta). My dad loves the roasted chicken so much that he ordered that instead.

Burrata Bistro's Osso Buco

Kim also sent two desserts for us to share: a lemon tart and tiramisu, both home-made and delicious, beyond my powers of description. Thank you, Kim & Alfonso! Thank you, Mom & Dad!

I bought this top (on sale, 50% off) when Maribeth was here. It's not a style I usually wear, but I like it!

Gregg has been teasing me that this week has reminded him of my grandmother's 90th birthday, when she had two parties given for her (one a private dinner for 35 at the Four Seasons hotel) and decided it wasn't quite enough, so she threw a third party for herself. What a character she was! The difference is that I didn't organize the week this way - it just happened!

Tomorrow, I'm off to volunteer at Camp Goodtimes West in the Arts and Crafts department, and I can't wait! It's also Carnival Day at camp, and it's going to be so much fun for the kids & staff. I hope your week is going well, too.

What's Been Happening

This post contains a little bit of what's been happening here, lately...
David has begun working at his summer job, taking new responsibilities as part of the boats' crew. I've been getting up to make breakfast for him before he goes to catch the ferry to Seattle and on to work.

Our NYC Cosmopolitan magazine-editor friend, Anna, returned to Seattle to give two book readings. The one in Poulsbo at Liberty Bay Books was so much fun; Anna gave us a real look at the world of N.Y. publishing. We had so many questions that she didn't even have time to read from her book!

After the book event, we hosted a little party here so that Anna's local friends could gather, catch up with her and celebrate her success. Of course, I forgot to take any photos. Fortunately, Paul Dudley came (fresh from shooting a wedding, with his son Miles) and took this shot of Leslie, Shelli, me and Anna (holding her new book, "Wrecked"):

Pretty great stuff, considering we're a group of people who met through a camp for children who have cancer. This is not a depressing crowd!

Gregg is now working with suppliers from Spain and France. He is going to hand off the Italian work package, but still covers that when others are traveling or on vacation. He loves working with overseas suppliers and traveling to their plants.

I am sending out information about my book to nursing schools all across the country. I'm also working to shepherd the DVDs through the last few "gates" so that we can edit them further. The next step will be to share them with other hospitals and groups who want to/need to learn about family-centered care.

David worked overnight this weekend (a graduation cruise), and kind-hearted Laura and Tom invited him to "crash" at their house when he got off work at 3:00 A.M. (there is no ferry service at that hour). He never did go to sleep; Tom got up at 4:30 and they went golfing at dawn! Then they took the ferry & came over here for lunch; David went to bed after we ate, and slept for about 16 hours. Tom, Laura, Gregg and I went to the Harbour House Pub to raise a glass in honor of Laura's father, Moe Drabowsky (Sunday was the anniversary of his passing).

Due to mobile phone issues, I am now on my fourth Droid 3 this year. Each one has had a problem with one thing:  the camera, the keyboard, the opening/closing mechanism. Fortunately, this one seems to be okay. I've been testing the camera on each phone, and here are some of the results, tweaked (for fun) in Picasa:

Native Americans launching a canoe on the beach near our home

Latte insisted on taking a walk with us.
He went 1/2 mile and started panting like a dog,
so we turned around, and I carried him most of the way home.

We planted some new lavender.
There has been so much rain here that everything is growing like crazy.

I love playing with these photo filters.

Neighbors' roses make a nice contrast against their shed.

Maribeth made a lightning-fast visit to Poulsbo after her daughter's graduation from college. Taylor has accepted a job at Seattle Children's Hospital after graduating cum laude from Seattle U., and we couldn't be happier for her. After one day & night here (complete with our favorite Thai take-out dinner and a visit with Gregg, David and the cats), MB has returned to the city, and will be on her way back to Kansas tomorrow. It's always wonderful to sit on our couch and talk into the night, and then resume the discussion in the morning over coffee in our p.j.s. God was so good to bring us together 12 years ago, and to allow us to share our lives since then. She is a treasured friend.

The coming weekend will bring a visit from blog-friends from Ohio, and Father's Day celebrations. Meanwhile, back to work on marketing "Because of Katie."

Thank you for your orders from the Pampered Chef fundraiser, Elizabeth & Karen!

Book Talk

Let's talk about books! There are two new books that I want to discuss with you. One is just out now, and the other will be out in August. Let's start with the present.

Through Camp Goodtimes West, I met a lovely woman named Anna. She is sassy, strong, fun, intelligent, independent, courageous, kind...I could go on and on. Anna is living the life that many young women dream of leading: she is a senior editor at Cosmopolitan magazine, living and working in NY, and writing books on the side.

This song could be written about women like Anna, who have the courage to follow their dreams to the big city. I tried it (in Boston), and I only lasted a year. Anna is doing fabulously.

Anna Davies (by Paul Dudley Photography)

She has just published her first novel, which is called "Wrecked." I'm in the midst of reading it, and it is good. It's a novel aimed at a young adult audience, yet even at my age (!) I can feel its appeal. In fact, it is related to one of my favorite stories (The Little Mermaid), and is set in an island community, complete with ferries for transportation. So far, it deals with issues of loss, comfort, mystery, life beyond this one, hard choices and consequences...and it includes friendship, family and romance, too. Good stuff!

The big local news is that Anna is coming back to Seattle to have two booksignings, one in Seattle on Friday night, June 8th from 7:00 - 9:00 P.M. at a store called "The Secret Garden" (Ballard), and one right here in POULSBO! The Ballard store is owned by the mother of a Camp Goodtimes staffer, and part of the proceeds of that event will benefit camp. Thank you for doing that, Anna!

The Poulsbo event will be held on Saturday, June 9th at 4:00 P.M. at Liberty Bay Books (owned by our friend, Suzanne Droppert). We are going to attend with local friends and camp friends - everyone is welcome.  Here is a little bit more "scoop" on Anna and her new book:

Anna "Jiffy" Davies will be reading and signing her novel, "Wrecked", on Saturday, June 9th at 4:00 pm at Liberty Bay Books in Poulsbo. "Wrecked" is an updated version of The Little Mermaid, and is a paranormal romance for ages 12+. Anna is also a senior editor at Cosmopolitan magazine and, before writing "Wrecked," worked on the "Gossip Girl" series and the "Vampire Diaries" books. Come, mingle and ask questions. For more information on Anna, check out www.annakdavies.blogspot.com or @annakdavies on Twitter.

The other book will also be available at Liberty Bay Books - it is due to come out in August. Suzanne loaned an advance copy to me, and asked me to review it. It's by Maria Semple, and is called "Where'd You Go, Bernadette?" It's set in Seattle, and the author is a "transplant" here, so she has what I'd call a fresh take on all things Puget Sound Area.

The book is written in an unusual format, using letters, memos, emails and the like to construct the story of the disappearance of a mysterious woman - a wife, mother and former award-winning architect. It is quick, engaging, witty and funny in a way that will especially appeal to people who have lived in the Seattle area. She makes fun of many of our local idiosyncrasies (such as the need for "blackberry abatement") in a way that had me laughing out loud (see pages 90 - 91 for a good example). I recomment this book to anyone who is looking for a fun, fast-paced, light-hearted read.

I hope you'll check out both "Wrecked" and "Where'd You Go, Bernadette?" at Liberty Bay Books (or Secret Garden Books, or your own local, independent bookseller).

Lastly, remember this book? If you haven't read it yet, please do (it's also available through Liberty Bay Books), and tell me what you think!

Flowers and the Hope Gala

I am not going to complain about our weather. I am not going to complain about the failure of 2 different Verizon mobile phones, or the faults of the 3rd one (2nd replacement), or the hours spent troubleshooting and re-programming them. I will instead show you what Picasa can do (and did!) with mobile phone photos which were taken on a sunny day here (last week). We're focusing on the positive here:

Neighbor's shed & roses

close-up of roses

a different angle of the same two, with buttercups below

wow

again, wow!

On Saturday evening, I went to the Museum of Flight to share in the biggest night (to date) of my friend Leslie's life: her speech in support of Camp Goodtimes West at the American Cancer Society's Hope Gala. Leslie is a two-time cancer survivor who also lives with epilepsy, and she was recently featured in the July issue of Cosmopolitan Magazine (pages 118-119), in an interview and a gorgeous photo by Paul Dudley Photography! It's a pretty big month for Leslie. You can read more in her blog (see my sidebar, "Living It Up with Leslie!").

Some very generous friends of Leslie donated three entire tables to the Hope Gala so that she could be surrounded by love as she stood to speak. All three tables were full of her Camp Goodtimes West friends - the camp which is supported by the American Cancer Society. We were there to help illustrate Leslie's words about the Camp Family, as well as to share in her joy at being able to give something back to the camp that means so much to her.

Leslie, or "Pineapple" - her camp name - tells her story so well that you should hear it from her, in her own words. Here she is, giving her speech:


You can also follow these links to:
Her speech on her blog, as she wrote it
Her evening according to photographer and videographer, Paul "Mooselips" Dudley

Leslie's words inspired the crowd to give over $50,000 to Camp Goodtimes West!

A few photos borrowed from Paul Dudley Photography's coverage of the event:

Paul's beautiful wife Heidi, Anna (who has a brand-new book out, called "Wrecked"), Leslie & her mom (Lynn), me

Camp Goodtimes West was well-represented

What happens anytime Paul calls out "NINJA!"

Dinner in the Museum of Flight

Leslie giving her speech
Leslie's positive attitude and strength of spirit are a blessing & inspiration to all who know her. Well done, friend!