Bad News Sunday

As I was checking my e-mail this morning while drinking my morning cup of coffee, another e-mail popped up, one I was not looking forward to opening because I was dreading what the contents might say.   My friend, Patti, has been suffering from Cancer for awhile, gone thru all kinds of meds, treatments,
several rounds of Chemotherapy, there was hope for awhile, but lately it had truly taken over her whole body, it had won.  Her husband has, since the beginning, sent Patti's friends and family a regular e-mail thru Caring Bridge informing us of her progress along with info on the family.  Today as I opened that email, my fears of the worst had happened.  Patti passed away this morning with family and her closest friends beside her.  Patti was only 52 years old, way too young to leave this life and she will be missed by many.  Cancer has destroyed another one of the "good guys".  As much time, money, and research that has been given to conquering this disease, it still seems to win in the end way too many times.  And I don't even want to mention that horrible disease that my husband suffers from, Alzheimers.  As of today there are NO answers to that insidious illness.  No answers to causes, or how to stop it, or to prevent it, or even how to slow it down successfully.  Bad things happen to good people and I wish there were answers. 

Even a phone call from my sister-in-law this afternoon brought more bad news.  My younger sister-in-law has been in and out of the hospital for the last 2 weeks searching for answers to a fainting spell and a headache that apparently was beyond a normal person's pain tolerance.  Test after test revealed nothing in 2 different hospitals.  She is home now, feeling slightly better but weak.  The ONLY thing that they can come up with is perhaps a bad reaction to shell fish after taking a flu shot.  Gosh you would think all those medical minds could come up with something better than that.  Ever once in awhile I hear stories of people reacting badly to a flu shot, thus this gal has never had one, I seem to stay fairly healthy, so until that time that I am sick more than well, I think I am staying away from the flu shot, just sayin'. 

After hearing all this bad news I spent the evening walking in the garden and assessing the things that still needed to be done to ready it for winter.  Tomorrow is supposed to be sunny and in the 60's, perfect weather to work in the yard.  Hopefully I can accomplish all that I want to do.  Sometimes my plans don't quite get carried out fully due to this thing called age, can't seem to do as much as I used to.  But heh, there is always another day.  In walking thru the garden I carried my camera (do I ever walk in the garden without my camera??) so I took a few shots.  The sun was low in the sky and it gave off this amazing glow, just perfect for a few snaps. 

The roses are just barely hanging on.....

The hydrangeas have this softness to their hue....

The squirrel that Toby insists on chasing up the tree.  He is not happy right now, apparently he wants to get down and bury whatever that is in his mouth.
 

Look at that beautiful evening glow on these hydrangeas...

The blanket flower just keeps on blooming.  It has all those wonderful fall colors right in the center of each and every one.

I just love that sunset glow that it gives to even the flowers that are long passed their prime. 

Hopefully tomorrow whatever news comes my way will be happier, and  I pray that I can continue to remember my blessings even in the midst of sorrow. 

"You never grow old until you've lost all your marvels."  ~  Merry Browne

Until next time.......